Review of SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL

Bibliography:

MacLachlan, Patricia. 1985. Sarah, plain and tall. HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN 9780060241018

Review:

Sarah, Plain and Tall is a heartwarming story of a family in search of a mother to make it whole again. Anna and Caleb, along with their Papa, have been mourning the loss of their mother who died after giving birth to Caleb. Papa’s decision to advertise for a mail-order bride changes their lives forever when Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton of Maine comes “for a month’s time . . .to see how it is.” Patricia MacLachlan’s simple story focuses not on action and adventure, but on the everyday activities and conversations that make up family life. Set in the late 1800’s, readers are never told specifically where Anna and her family live only that is a prairie farm “where there (are) fields and grass and sky and not much else.” The isolation of the farm is emphasized as yet another reason that Sarah, who has “always loved to live by the sea,” may not want to stay. Anna narrates the story, allowing readers to see first-hand the constant fear that she and Caleb have that Sarah will “change her mind and leave us”. Through dinner-time and chore-time conversations, evenings spent sliding down hay “dunes” and singing on the porch, readers are introduced to the four main characters: Sarah, an independent woman who “does things her own way”; Jacob – a loving and lonely man; Anna – a reserved, obedient child; and Caleb – a “loud and pesky” but caring little boy. Despite their differences, each character shares the desire to be part of a happy, complete family, and this desire touches readers’ hearts. When Anna and Caleb fear that Sarah has gone to town to buy a return train ticket to Maine, readers are caught up in the moment and breathe a sigh of relief as Caleb exclaims, “Dust, and a yellow bonnet!” when he spots her in the distance. In the end when Sarah reveals she will marry Papa, readers are happy for these two young children who have found a mother to love and support them. What more can a person wish for? Patricia MachLachlan’s short chapter book, winner of the 1986 Newbery Medal, is a great read aloud for elementary age children to introduce life in the late 19th century and the universal theme of familial love.