Bibliography
MacLachlan, Patricia. 1985. SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN-10: 0618062416
Plot Summary
This touching story portrays a young girl and boy who live in the Old West. Their widowed father has placed an advertisement, attempting to find a new wife for himself, and a new mother for his children. Sarah, a woman from Maine, has answered the ad. Her entrance into their lives is greatly anticipated by the children. Soon after her arrival, Sarah realizes that the western lifestyle is a far cry from her home at the sea. As Sarah and the family bond, her perspective changes, and she understands that her future lies with them.
Critical Analysis
MacLachlan’s depiction of the Old West is described with incredible detail. The reader can visualize how the surroundings appear, “Sarah came in the spring. She came through green grass fields that bloomed with Indian paintbrush, red and orange, and blue-eyed grass.” MacLachlan’s writing immerses the reader with imagery. Sarah’s character is in love with her home, and MacLachlan’s descriptive nature is seen again, “’In Maine,’ said Sarah, ‘there are rock cliffs that rise up at the edge of the sea. And there are hills covered with pine and spruce trees, green with needles. But William and I found a sand dune all our own. It was soft and sparkling with bits of mica, and when we were little we would slide down the dune into the water.’” The reader can almost feel the sea mist spraying on them, and the smell of salt in the air.
The children, Anna and Caleb, are overtly preoccupied throughout the story that Sarah will not like them, and will choose to return to Maine. Even before Sarah’s arrival, the children worry that Sarah will be disappointed, “’Do you think she’ll come?’ asked Caleb. ‘And will she stay? What if she thinks we are loud and pesky?’” The incredible nervousness follows the children’s characters all the way until the end of the story. Each time Sarah begins to think of Maine, MacLachlan describes the children’s desperate attempts to show that the west can be wonderful too. Several utterances by Caleb paint the picture of how worrisome they become, “Sarah sat up, ‘Do you have lots of snow?’ …’Lots and lots of snow’ chanted Caleb…’And is there wind?’ she asked. ‘Do you like the wind?’ asked Caleb. ‘There is wind by the sea,’ said Sarah. ‘There is wind here,’ said Caleb happily.”
Placing advertisements for wives and mothers was common practice during this time period. MacLachlan does not ignore the hard work that was required of people of this era. Storms destroyed homes, lambs and chickens were killed, and women often died during childbirth. MacLachlan creates Sarah’s character as a woman who is miles away from her home and all that she has ever known. She is thrown into a new surrounding, full of new customs, strange people, and worst of all, no sea. She even treats the livestock as pets; making it difficult to kill a chicken and eat it for dinner once it has a name! Despite all of these obstacles, the character of Sarah remains strong and level-headed. MacLachlan provides a happy ending for the children and Sarah, “’We thought you might be leaving us’…’No,’ she said. ‘I will always miss my old home, but the truth of it is I would miss you more.”
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal
“A short but moving book that is anything but plain.”
Booklist
“Poignant but never sentimental, this is a worthy successor to Wilder’s Little House books and a prime choice for reading aloud.”
Connections
Students can write about how they would feel if a strange woman were to come to their home to become their new mother. Teachers can explain why practices like this one were used in the past. Students could also explain why they agree or disagree with Sarah’s final decision to stay, and if they could leave their home to start a new life in a new place.
Additional recommended books:
*Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell ISBN 0440439884
*Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery ISBN 0553153277
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