A review by erinbookbug
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

emotional hopeful lighthearted

4.0

Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, Vol. 1) by Patricia MacLachlan

Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s Lit

Audience: General
Source: The Public Library 

Published: 1985

Tags: Historical Fiction, Setting - American Prairies, Time Period - 1910s, POV First Person, Mail Order Bride, Family, Homesickness, Farming 

Characters: Anna Witting, Caleb Witting, Jacob Witting, Sarah Wheaton

Summary: Their mother died the day after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and Papa doesn’t sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a latter from one Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. Papa, Anna, and Caleb write back. Caleb asks if she sings.

Sarah decides to come for a month. She writes Papa: I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall, and Tell them I sing. Anna and Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she like them? Will she stay?

This is a re-read from my childhood. 

It’s a very short book, but very charming and it holds up a lot better then I though it would. I really enjoyed revisiting this story. 

Since the story is told from the POV of the eldest daughter, Sarah and Jacob’s relationship is filtered through her eyes. Now, as an adult, I can’t help but be invested in the idea of the story from their perspectives. Much of what happens between them is obviously private from their children and therefore only hinted at in the actual text. They have a very compelling love story, even if we don’t get to see much of it.