Sarah, Plain and Tall

Sarah, Plain and Tall is a wonderful book. I love it.  It’s  a Newbery award winner book by Patricia MacLachlan.

As a new mother for Anna and Caleb arrives by train, rides a wagon to come and wears a yellow bonnet, a wonderful story is unraveled. Anna and Caleb have lost their mother and Papa has sent an advertisement in the newspaper asking for a wife. Sarah (the new wife) arrives, and everyone is nervous. They wonder if she will stay. If she does, Papa and Sarah will marry in summer, next month. I really hope she stays. I am curious and nervous just like the characters in this truly wonderful book. Also, what amuses me the most is how the two children are always thinking about Sarah and wondering if she will stay. They always try to be at their best behavior to impress her!

What I liked most in this book is not the plot or characters, but the way the rural life in the past is described. Very detailed descriptions and very wonderful. It is as if a movie is forming in your head. You can picture everything so wonderfully.  The plot is good, but not the best thing about the book. The best thing is its simplicity in the story.

They live on a farm. They have two dogs, two horses, a few sheep, and few cows on the farm. Moreover Sarah comes with her pet cat. She also gets three chicks for eating but keeps them as pets. There are few interesting incidents involving these animals.  

   

Sarah really and badly misses the sea, where she came from, so there is not much chance she will stay. Worse, their house is small and a storm suddenly comes. Sarah says there are storms by the sea, too, so there is no problem. Anna, Caleb and Papa are not so sure. Sarah wants to learn to ride a horse wagon by herself, so Papa teaches her. Sarah is a fast learner and Anna and Caleb are worried. Will she ride to town, take a train ticket and go away? Does she not like them? I was nervous too.

Finally, one day, Sarah wants to go to town by herself in the horse wagon. Everyone waits and waits. Will Sarah come back? Will she go away? Read the book if you want to find out!