MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. New York: Harper & Row, 1985.
Reason read: for the fun of it (because I wanted something super quick to read).
Book summary (taken from inside cover):When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by her and hope that she will stay.” Not exactly. Widower dad places and advertisement for a wife and Sarah answers. One of the first things she tells them is that she is “plain and tall.” What follows is delightful story about the lengths people will go to in order to banish loneliness. Anna and Caleb are hungry for a new mother and want to see their father happy again so they welcome a stranger with open arms. But, probably the most heartbreaking sacrifice is made by Sarah herself. She gives up the coast of Maine and the ocean for the prairies of the Midwest. I have no idea how she does it.
As an aside, I was glad to learn this is the first book in the Witting Family series. When I finished Sarah, Plain and Tall I didn’t want to leave them, especially Sarah.
Edited to add quote: “There is something to miss no matter where you are” (p 42). How could I forget putting this in the review? I love this!
Author fact: MacLachlan won a Newbery Medal for Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Book trivia: Sarah, Plain and Tall was made into a movie starring Glenn Close and Christopher Walken.
Nancy said: Nancy said Sarah, Plain and Tall was good for both boys and girls.
BookLust Twist: from More Book Lust in the chapter called “Best for Boys and Girls” (p 22).
~*LunaSea*~ 