I've had this book in my shelves for a bit now and decided to pick it up today. It is sweet, endearing, and sad. I am assuming the age range is 7 to 9 or 6 to 9, but I think any ages could enjoy this very short read. However I do wish there were more details, not as specific as some novels but just a bit more so that the story is more of a whole. I think a 6 year old or 7 year old would enjoy it more, but for it to be a child's book that could strecth across all ages, it needs to be a bit more than this. None the less though I am keeping it but more for my sisters than for myself.

A little girl (whose mother has died) is excited by the arrival of Sarah, a lovable mail order bride.

I love the straightforwardness of kids'/YA books. Sometimes it feels so much more sincere to say, "Caleb slipped his hand into mine as we stood on the porch, watching the road. He was afraid" than to perform some literary acrobats attempting to show not tell the same thing. Especially, of course, because this story is told from the perspective of a young girl. This is a tender, quaintly written book that totally pulls on my heart strings without an ounce or pretension of manipulation. One to keep as comfort and reminder of the emotional impact of simplicity.

I last read this in the 3rd grade, and it still holds up as a spare, elegant story of longing and new beginnings. It's almost more like a poem. If you like action and adventure, it's probably not for you, but I'm drawn to its quiet thoughtfulness, and am glad I re-read it.

I just read this in my 40 minute lunch break. I would definitely recommend it for 9-12 year olds.

July 2023. Another short Newberry Medal winner I never got around to as a kid and decided to check out when I needed an easy listen while crunching numbers for work.

It was okay, nothing all that interesting or special. Mail order bride/mom misses the sea, talks about it a lot, deals with it, kids are nice.

Listened to on Libby audiobook with my Sac library card.

“Sarah, Plain and Tall” by Patricia MacLachlan.

A historical fiction book about two children whose father puts in an ad for a wife after their mother dies and it is answered by Sarah, who I'd plain and tall.

This is a nice, short story that can be used to teach a bit of history. It is moving and enjoyable. I remember it from childhood and it still holds up.

A sweet, short story about two children, Caleb and Anna who've lost their mother, so their dad sends for a mail-order bride. A woman named Sarah answers. She is from Maine and loves the sea. She is plain and tall. The children are excited to meet Sarah, and hope she will be their new mother; that she will sing like their mother used to, and also because Papa doesn't sing anymore, not since their mother died. But the children are worried that Sarah won't stay, because they live on the Wyoming prairie, where there is no sea, and their house is too small and Caleb is too noisy.

It's really about the simple pleasures in life and the warm affection between Sarah and her new family. The prose is simple (it's a children's book), yet moving and profound, and equally enjoyable for adults.

The book is based on a true story of an ancestor in the author's family tree. When I was in first grade, Patricia MacLachlan came to my school and talked to us about her book. I thought it was cool that a famous author grew up in the same town as I did, but I was disappointed when she was autographing her books and I didn't so much as have a piece of scratch paper for her to sign. I later begged my mom to buy me the book, since I hadn't even read it yet. I still have that (unsigned *sigh* copy).

Couldn’t remember a thing about this book from elementary school, but I remembered I liked it and took a chance when it was very cheap on Book Outlet. Very short and sweet! The concept of a mail order bride has always fascinated me; it’s a very different type of immigration, even if you’re coming from within the same country. Leaving behind an old life and starting a new one and a new job as a wife (and sometimes mother) to a new family is a very daunting idea to me.
This is definitely a simple story, but I love the way that you get other stories as you read between the lines. I’m sure the romantic in me even as a tween loved the way Sarah fell in love with everyone in the family, from the sheep to Jacob, her new husband. Seeing it through Anna’s eyes and hearing it in Caleb’s unending emotional commentary was adorable.