Free Sarah Plain and Tall Series Book Review and Content Guide
Sarah Plain and Tall Series Book Review and Content Guide. Sarah, Plain and Tall series is a heartwarming story about the Witting family set in the nineteenth century on a Midwestern farm. This timeless collection includes five books that gently handle heavy topics. These books are great for early chapter books and short family read-alouds. Perfect reads for fans of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Please note the review contains content warnings which are not meant to shame you for enjoying certain books. It doesn’t mean you should avoid it or that you should feel personally judged by the warnings. It’s a heads up for the mama who doesn’t have time to pre-read every book before sharing it with their precious children. We all have different family values and kids of varying ages. Sometimes I will include warnings that may not apply to your family. Please continue to have discernment with book selections for your family. You are the gate keeper of your home and I am so blessed that you consider me worthy to review this book for you.
Life is too short, time is too precious and there are too many beautiful stories to read books that do not align with your family values.
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Read below to determine if this book is a good fit for you and your reader.
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (Book 1)
Age Range: 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 5+ (books 2-5 I recommend 8+)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Book
Themes: Loneliness, Abandonment, Loss, Family, and Love
Year Published: 1985
Awards: Newbery Medal
Sarah, Plain and Tall At a Glance
Description (Spoiler Free)
Sarah, Plain and Tall is a heartwarming story of a lonely family. The Witting children, Anna and Caleb, lost their mother shortly after Caleb’s birth. Their papa needs help and places an ad for a wife in the newspaper. Sarah Wheaton, a strong and stubborn unmarried woman from the East Coast, responds to his ad. After exchanging letters, Sarah agrees to visit. The children fear Sarah will not stay because her heart lies beside the sea in Maine.
Brief Content Warnings
The mother dies shortly after giving birth. Papa places an advertisement in the newspaper for a wife. Sarah comes to live with them before marriage (mail-order bride).
Discussion Topic
Loss & Abandonment.
First Line
“Did Mama sing every day?” asked Caleb. “Every-single-day?” He sat close to the fire, his chin in his hand.”
Quotes
“Dear Jacob, I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall. Sarah”
“Tell them I sing was all it said.”
“There is always something to miss no matter where you are.”
Content Guide for Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Religious Beliefs
None.
Language
None.
Violence
None.
Romance
Sarah is an unmarried woman and comes to stay with the Witting Family before marrying Jacob (papa). No inappropriate content is noted. One instance were Jacob puts his arms around Sarah.
Political
None.
Other
Sister teases younger brother. The mother dies soon after giving birth to Caleb. Her death is an important part of the story. A lamb dies and Sarah has to scare away the buzzards.
Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan (Book 2)
Age Range: 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Book
Themes: family and identity
Year Published: 1994
Skylark At a Glance
Description (Spoiler Free)
“Papa married Sarah on a summer day. There were no clouds in the sky…” The looming drought makes settling down on the farm difficult for Sarah. While Caleb yearns for a fairy-tale ending, the drought ultimately results in dried-up wells, devastating fires, and difficult decisions. Jacob decides to send his new wife and two cherished children to Maine while he stays to care for his land.
Brief Content Warnings
The story includes hardships from a drought such as fires and wells drying up. Neighbors and friends leave their homes. The Witting’s barn burns down. The children are separated from their father.
Discussion Topic
Hardships.
First Line
“Stand on that stump, Caleb. Anna you next to him. That will be a good family picture.”
Quotes
“Will you worry if it doesn’t rain?” asked Caleb.
“Yes, but we’ll get along,” said Papa. “We always get along.”
“We’d never leave, Sarah,” he said. “We were born here. Our names are written in this land.”
“It’s too hot, Caleb,” she said. “Too hot for singing.”
“You are like the prairie lark, you know,” said Maggie. “It sings its song above the land to let all the birds know it’s there before it plunges down to earth to make its home. But you have not come to earth, Sarah.”
“Sometimes, what people choose to write down on paper is more important than what they say.”
Content Guide for Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
Religious Beliefs
None.
Language
None.
Violence
None.
Romance
Papa takes Sarah in his arms and kissed her.
Political
None.
Other
Neighbors move away due to lack of water. The barn burns down. The children are separated from their father. One of the aunts invites Caleb to go skinny-dipping.
Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan (Book 3)
Age Range: 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Book
Themes: Family, Forgiveness and Restoration
Year Published: 2000
Caleb’s Story At a Glance
Description (Spoiler Free)
Anna entrusts Caleb with writing in the family journal while she is away. He fears there will be nothing interesting to write about. That is until Cassie finds a stranger in the barn. The unexpected arrival of this new family member brings both heartache and healing. The narrative unfolds with moderate suspense as the family undergoes restoration in a sorrowful time of war and sickness.
Brief Content Warnings
Two male family members push each other. There is fear of death from sickness, freezing, and a distant war. Also, there is a sorrowful scene at a graveyard where a family buries an infant. Suspense builds when a family member is missing in the snow.
Discussion Topic
Family Sorrows, Repentance, Forgiveness, and Restoration.
First Line
“Anna has done something terrible. She has given me a journal to fill.”
Quotes
“I’ll write about winter. And if I’m lucky, maybe something else will happen.”
“The wind howls outside, the snow and sleet hitting the windows like stones tossed there. Inside it is peaceful. But John doesn’t look peaceful at all. He looks like he has secrets.”
“There will be winds and storms, but I don’t care. There is happiness here now.”
Content Guide for Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan
Religious Beliefs
None.
Language
None.
Violence
Grandfather and Papa push each other and injury results. Suspense builds as a broken leg is set.
Romance
Anna has a boyfriend.
Political
None.
Other
There is anxiety and fear of influenza. Homes are marked with flags to remember sons gone off to war and doors with black wreaths to warn others of sickness and death. There is a brief mention of a neighbor freezing to death. Also, there is a sorrowful scene at a graveyard where a family buries an infant. There is high suspense when a family member gets buried in the snow.
More Perfect Than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan (Book 4)
Age Range: 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Book
Themes: Change & Growth
Year Published:2004
More Perfect Than the Moon At a Glance
Description (Spoiler Free)
In this fourth book, Cassie (an 8-year-old girl) writes the family journal. She is watchful and honest. Cassie wishes for a gift more perfect than the moon but finds the gift unwanted and dreadful. The arrival of a new addition to the family fills her with dread as she anticipates the disruptions this “terrible” baby will bring. This classic story explores the themes of life transitions and personal change, ultimately uncovering the joy that can emerge from the unexpected and the unwanted.
Brief Content Warnings
There are brief mentions of kissing between parents and siblings with their significant others. Cassie dreads the arrival of the baby and expresses her frustration and jealousy. She calls the baby terrible and dumb. (There is a change of heart at the end.)
Discussion Topic
Unexpected life changes and the blessings of babies.
First Line
“Hello, I am writing here now. My brother Caleb says it is my turn to keep the journal. He is busy working the farm most of the time, and when haying time comes he’ll be busy all the time.”
Quotes
I looked up at Papa. “He is a terrible baby.” I smiled at Mama. “But he’s more perfect than the moon.”
Content Guide for More Perfect Than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan
Religious Beliefs
None.
Language
One use of the word “dumb.” Cassie calls the unborn baby terrible and speaks negatively about the baby’s arrival.
Violence
None.
Romance
Anna and Justin (her boyfriend) have a long kiss. Mention of kissing between Mama and Papa. Mention of Caleb and his girlfriend meeting.
Political
None.
Other
None.
Grandfather’s Dance by Patricia MacLachlan (Book 5)
Age Range: 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Book
Themes: Loss & Remembrance
Year Published: 2006
Grandfather’s Dance At a Glance
Description (Spoiler Free)
The Witting family is getting ready for a prairie wedding. Told from Cassie’s perspective, she reflects on the seasons of life. A touching relationship exists between the youngest brother, Jack, and their Grandfather. As Grandfather takes numerous pills, Cassie worries he may not be present at her wedding. With his charming humor, Grandfather adds warmth to the story and marries Cassie off to her husband-dog. This series ends with an unforgettable tale of love and loss.
Brief Content Warnings
Cassie jokes about her husband-dog because there is nobody she loves “for marrying.” Grandfather jokes about attending the wedding in his underwear and one mention of skinny-dipping. There is a death of a family member. Mild language with four uses of the word “drat.”
Discussion Topic
Marriage, death, and remembering loved ones.
First Line
“His name is John, my little brother. John Jacob Witting, after my papa and grandfather. But Papa and Mama call him Jack. Jack calls himself Doggie.”
Quotes
“I suppose that’s what writing is for,” said Grandfather. “To change life and make it come out the way you want it to.”
“I live life to the brim,” she said.
“And a little over the top, I’d say,” said Grandfather.”
“When Jack saw the picture he went to get Grandfather’s black hat. He put it on. He pointed to the picture. “Boppa,” he whispered. Grandfather is here.”
Content Guide for Grandfather’s Dance by Patricia MacLachlan
Religious Beliefs
None.
Language
Use of the word “drat.”
Violence
None.
Romance
None.
Political
None.
Other
The word spell is used twice, such as “under a spell like a fairy tale.” Cassie jokes about her husband dog because there is nobody she loves “for marrying.” Grandfather jokes about attending the wedding in his underwear and one mention of skinny-dipping. There is a death of a family member.
Thoughts on Sarah, Plain and Tall Book Series
The whole series is lovely. The series includes five short chapter books with great character development and themes of loss, love, family, and abandonment. The author gently handles these heavy topics. While the first book could be a read-aloud for kids as young as five years old, the sensitivity and maturity of the reader need to be considered for books 2-5. I plan to read aloud Sarah, Plain and Tall when my girls are closer to 8 years old and then let them complete the series as independent reads. This was a preread. (I’ll come back and update).
If you enjoyed Sarah, Plain and Tall, then try _____ .
Maybe try “The Cabin Faced West” by Jean Fritz.
PENDING – I’ll come back and add more recommendations soon.
More Book Reviews Coming Soon!
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