Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan

I read Sarah, Plain and Tall when I was little, but I barely remembered it. Now that I have read it again, I see it as a growing up story. It is written through the eyes of a young girl who hopes that a new woman can join her family and become her and her brother's mother after her biological mother passed away. But it seems to me that Anna, the main character, is watching Sarah (the woman) grow up and learning that she will have to grow up as well. Anna says, after knowing that Sarah misses much of the place where she came from, "'I would miss you Nick'", referring to her dog. She seems to be saying that one day, when she must leave her home and marry someone, she would miss much of what she had as a young girl. In the end, Sarah is happy and they are a family, indicating that she has found herself, and she belongs with Anna and her father and her brother. The story is about growing up, finding yourself, and having relationships.

There are also some feminist undertones in the story. For instance, Sarah demands to learn how to ride and drive the cart so that she can go into town by herself. She also says that she can work hard and demands that she be allowed to help Jacob (the father) patch the roof before the storm comes. She is very stubborn and independent. It seems like MacLachlan was promoting these characteristics in women.