The third book in the series that began with the Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. This audio edition is narrated by Glenn Close.
Anna has done something terrible. She has given me a journal to fill.
""It's your job now,"" Anna says as she hands Caleb her journals, asking him to continue writing the family story. But Sarah, Jacob, Anna, Caleb, and their new little sister, Cassie, have already formed a family, and Caleb fears there will be nothing left to write about. That is, before Cassie discovers a mysterious old man in the barn, and everything changes. Everyone is excited about the arrival of a new family member—except for Jacob, who holds a bitter grudge. Only the special love of Caleb, and the gift he offers, can help to mend the pain of the past.
The third book in the series that began with the Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. This audio edition is narrated by Glenn Close.
Anna has done something terrible. She has given me a journal to fill.
""It's your job now,"" Anna says as she hands Caleb her journals, asking him to continue writing the family story. But Sarah, Jacob, Anna, Caleb, and their new little sister, Cassie, have already formed a family, and Caleb fears there will be nothing left to write about. That is, before Cassie discovers a mysterious old man in the barn, and everything changes. Everyone is excited about the arrival of a new family member—except for Jacob, who holds a bitter grudge. Only the special love of Caleb, and the gift he offers, can help to mend the pain of the past.
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Here is another superb performance in this newest book of the SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL saga. Introducing the characters of Grandfather and Cassie, the oldest and youngest of the family, Close remarkably changes her voice to make them utterly come alive. From the gruff old man, who materializes after so many years, to the sweet little girl whose innocence wins over Grandfather, the listener is treated to a wonderful interpretation of this touching drama of family and togetherness. Close makes Caleb's voice shine as he becomes the lead storyteller. As a special treat, an interview with the author is included at the end of the story. D.L.M. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
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September 24, 2001
Taking over the reins from his sister Anna, who narrated Sarah, Plain and Tall
and Skylark, Caleb describes the event in this heartwarming third installment, in which Jacob is reunited with his father. As the novel opens, readers meet Cassie, the baby whom Sarah carries in Skylark; the country is at war in Europe; and Anna leaves home to work for a doctor in town and gives Caleb the responsibility of recording the family events. While Jacob drives his older daughter to town, Cassie spots a man on the property. Thinking it's one of Cassie's imaginary friends, Caleb ignores her—until he sees the man for himself. When Jacob returns, the mystery of the man's identity is revealed, and wounds from the past begin to slowly heal. In an uplifting subplot, Caleb discovers why Jacob's father did not correspond with his son all the years he was away and begins to set things right. The narrative cribs liberally from Anna's entries in Skylark, but fans of the first two books will enjoy learning more about this resourceful and loving family. Ages 8-10. -
September 1, 2001
Gr 4-6-In this third book in the series begun in Sarah, Plain and Tall (HarperCollins, 1985), Caleb is given the responsibility of writing down everything that happens on the farm now that his older sister Anna has gone to live in town to finish school. At first, he thinks there will be nothing to write about, but when an old man appears in the middle of winter, the family's quiet life is suddenly disrupted. The stranger turns out to be Caleb's grandfather, who left when the boy's father, Jacob, was young. While Jacob allows him to stay, he refuses to forgive or even speak to the man. Caleb slowly realizes that his grandfather is illiterate, and he teaches him how to read and write. It takes his efforts and a near-tragedy to reconcile the differences between the men. Readers who are new to the Witting family will quickly become acquainted with the events of the past through the excerpts of Anna's journals that Caleb shares with his grandfather. Despite some heavy elements, MacLachlan manages to provide some lighter moments and humor through Cassie, the baby who was about to be born at the end of Skylark (HarperCollins, 1994), and who is now a lively and inquisitive child. This is an excellent work of historical fiction, a satisfying sequel, and an inspiring tale about love and forgiveness.-Ashley Larsen, Woodside Library, CACopyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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January 1, 2002
Caleb continues the journals Anna began in "Sarah, Plain and Tall, " and uses her journals plus his own contributions to teach his illiterate grandfather to read. Heartstrings are tugged a bit too predictably, and the drama is spun out with an overabundance of events. Still, the relationships are believable, and MacLachlan has an unabated gift for clean, well-honed dialogue that carries its resonant meanings with unusual grace.(Copyright 2002 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
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September 1, 2001
Gr. 3-5. This third installment in the Sarah Plain and Tall (1985) series is a novelization of MacLachlan's 1999 television screenplay, "Winter's End." The time is 1918, and Anna has moved to town to finish high school, leaving Caleb to record the family saga. When a stranger appears at the farm, Sarah invites him inside and learns that he is John Witting, Jacob's father, who abandoned his family many years before. As Caleb and Cassie get to know their grandfather, Sarah tries unsuccessfully to broker reconciliation between the two men. Finally, Caleb discovers the reason behind some of the friction (Grandfather, who is illiterate, wasn't able to write to Jacob after he left), paving the way for forgiveness and new understanding. MacLachlan's spare yet elegant prose conveys the deep feelings of the characters as they work through a difficult time. Four-year-old Cassie, Sarah and Jacob's daughter, brings a certain innocence to the story and helps the drama stay focused on the child's point of view. Series fans will welcome this, but it's also a solid offering that can stand on its own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)
