Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan is the third book in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series. The Witting family has now expanded to include Cassie, the daughter born to Jacob and Sarah. Once again, Patricia MacLachlan does not shy away from difficult subjects. In Caleb’s Story, Jacob’s father returns to the family farm unexpectedly. John Witting had left when Jacob was just a boy. Because of his long absence, Jacob assumed that his father was no longer living.
Each of the family members responds differently to John Witting’s presence on the family farm. Cassie, being the youngest, fully embraces her grandfather. She peppers him with questions of all kinds, even those that hit a raw nerve. Caleb longs to have a relationship with his grandfather, and when he discovers a secret about his grandfather, their friendship is formed. Sarah attempts to bridge the large gap that exists between Jacob and his father, longing for their reconciliation. Understandably, Jacob struggles with his pain and disappointment from the past and an unwillingness to let a new chapter begin.
Throughout the story, Patricia MacLachlan demonstrates the importance of family relationships. She lets you as the reader see that the people you love are sometimes the source of your deep pain. But she also showcases for us the concepts of forgiveness and restoration without lecturing. At some point in our own lives, we will likely need to practice forgiveness and restoration. It is helpful to see these challenging concepts in the form of a story before we face them in real life. Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan gives us that chance.
In order to enjoy Caleb’s Story to the fullest, it is helpful to read it in the proper sequence. You can find the recommendation for Sarah, Plain and Tall (the first book in the series) here. And you can find the recommendation for Skylark (the second book in the series) here.