Mr Jacob Witting, known as Papa to Anna and Caleb, did not sing anymore. Jacob is a widower raising his two small children alone while simultaneously managing the family farm. Although it has been some time since his wife died, Jacob is still struggling to get his footing back. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan is a hope-filled story about taking a risk to love after loss and to learn to sing again.
Papa says that he has forgotten all of the old songs that he used to sing. But he thinks that there might be a way to learn them once again. He has taken out an advertisement in the newspaper . . . for a wife! And, he has received a reply. From Sarah.
Thus begins a time of correspondence with each of the family members sending and receiving letters to and from Sarah. They share details of their everyday lives with each other. Caleb tells about the dogs, Nick and Lottie. Sarah tells about her cat, named Seal who is gray. Anna wants to know if Sarah can braid hair and cook. Eventually, Sarah proposes that she come for a visit to see how things are. Just to see. Anna and Caleb and Papa all say yes.
So Sarah comes to stay with the Witting family on their farm out West on the prairie. Sarah sings them new songs; she teaches Anna and Caleb to swim; she learns to plow and to drive the wagon by herself. She tells them about Maine and the sea and her relatives back East. Mostly, she talks about the sea.
As the story unfolds, they are all getting to know and understand one another. But the underlying question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Sarah will decide to stay and marry Papa? Or, will her longing for the familiarity of the sea call her back to Maine and to her brother and her aunts? Read Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan to see how things are. Just to see.