Synopsis
Set on the American prairie of the 19th century, this gentle book centers on a young girl named Anna and her brother, Caleb. Because their mother died giving birth to him, Caleb has no memories of her, and so it is up to Anna to share what she remembers about their mother--that she sang and that she loved flowers. The children's father, Jacob, lost without the help and companionship of his wife, places a classified ad in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, a self-described "plain and tall" woman who lives in Maine, answers. After a few letters, she agrees to come to prairie to meet Anna, Caleb, and Jacob in person. Anna and Caleb quickly bond with Sarah, and start hoping that she will decide to stay with them--and Jacob, too, seems taken with her honest but kind manner. Sarah, however, is lonely for her home by the sea. Will Sarah stay and become part of their family, or will her love of the sea call her back to Maine? Illustrated with occasional B&W pencil drawings, this book won the 1986 Newbery Medal.

When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay.

Details
Publication Date:	1987-09-01
Edition Description:	Reprint

Size
Length:	58 pages
Height:	7.5 in
Width:	5.0 in
Thickness:	0.5 in
Weight:	3.2 oz

Publisher's Note
"In a near-perfect miniature novel, two children experience the apprehensions and joys of the possibility of a new mother, when their father invites a mail-order bride to their prairie home."--"Booklist." 1986 Newbery Medal; ALA Notable Children's Book; IRA/CBC Children's Choice Book; "School Library Journal" Best of the Best; a "New York Times" Outstanding Children's Book; Golden Kite Award for Fiction; Christopher Award.

"Did Mama sing every day?" Caleb asks his sister Anna. "Every-single-day," she answers. "Papa sang, too."

Their mother died after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and Papa doesn't sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a letter from one Sara Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. Papa, Ana, and Caleb write back. Caleb asks if she sings.

Sarah desides to come for a month. She writes Papa: I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall, and Tell them I sing. Anna and Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she like them? Will she stay?

 

Winner, 1986 Newbery Medal
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Book of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (N.Y. Times Book Review)
International Board of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing, 1988
1986 Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Books for Children (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the 80's (BL)
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Books of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (NYTBR)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Children's Books (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey Library Association)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the '80s (BL)
1986 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1988 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
1988 International Borad of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing
1986 Jefferson Cup Award (Virginia Library Association)

Industry Reviews
"A flawless piece of storytelling that touches on many aspects of longing, self-esteem, and raw family needs."
Eden Ross Lipson

"A near-perfect miniature novel."
Alexander