Skylark
4/5
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About this ebook
The second book in the series that began with the Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.
My mother, Sarah, doesn't love the prairie. She tries, but she can't help remembering what she knew first.
Sarah came to the prairie from Maine to marry Papa. But that summer, a drought turned the land dry and brown. Fires swept across the fields and coyotes came to the well in search of water. So Sarah took Anna and Caleb back east, where they would be safe. Papa stayed behind. He would not leave his land.
Maine was beautiful, but Anna missed home, and Papa. And as the weeks went by, she began to wonder what would happen if the rains never came. Would she and Caleb and Sarah and Papa ever be a family again?
Patricia MacLachlan
Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022) was the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She was also the author of many beloved picture books, a number of which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily.
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Reviews for Skylark
180 ratings13 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Skylark by Patricia Maclachlan is a sequel to Sarah Plain and Tall, and here I got to catch up with the family that was such a delight to read about. In this book, the family is feeling complete, strong and happy in their being together and now having Sarah as their wife and mother. But things are not perfect, there is trouble however in the lack of rain. This is the prairies and crops, animals and people rely on the rain to supply the water that is needed. As the drought goes on, and neighbours around them are pulling out the tension increases. Eventually the father, Jacob, decides it will be best if Sarah takes the children to visit her aunts in Maine on an extended holiday.At first Sarah and the children delight in the greenness of Maine and the happiness of being with the relatives. They are amazed by the ocean and much of their time on the beach or out in a boat. But as the newness wears off, they all start to miss Jacob and their home. As time passes, they become more and more concerned about when they will be able to go home. Of course, Jacob is missing them tremendously and comes for them as soon as rain finally arrives on the prairies.This book is a very quick read, being about100 pages, but it reminds one of the strength and comfort one finds in family. The author has a flair for being able to paint life’s tender moments in a true and touching manner. Quite simply Skylark was a joy to read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you liked Sarah, Plain and Tall, you'll like Skylark. The Witting's prairie farm is experiencing a terrible drought, which tests Sarah's resolve as she thinks of her family in lush, green Maine where she grew up. Eventually Papa sends her and the two children, Anna and Caleb, to her Maine family for relief while he labors to save the farm. The four's strong love for one another threads throughout this spare, evocative book, a worthy sequel to the first. I'll be reading the next one, Caleb's Story. MacLachlan's ability to convey so much with so few words is impressive.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The sequel to the Newbery-medal winner novel [Sarah, Plain and Tall]. There are five books in this series. The “mail-order-bride” Sarah has now married Jacob and she tries to adjust to life on the prairie together with Jacobs two children, Anna and Caleb. A severe drought forces Sarah to move away with the children while Jacob is left behind to attend to the farm. Told from the girl Anne’s point of view she now learns more about Sarah as they move back to Maine where Sarah comes from. Again - I just love Patricia Maclachlan’s tender and simple writing - expressing so much with so few words.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is the sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall. Like many sequels, it does not live up to the first book in the series.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It's hard to live up to Sarah Plain and Tall, but this is pretty good for a sequel.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A one day read, a little over 200 pages. Translated from the Hungarian. The author lived 1885 to 1936. Takes place in 1899. An old couple’s old maid of a daughter goes away for a week, to visit family. The old couple, at first bereft at the absence of their unexciting and uninteresting daughter, soon surprise themselves by discovering a social world outside of their reclusive home. They rediscover old friends, restaurants, the theatre. It is a comic novel — his descriptions of the daughter in particular are cutting, yet all done in a style of “I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em” A gently comic novel, with unerringly accurate and insightful descriptions of motives, relationships. Best of all were his descriptions of the ugly old maid daughter of the old couple.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Another sequel to a Newberry Medal winner, written way after. There's something about these books that is just so comforting. Definitely enjoyable - and why not read? So short!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5There is nothing wrong with these books, they're sweet, the characters are pleasant, but they're just so, so very slight. Almost nothing happens--I feel this could have eaten up about 2 chapters in a different novel. My e-version even misled me as to its length, since after Skylark ended the file was padded with samples from not just the next in the series, but the next three! It's a sweet, short story, but if you're looking for a novel to sink your teeth into you won't find this filling enough.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s) - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is about struggles within a family. The prairie in which they call home is suffering through a drought. The family had to go through separation and heartache. In the end, faith worked in their favor and eventually, the family reunited again and was able to return home.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book would be good to use when talking about the early 19th century. I think students would like this book because of the characters and how they struggle with the drought.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah has come from Maine to marry Jacob, and be mother to Anna and Caleb. The family lives on the prairie on a sheep and wheat farm. The first summer they are together the land experiences a drought. Anna and Caleb are afraid that Sarah will leave them and go back to the sea because of the lack of water. As other families leave their farms, the weather threatens to tear this newly formed family apart.The book is told from young Anna's perspective, including her thoughts and worries about losing her new mother, and shows Sarah's desperation in this new situation, but also her determination to make it work. Though this situation is foreign to modern readers, parallels can be drawn between the drought and any situation that causes stress on a new relationship. Recommended for young readers, with parental guidance for explanations and discussion.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Sequel to Newbery award winning Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of the early pioneers who moved out west. Moving from Maine, Sarah becomes the mother and wife to a loving family. When severe draught hits, many leave because life is not sustainable. When things get exceedingly tough, Sarah and the two children temporarily move back to Maine. Embracing Sarah's family, but missing their father and the midwest, they long to return.When rain falls and grass begins to green, Sarah's husband makes the long journey to Maine to reclaim his family.While not one of her best, this is a touching story and holds the magic of MacLachlan's wonderful ability to paint clear, sharp images surrounded by a glow of a heartwarming story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In the second book of the Sarah, Plain and Tall series we get to see Sarah and Jacob settling in as a family after their marriage. Sarah's heart is with her new family, but she doesn't love the land yet. A draught and a trip home to her beloved Maine helps her to find the peace she needs. A beautiful addition to the series.
Book preview
Skylark - Patricia MacLachlan
Dedication
This is for Emily MacLachlan—
with admiration
with love
Contents
Dedication
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Excerpt from Caleb’s Story
1
Excerpt from More Perfect than the Moon
1
Excerpt from Grandfather’s Dance
1
About the Author
Also by Patricia MacLachlan
Back Ads
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
Papa married Sarah on a summer day. There were no clouds in the sky, and Papa picked Sarah up in his arms and whirled her around and around, her white dress and veil surrounding them like the summer wind. Caleb was so excited and happy, he burst into tears.
Everybody was happy.
1
"Stand on that stump, Caleb. Anna, you next to him. That will be a good family picture."
Joshua, the photographer, looked through his big camera at us as we stood on the porch squinting in the sunlight. Caleb wore a white shirt, his hair combed slick to his head, Sarah in a white dress, Papa looking hot and uneasy in his suit. The lace at my neck itched in the summer heat. We had to be still for so long that Caleb began to whistle softly, making Sarah smile.
Far off in the distance the dogs, Nick and Lottie, walked slowly through the dry prairie grass. They walked past the cow pond nearly empty of water, past the wagon, past the chickens in the yard. Nick saw us first, then Lottie, and they began to run. Caleb looked sideways at me as they jumped the fence and ran to us, running up to stand between Sarah and Papa as if they wanted to be in the picture, too. We tried not to laugh, but Sarah couldn’t help it. She looked up at Papa and he smiled down at her. And Joshua took the picture of us all laughing, Papa smiling at Sarah.
Joshua laughed, too.
Your aunts will like that picture,
he said to Sarah.
Sarah fanned herself.
They hardly know what I look like anymore,
she said softly. "I hardly know what they look like anymore."
I looked at Caleb. I knew Caleb didn’t like to think about Sarah and her aunts and her brother and the sea she had left behind.
It’s Maine you came from, isn’t it?
said Joshua.
Yes,
said Sarah.
"She lives here now," said Caleb loudly.
Papa put his hand on Caleb’s head.
That she does,
said Joshua, smiling.
He turned and looked out over the cornfield, the plants so dry they rattled in the wind.
But I bet Maine is green,
Joshua said in a low voice. He looked out over the land with a faraway look, as if he were somewhere else. We sure could use rain. I remember a long time ago, you remember it, Jacob. The water dried up, the fields so dry that the leaves fell like dust. And then the winds came. My grandfather packed up his family and left.
Did he come back?
asked Caleb.
Joshua turned.
No,
he said, he never came back.
Joshua packed up the last of his things and got up in his wagon.
Papa looked at Sarah.
It will rain,
he said.
We watched the wagon go off down the road.
It will rain,
Papa repeated softly.
Will you worry if it doesn’t rain?
asked Caleb.
Yes, but we’ll get along,
said Papa. We always get along.
"Imagine having to leave," said Sarah.
Papa took off his jacket.
We’d never leave, Sarah,
he said. We were born here. Our names are written in this land.
When Papa and Sarah went inside, Caleb looked at me. I knew what he was going to say, and I didn’t want to hear it.
Sarah wasn’t born here,
he said.
I picked up the pail of grain for the chickens.
"I