Summary of Sarah, Plain and Tall

The novel which titled “Sarah, Plain and Tall” tells a story about a family who is looking for a new wife and mother for a father and his two children. In this story there are four main characters which contains Anna, her brother Caleb, their father Jacob and a woman Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton.

Jacob’s wife died after Caleb was born. Anna shares a memory in their house to Caleb that Papa (Jacob) sang a song in every single day. Anna hopes that Papa (Jacob) would sing like he did before. But unfortunately, Papa (Jacob) doesn’t sing anymore because he forgets the song. Jacob has put an advertisement on the newspaper to ask new wife and mother. A woman from Maine who lives near the sea named Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton responds it and decides to come. Sarah arrived by train and bring things for the children.

In summer, Sarah is still in Jacob’s house and both of Jacob’s children feel comfortable because her existence. Sarah and Caleb share each other about their home and then She picks flowers and all of them sing together. Sarah meets Maggie, Jacob’s neighbor and they talk about the old life that happened in this family. She remembers home and miss her brother William. Maggie tells her that “there are always things to miss, no matter where you are”.

In corn field, Sarah tells to Jacob that she wants to go to town alone. Sarah decision makes Anna and Caleb worry that she want to leave them. But Sarah stays with her commitment to see her brother in the town by drives a wagon. But one day she returns and tells them that she does miss her home but she would miss them more.