Author Study
Which character only appears in Caleb's Story?
Cassie
Why does Papa place an ad in the newspaper?
He hopes to find a new wife.
squall
a sudden violent storm with wind and rain or snow
horrid
awful; terrible
pungent
having a powerful scent
How does Sarah feel when she first arrives on the farm?
homesick
pesky
irritating; annoying
clattered
rattled; made a loud noise
In Chapters 7 and 8, what does Sarah tell the Wittings she wants to learn?
to ride a horse and drive a wagon alone
Why has John come to the Witting farm?
to see Jacob
What does Anna want Caleb to do while she is gone?
to write about what happens on the farm in a journal
sly
tricky; sneaky
homely
unattractive or plain
eerie
unnatural; spooky
A theme is a big idea that an author conveys to readers in a story.
A theme is a big idea that an author conveys to readers in a story.
In Caleb's Story, Caleb is now an older brother. How does this change Caleb from the person he was in Sarah, Plain and Tall?
He becomes more mature and independent, taking on more important and difficult chores on the farm.
In Sarah, Plain and Tall, Caleb is a little boy of just 5 or 6 years old. But in Caleb's Story, he is about 12 or 13.
He's likely to be more independent.
Why does Sarah enjoy sliding down the hay mound with Caleb and Anna in Chapter 5?
It reminds her of sliding down sand dunes into the sea with her brother.
What does the Wittings' neighbor, Maggie, tell Sarah in Chapter 7?
No matter where she lives, she will always miss something from somewhere else.
Unlike Sarah, Plain and Tall, which is told from Anna's point of view, Caleb is the first-person narrator in Caleb's Story. How will having Caleb as the first-person narrator affect this book?
Readers will know Caleb's inner thoughts and feelings even if he does not describe them to other characters or act on them.
What happened to Anna and Caleb's mother?
She died one day after giving birth to Caleb.
In Caleb's Story, Anna is several years older than she was in Sarah, Plain and Tall. Yet despite having grown up, she remains the same person in some key ways.
She is kind, sensitive, and supportive, as seen when she goes to help take care of sick people in town.
In Chapter 1, what does Cassie tell Caleb?
She saw a man behind the barn.
What does Sarah do when Papa tells her that a storm is coming and the roof needs to be repaired?
She works with Papa, and they quickly fix the roof together.
Why is Sarah slow to invite John into the house when they first meet?
She worries he may have influenza, and she fears that her children will get sick.
In Chapter 9, why are Caleb and Anna worried when Sarah goes to town alone?
They are afraid that she is planning to leave them and return home.
Why do Anna and Caleb pay such close attention to what Sarah says and does when she first arrives?
They are looking for any hint indicating that she intends to stay and marry Papa.
scowled
glared, frowned, or gave a mean look
Patricia MacLachlan
is a very successful author. Why? One reason is that she writes about memorable characters. Her characters make us think. They invite us to engage in the story by making us ask questions and find answers. Her characters inspire us, too, as they wrestle with important ideas and themes. Wyoming and North Dakota is what she wrote about
Widower
man whose wife died
nickered
nickered
slough
swamp or small pond
theme
the author's message or big idea
point of view
the perspective a story, or text, is told from
What does Anna think the prairie looks like after the hail storm?
the sea
narrator
the teller of a story
hitch
to harness or attach
Widow
woman whose husband died
Mail-order brides
women willing to come west to marry Advertise: newspapers, church bulletins, catalogs
