- an 8-year-old girl is put into several situations requiring bravery, kindness and responsibility
- based on a true story in Connecticut, 1707
- convo: Indian children described as naked, the Great Spirit*
Type: beginner chapter book
Ages: 6-10
Author: Alice Dalgliesh
*The father Indian explains to his son that Sarah (saying her bedtime prayers) is speaking “to her Great Spirit as we speak with our Great Spirit.” Nothing else was mentioned or described on this topic.
Repeated several times throughout the book, the phrase “Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble” makes an efficacious impression on the little pioneer girl. She ultimately conquers mental fears and even learns how to treat others kindly–closing a gap between cultural differences.
[Small spoiler alert! Don’t read on if you’d like to be surprised, but here’s the reason I docked a star.]
The reunion with her family toward the end is happy and peaceful…except for one thing. Her mother is very disrespectful to the friendly neighboring Indians (who, by the way, sweetly cared for Sarah). I thought that surely she would be proven wrong in her prideful remarks, but no! The book continues for about one more page and then the story ends. That was my only disappointment with this otherwise charming little book.