Review: Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
A bad drought on the prairie brings hardship and a certain dilemma to the Witting family.
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Vintage Fiction | Historical Fiction | Children’s/Family Fiction
Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
Description
Sarah came to the prairie from Maine to marry Jacob Witting, Anna and Caleb’s papa. But this summer, the land and those who live on it suffer from a bad drought. So Sarah takes Anna and Caleb back east. Maine is beautiful, but the children miss their home—and Papa. As the weeks go by, Anna begins to wonder what will happen if the rains don’t come.
My Thoughts
I remember liking this children’s historical fiction book even more than the one before it, Sarah, Plain and Tall, when I read them as a child. Would I still love Skylark that much, reading it again as an adult?
Simple but Substantive
Well. I’m pretty sure I love this book more now, having the benefit of my current perspective added to the memory of my childhood heart.
It’s a simple but substantive story of family, written with a light yet poignant touch. You really do feel the sting of the Wittings’ multifaceted struggle. When there are tears, they’re relatable. When there’s laughter, it’s refreshing. The Wittings’ bonds are growing and deepening—including the grown-up love between Sarah and Jacob, witnessed through Anna’s young but perceptive eyes.
It’s Worth It to Continue
Back when I read the first two books, the rest of this series didn’t exist yet. But now there’s more to discover about the Witting family. . .
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