Following the novel's release, a New York Times book review by Martha Saxton characterized the work as an "exquisite, sometimes painfully touching little tale."[8] Saxton also wrote about the effect the novel will have on readers, stating, "The gentle book cannot fail to touch readers."[8]
Karen Cushman, acclaimed author of Newbery Medal winners The Midwife's Apprentice (1995) and Catherine, Called Birdy (1994), expressed in a 2010 interview on historical fiction for children that Sarah, Plain and Tall holds a special place as her favorite Newbery-winning book, deeming it "a nearly perfect book."[10]
In a 2022 article, Patricia MacLachlan reflected on the enduring legacy of Sarah, Plain and Tall, attributing its vitality to the ongoing connection with the children who continue to read the story.[9] She shared that she regulalry receives letters from children expressing their love for the book, and some visit her home to give her drawings inspired by the story, illustrating the impact the novel holds for them.[9]
Awards
In 1986, Patricia MacLachlan received the Newbery Medal for Sarah, Plain and Tall, an accolade recognizing outstanding contributions to American literature for children.[11] The novel also received The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children and the Golden Kite Award for children’s fiction both in the same year, acknowledging excellence in the realm of children's literature.[12][13] Furthermore, in 1985, it was selected as a Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices selection.[13]
Educational Use
Sarah, Plain and Tall has found application in both classroom and writing workshops. Karen Cushman, a recipient of the Newbery Medal, utilized the novel's first page in an adult writing class, asserting that MacLachlan encapsulates "everything that you have to do in a first chapter, or in a first fifty pages" within a single page.[10]
In educational settings, Sarah, Plain and Tall has been chosen for read-aloud sessions by teachers for the novel's social pragmatic purpose, content, and theme.[14] In addition, as noted by professor of children's literature Rita Buchoff, Sarah, Plain and Tall serves as a valuable resource for addressing issues of family life, loneliness, hardship, and acceptance of life's experiences, making it a good novel for teachers and parents to read to children.[7] Recognizing the need for a broader perspective, some institutions like the American Library Association, suggest pairing Sarah, Plain and Tall with contemporary works such as Prairie Lotus (2020) by Linda Sue Park or The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming (2017) by J. Anderson Coats.[15] They believe that these companion reads will not only supplement potentially outdated information, limited point of view, and old-fashioned attitudes in older Newbery Medal winners, but also offer nuanced perspectives on themes like moving for a new life and harboring hope for change, that would enrich the overall reading experience of Sarah, Plain and Tall.[15]
