Anna has done something terrible. She has given me her journal to fill. In Anna's journal the words walk across the page like bird prints in the mud. But it is hard for me. It is hard for me to find things to write about.
"It's your job now," Anna says as she hands Caleb her journals, asking him to continue writing the family story. Caleb fears there will be nothing left to write about, until a mysterious old man is discovered in the barn. Everyone is excited about the arrival of a new family member except for Jacob, who holds a bitter grudge. Only the special love of Caleb and the gift he offers can help to mend the pain of the past.
Caleb's Story continues the saga begun by the Newbery Medal-winning Sarah, Plain and Tall and its sequel, Skylark, spinning a tale of love, forgiveness and the ties that bind a family together.
Here is another superb performance in this newest book of the SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL saga. Introducing the characters of Grandfather and Cassie, the oldest and youngest of the family, Close remarkably changes her voice to make them utterly come alive. From the gruff old man, who materializes after so many years, to the sweet little girl whose innocence wins over Grandfather, the listener is treated to a wonderful interpretation of this touching drama of family and togetherness. Close makes Caleb's voice shine as he becomes the lead storyteller. As a special treat, an interview with the author is included at the end of the story. D.L.M. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
About the Author
Patricia MacLachlan is the bestselling author of beloved books for young readers, including Arthur, For the Very First Time, winner of the Golden Kite Award for fiction; The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt; and Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal, as well as its sequels, Skylark, Caleb's Story, and More Perfect Than the Moon. Her picture books include Who Loves Me?, Three Names, What You Know First, and All the Places to Love and Bittle, Painting the Wind, and Once I Ate a Pie, which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily. She lives with her husband in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.
