So, I've been reading some classic children's novels lately as I'm studying how to make my own children's novel better. One of the classics I picked out was Sarah, Plain and Tall. In my mind, I was returning to a familiar friend. One whom I visited often in my thoughts while living in California. For in this book, the mail-order-bride from Maine finally accepts her home in the Kansas plains and writes her name in the dirt. There came a moment in California when I could do that--write my name in the dirt.
Well, as I read the book, it wasn't really as good as I remembered it to be. But that was okay. Because near the end would be my favorite part--the writing in the sand of Sarah's name. Too bad that never happened in this book! I read the last couple of pages two or three times just to be sure I hadn't blinked. AAAHH!!! I read through this kind-of cute, but mostly boring book for nothing. And I really do mean nothing. I have no earthly idea why this book ever became a classic or ever won the Newberry award, if truth be told.
A call to my sister-in-law and a LOT of google searching finally yielded the answer. The book I was thinking of is one of the sequels, Skylark. Too bad I have no recollection whatsoever of reading this book. I read the synopsis. The only thing I remember of that book is the writing in the sand of Sarah's name.
I don't know, my friend. I'm either losing my mind or else I'm losing my mind. You be the judge.
