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    Caleb's Story
    Caleb's Story
    Caleb's Story
    Ebook91 pages1 hour

    Caleb's Story

    By Patricia MacLachlan

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    About this ebook

    The third book in the series that began with the Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.

    Anna has done something terrible. She has given me a journal to fill.

    "It's your job now," Anna says as she hands Caleb her journals, asking him to continue writing the family story. But Sarah, Jacob, Anna, Caleb, and their new little sister, Cassie, have already formed a family, and Caleb fears there will be nothing left to write about. That is, before Cassie discovers a mysterious old man in the barn, and everything changes. 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 25, 2013
    ISBN9780062285713
    Author

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Patricia MacLachlan (1938–2022) was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb’s Story; Edward’s Eyes; The True Gift; Waiting for the Magic; White Fur Flying; Fly Away; and Snow Horses. She lived in western Massachusetts.

    Read more from Patricia Mac Lachlan

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    Reviews for Caleb's Story

    4/5

    118 ratings8 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The third book in the Sarah, Plain and Tall-series. I just love this series of books that resembles The Little House on the Prairie and also is told from the children’s perspective. The first two books from Anne’s perspective - she’s a teenager now and leave the family to study and work in the city - and hands over the diary to her brother Caleb.Anna has done something terrible.She has given me a journal to fill."It's your job now," Anna says.This time the crisis in the family is not drought - well another form of drought - a deep seated conflict between Caleb’s father and grandfather - it’s exposed when the grandfather comes to visit them after years of silence and absence. Patricia Maclachlan again writes in sparse, poetical language with wonderful wisdom - again the mother Sarah is the cornerstone in the family and tries to hold everything together.Caleb: “… I want most of all for you to forgive Grandfather. I want you to forgive Grandfather so I can grow up and be just like you.” Another fine reading by Glenn Close who also stars as Sarah in the movie-adaptations.
    • 3/5
      Moar sequels! Maybe it's because I'm an adult, but it was obvious to me that Caleb's grandfather couldn't read. So the big build up to the reveal was annoying - but it is a children's book. Anywho, rounds out the story nicely.
    • 4/5
      Anna is going into town and leaves her journals with Caleb, encouraging him to continue writing their family story. Caleb doesn't think he'll have much to write about, but then his little sister Cassie discovers a man behind their barn - their grandfather, their father Jacob's father who left him behind many years ago.MacLachlan's spare style continues the story of the Witting family, now telling it through Caleb's eyes as he deals with Anna leaving and his grandfather appearing, and hopes for reconciliation between his father and grandfather. It's also given a definite time frame: just at the end of World War 1 during the influenza pandemic, a detail I had forgotten. Perhaps as an adult the ending is just a little too perfect, but it's a warm story about family and forgiveness.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed the hope presented in this simple timeless classic book. Sometimes reading a book with short pages can make a difference.
    • 4/5
      Caleb's grandfather is the best. At first Caleb's father rejected him, but the last is a happy ending.
    • 4/5
      The narrator in this series changes from Anna to Caleb in this volume. The family is growing older and closer and larger. Sarah has had a baby, Cassie, and another member of the family has arrived from the past, Jacob's father. The two men have some relationship issues to work through before they can become one big happy family.A simple book for young readers. A nice introduction to life on the prairie.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This would be a good book to use when talking about the home front of world war i. I thinks students will like this book because it will give them a new perspective that they probably haven't heard before.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Anna has given me an arduous task. I,Caleb, must continue writing the story of our family life. I don't like journal writing and have no talent for words. We work on a farm, we go to school. Besides nothing happens here or so I thought. Cassie and I find a strange man living in our barn.This man,John, (our long-lost grandfather) joins our family. My journal writing comes to life! "The wind howls outside, the snow and sleet hitting the windows like stones there. Inside it is peaceful. But John doesn't look peaceful at all. He looks like he has secrets. I will find out what they are."

      1 person found this helpful

    Book preview

    Caleb's Story - Patricia MacLachlan

    1

    "Come find me, Caleb!" called my little sister, Cassie.

    She ran out the door and down the steps. Lottie barked and followed her. Nick was older than Lottie. He stayed on the porch and watched.

    I don’t have time. I mean it, Cassie!

    Cassie ignored me the way she always did when she wanted something.

    And don’t look! she called.

    I sighed and walked after her. I covered my eyes with my hand, but through my fingers I could see Cassie run to the barn.

    One, two, three, I counted.

    Slower, she cried.

    Four . . . five . . . five and a half.

    Papa was hitching Bess to the wagon.

    Don’t be long, he said. Anna’s almost ready to leave.

    Don’t worry. This won’t take long, Papa.

    I don’t know, Caleb. Cassie’s getting better at hiding.

    I laughed.

    At least you don’t see her feet sticking out anymore. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, I called.

    I could hear Cassie laughing, but I couldn’t see her. I walked into the barn. It was cool and dark and quiet. A winter sharp smell filled the space.

    Cassie?

    There was no answer. There was a time when Cassie would answer me and give away her hiding place—she couldn’t help it. Not today.

    May, my favorite of all our horses, was in her stall. I reached over and touched her nose, and she nickered at me. I could see her breath in the cold air. There was silence, the only sound the sound of May’s breathing. Then I heard Lottie’s bark outside, and Cassie’s voice.

    Cassie? I hear you!

    I turned. Cassie tried to run by the barn door, and I rushed out and caught her, making her squeal.

    I’ve got you, Pal!

    Cassie laughed and we began to walk back to the house, Lottie leaping and jumping in front of us. Cassie reached up and took my hand, her face suddenly serious.

    There’s a man.

    What man?

    Behind the barn, said Cassie. He’s wrapped in a green blanket. He asked me about Papa.

    I smiled.

    You and your imaginary friends, Cassie.

    She scowled at me.

    There’s a man, she insisted.

    You’re stubborn, I told her. Like Sarah.

    Like Mama, Cassie corrected me. You could call her Mama.

    I could, I said. But you know the story, Cassie. When she first came here Anna and I called her Sarah. We will always call her Sarah.

    I will call her Mama, said Cassie.

    I picked her up—she was so light—and Cassie put her head on my shoulder as we walked to the house.

    A man, she whispered in my ear.

    Do you have everything, Anna?

    Sarah wrapped biscuits in a towel.

    Give these to Sam.

    Papa looked over Sarah’s shoulder.

    Some, he said. Not all.

    Sarah smiled.

    Papa never gets enough biscuits, said Anna.

    Anna tied up some letters with a long ribbon. Min, our orange cat, leaped up, trying to catch the ends. Her mother, Seal, slept in a basket by the fire, opening her eyes every so often to check on all of us.

    Justin’s letters? asked Sarah.

    Anna nodded.

    I read them over and over, she said softly. Sometimes I feel he’s standing next to me.

    Everyone was quiet. I used to tease Anna about her boyfriend, Justin. I called him Just-In-Time. But not anymore. Justin had gone to Europe to fight in the war. And no one teased Anna now. I think she worked for Doctor Sam because Justin was his son. It made her feel closer to Justin.

    Letters, said Papa, his voice low.

    You were the masters of letter writing, you and Sarah, said Anna.

    What does that mean? asked Cassie.

    It means that they wrote letters to each other before they loved each other, said Anna.

    I never got to write letters, complained Cassie.

    Papa smiled at her.

    No, you came much later.

    You came during an early snowstorm, I told Cassie, with wind and snow and cold. I remember.

    We all remember! said Anna, laughing.

    Did I come with letters? asked Cassie.

    No, said Anna. But you can write letters to me in town.

    I will, said Cassie, excited. I will write you a hundred plus seven letters!

    Here, Caleb, said Anna. She handed me some books.

    What is this? I asked.

    My journals, said Anna. And new ones. It is your job now.

    Mine?! I’m not a writer like you, Anna, I said.

    You’ll figure it out, Caleb. One page at a time.

    I can’t!

    Everyone’s not a writer, Caleb, said Anna. But everyone can write.

    Sarah looked out of the kitchen window.

    What is it, Sarah? asked Papa.

    I thought I saw something. Someone, maybe. Over there.

    Papa looked out, too.

    I don’t see anyone. But I do see the beginnings of snow. And the wind is picking up. Let’s go!

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