The Courage of Sarah Noble

By Alice Dalgliesh

(1954, 1986) ISBN 0684188309

Even before Laura Ingalls Wilder there were other Lauras and some like Sarah Noble started even further back in the eastern portion of what was to be the United States before the birth of our country.

In this story,  Sarah has to truly be brave by accompanying her father as the two of them set out alone from the family home in Massachusetts to build the future home of the family in a new settlement in Connecticut.  Sarah is brave enough to the point where she agrees to live with a family of Native Americans while Sarah’s father goes back to Massachusetts and fetches the rest of the family.  Sarah and her father have made friends with the family of Tall John, a Native American and as it turns out Sarah learns much from the family and she is happy living with these new friends.  Nevertheless Sarah is overjoyed to see her family return safely for her.

Readers, especially tween readers for whom this book is designed, will receive much in history lessons from this engaging work.  The illustrations are well done, add immensely to the story retelling with the beauty they contribute.

The Courage of Sarah Noble was a Newbery Honor Book in 1955.