The Courage of Sarah Noble [Paperback]

Alice Dalgliesh (Author), Leonard Weisgard (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 30, 1991 | Age Range: 7 and up | Series: Ready-for-Chapters | Lexile Measure: 610L (What's this?)

In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. "Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble," her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy to feel brave inside. The dark woods were full of animals and Indians, too, and Sarah was only eight!

The true story of Sarah's journey is inspiring. And as she cares for her father and befriends her Indian neighbors, she learns that to be afraid and to be brave is the greatest courage of all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The New York Times Book Review "This one is to be long remembered for its beautifully written beauty and simplicity."

From the Publisher

In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new for their family. "Keep up your courage, sarah Noble," her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy to feel brave inside. The dark woods were full of animals and Indians, too, and Sarah was only eight!

The true story of Sarah's journey is inspiring. And as she cares for her father and befriends her Indian neighbors, she learns that to be afraid and to be brave is the greatest courage of all.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; 2 edition (October 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689715404
• ISBN-13: 978-0689715402
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (378 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > United States

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Story About Courage and Friendship February 15, 2002

By C. Cunningham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

A heartwarming (and true) story about 8-year old Sarah Noble who travels with her father from Massachusetts to New Milford, Connecticut where he is to build the first home in that area for their family. When the house is finished, John Noble must leave his daughter with an Indian family while he goes back to Mass. to get his wife and other children.

The storyline flows beautifully, and the writing is rich but won't overload the emerging chapter-reader. If your child is making the transition into chapter books and loves historical fiction, then this is a great book for you.

Even older readers will enjoy the simplicity and adventure of this beautiful story. Although my daughter has read many chapter books, this is still one of her favorites!

Enjoy.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to chapter books. January 5, 2002

By slomamma

Format:Paperback

This was one of my favorite books when I was a little girl. It's about an eight year old girl in 1707 who goes into the wilderness with her father to help build a new home for her family. Before she leaves, some children frighten her with stories about Indians who will capture her and eat her or chop off her head. As she travels with her father, Sarah Noble must conquer all her fears. Finally, in her new home, Sarah meets Indian children who frighten her at first, but turn out to be nice kids who become her friends.

I bought this book for my 6-year-old daughter recently, fearing it wouldn't hold up after all these decades. After all, I grew up with cowboy movie images of "savage" Indians, and felt Sarah's fear. But my daughter, like most children today, hasn't grown up with that racist garbage. She wouldn't understand why anyone would be afraid of Native Americans. That's a good thing, of course, but I suspected changed attitudes would take away a lot of the book's suspense.

But the book holds up better than I expected. My daughter recognized immediately that the children who teased Sarah at the beginning were just being mean and didn't know anything about Indians. That the Indian children turn out to be just like her didn't come as a surprise. But Sarah's journey to a new place, being in the woods with scary animal sounds, all living temporarily in a cave all seemed like real dangers to her. And so, even though some of the "message" of the book has become a little dated, the plot holds up well. My daughter and I both enjoyed the book.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is great for children reading about their past. August 17, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

My name is Sarah Frances Noble and I am realted to the Sarah Noble in this book. I think this book gives young readers a view of what life was like a long time ago. Our way of life has totally changed and I feel that it is important that children learn about their ancestors past. This book is perfect for a first or second grader learning about a childs life back then

Sarah F. Noble

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a good choice for children to listen to! June 25, 2000

By Bonnie McKinzie

I decided to compare listening -- to reading -- a book. I very much enjoyed the smooth, expressive voice of narrator, Barbara Caruso.

Around 1700, little 8 yr. old Sarah left her mother and siblings to accompany her father to the wilderness of Connecticut to build their new home. Only a child, her job was to cook. When she was scared, she remembered her mother's parting words, "Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble".

Of all the things Sarah was afraid of, the Indians scared her the most. She and her father spent one night of their travels in a home in which the boys teased and worried her needlessly about the Indians. When Sarah and her father arrived at their property, Indian children quickly became her friends and put Sarah at ease.

The two adult Indians who befriended the family, Tall John and his wife Mary ended up taking care of Sarah when her father returned for the rest of the family.

This little book carefully explains Mary's need to dress Sarah like the other Indian children, complete with soft moccasins. Sarah refused to give up her moccasins much to the disdain of her newly arriving mother.

This cassette is about one hour long, just right for listening by children 5-8, perhaps divided into 2 or 3 segments. It also lends itself to discussion about Colonial life in America, as well as the diversity of cultures.

Friendship, trust, loyalty and respect are high priorities of this author, Alice Dalgliesh. I would certainly recommend this little book for its' content as well as historical value since it is based on a true story.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great transition from children's picture books to READING. March 27, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is an interesting book that children -- if at all interested in historical fiction -- can relate to. It is a semi-true, somewhat embellished, story of an eight-year-old girl, Sarah Noble, who travels with her father from Massachusetts to Connecticut to build a home in the wilderness. She must face fears of animals, Indians, and loneliness, as she responds to the need of her father to have someone along on the journey to cook for him. I have sat with three young learning disabled children as they individually read through this book and became demonstrably better readers. At times a difficult book, the vocabulary repeats itself without feeling redundant. A reader has many opportunities to be successful. The phonics constructions also repeat. I wonder if this was the author's intention as she wrote this excellent transition reader. A good story. A nice discussion of emotions. A good history read. A well-written book.