Customer Reviews

Sarah Whitcher's Story

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Sarah's story was the tool we used to show our family how God is real and cares for each of us. Although the recommmended age is 7-9 we read a chapter to the whole family for part of our Bible story. Even my husband was captivated. We had a hard time closing the book after each chapter. Young readers can read with confidence, and little listeners are pulled into the wonderful dialogue and see the care the family characters have for each other. Our family loved this story. We do have a loving Father who cares for us and shows us time and again through many different lives just how much.

Thanks so much for publishing this book. I am a decendent of Chase Whitcher and had heard stories about Cousin Sarah. What a joy to pass this on to my children. This book is well written and helps children learn how wild animals can be a friend in time of need. This gutsy little girls meets a bear in the woods. She is lost cold and knows that she needs shelter. The "big dog" comes to her rescue. Great reading for a group of children. Goes well with another book about Sarah Whitcher, "The Bear That Heard Crying" by Natalie Kinsey Warmock and Helen Kinsey.

This book is an absolute treasure and is a joy to read. It is at a 7-9 year old reading level, but I, the Mommy, loved it as well. It is the story of a lost little girl and the miracle that lead to her being found. It is set in New Hampshire long ago in our country's early days. I could barely finish reading through my tears.
As the book tells us, "Trust in the Lord."

Little Sarah Whitcher, left in the charge of her older siblings while her parents leave their New Hampshire cabin for the day, wanders away and is lost in the woods. By the time her disappearance is discovered, it is dark, but in the morning the community rallies around the family to search for the lost child. They search until sunset, but are disappointed to find no Sarah. The search continues for another day, and another, though everyone but Sarah's parents has lost hope of her survival. Meanwhile, Sarah has found the company of a large animal whom she takes to be Ollie, the family dog. "Ollie" takes care of her, though he smells and acts strangely. On the third day after her disappearance, a man appears at the cabin, claiming to have had a dream showing where Sarah is. He leads the searchers to where she is found -- smelling of bear.

Throughout the story this hardworking pioneer family holds together in their trust that God will take care of Sarah. The father, especially, sets an example of faith in the most discouraging of circumstances. The deep love the parents express toward their children, and the joy with which Sarah is welcomed home, strike a sharp contrast between her vulnerable solitude and the secure place she holds within her family. The book ends with an author's note explaining that this story has some historical support, and descendants of Sarah Whitcher have repeatedly affirmed that she has told the story the way they heard it from their relatives.

Although the tale ends happily, it is a "scarer," and may not be suited to more sensitive listeners. But for those who are able to handle Sarah's real danger, it provides a wonderful, suspenseful adventure, gives a glimpse of early New Hampshire life, and portrays a tight-knit, loving family.