The Courage of Sarah Noble
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 7+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Sarah is eight years old in 1707. She goes into the wild woods with her father to help him build a new home. She is often scared, but she stays brave and finds kind friends in an Indian family. Other children tell scary and unfair stories about Indians, so talk about that part. It is a short, gentle book for kids about seven and up. A true-hearted little book about a father and daughter, with prayer and the Bible as an ordinary part of their day. Sarah learns that courage means doing the right thing while afraid. The one reservation is the 1954 portrayal of Native people, which is kind in intent and thin in detail.
For parents
Read aloud from six. Independent reading from seven or eight. Hold it back from a very fearful younger child, since fear is the subject of nearly every chapter. Ask: what did the rude children say about Indians, and was it true? Tell your child the book shows the Native family kindly but simply, and that some Native reviewers have objected to it as stereotyped. Tell your child that courage is a virtue God strengthens in us (CCC 1808). Sarah is a Protestant settler, so add what Sarah was never taught: she has a guardian angel (CCC 336) and can call on Our Lady when afraid.