Sarah, Plain and Tall

Anna Whiting is the story’s protagonist and Jacob Whiting’s older child; the narrative does not specify her age, but her involvement with the household chores means she is likely on the brink of adolescence. Anna’s first-person narration allows the reader a glimpse into her grief over the loss of her mother. Though she loves Caleb Whiting now and spends much of her time looking after him, Anna admits she had complicated feelings for her brother after his birth: “It was hard to think of Caleb as beautiful. It took three whole days for me to love him […]” (6). Caleb’s birth was both a blessing and a curse, and Anna wrestles with experiencing joy and sorrow at the same time.

Like her brother, Anna has A Child’s Desire for Security and Stability. She longs for her father to sing once again and for their family to feel complete, yet she keeps her emotions close (especially compared to Caleb’s unending stream of verbalizations). When Sarah Wheaton arrives, Anna is intrigued by her—seeing Sarah bond with the animals especially endears her to Anna—but also worried that she misses her home. Anna participates in