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Sarah and Katie
Sarah and Katie are best friends. Together they have written a play for their class to perform at Thanksgiving. But when a beautiful new girl, Melanie, joins their class, Sarah is fascinated by her. As director of the play, Sarah picks Melanie rather than Katie to play the leading roles. And things start to go wrong.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 17, 2017
I loved this book when I first read it long ago, maybe in 4th or 5th grade, so much so that every once in a while I take it out and read it again. I did just that the other night and read it straight through. I love the characters, the illustrations, and the storyline. The friendship between the two girls is spot-on, as is the way things go wrong without them exactly knowing how to stop it. Melanie is still fascinating, even after all this time. Yup. Love it.
August 14, 2010
One of my favorite books growing up, about two best friends and the misunderstanding that tears them apart. Beautifully illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.
October 8, 2012
I couldn't tell you why I loved this so much, but I did. I checked it out over, and over and over again, and when the library finally weeded it, I bought it.
October 8, 2024
I have a paperback copy of this book with the same cover as shown for the hardback, a Scholastic Book Services edition that I bought through one of the paperback book order forms in grade school that were periodically offered to us. I'm guessing this was fourth grade or early fifth grade. The author of this book certainly knew and understood young kids and their relationships with each other and with their teachers. Although this is set in Portland, OR and features a new girl in school just moved from California, the characters and action of this novel were completely relatable to me growing up in southwestern PA.
Sarah is the main character, and with her self-doubts, writing aspirations, and desire to be liked by the cool girl, I did identify with her. Katie provides the story's moral compass, and she never doubts what is right and wrong, nor is she ever for a moment fooled by all that glitters. Near the end of the novel, Sarah's father says to Katie with a laugh "Katie, Katie, you're the salt of the earth. Don't let anyone ever teach you to compromise, Katie, or I'll feel that the props have been pulled out from under me." I had a little bit of Katie in me too, growing up, and it's possible that novels like this one encouraged me to develop my inner Katie a little more. None of us is completely immune to wanting to be liked by the popular kids, in school and in the rest of life. Novels like this one are good to have in one's hands when trying to figure it all out.
It's possible that this novel is what put the idea in my head of wanting to write and stage a play in the fifth grade. I did write a play (a very very bad one) and my wonderful fifth grade teacher gave me leave to try my best to put it on. I cast my classmates in parts; my teacher mimeographed copies of the play; we had a few rehearsals; but mounting a full production was beyond my fifth grade directorial skills. Much later, in high school, as part of the so-called gifted program, I and a few other kids staged a production of Hansel and Gretel for the delight of elementary school kids, complete with scenery and costumes we made ourselves. As I recall we were quite proud of our effort but it probably was not much beyond the level of Sarah and Katie's production of "Thanksgiving for Collette!"
Sarah's mother advises her, after she has been led a bit astray by her desire for friendship with the new girl, that it's "good to have all kinds of friends...but it isn't good to be led" and that is a piece of wisdom every child can use. Every adult, too!
I don't know how I felt about the ending of the book when I read it as a child; it strikes me as hopelessly optimistic from an adult perspective. I knew a Danny, or several Dannys, throughout my K-12 schooling. Because of the rural area I grew up in, we all more or less went to school with the same group of kids from grade school on through graduation and knew each other well. I can't imagine the main group of kids suddenly changing their perspective on and acceptance of a Danny, or a Danny suddenly altering his attitude and disposition, merely because of a one time intervention of a teacher and principal. I do think this book probably had a subtle influence on the way I personally looked at the Dannys in my class. When one declared his love for me in the eighth grade, I didn't reject him out of hand as being outside the pale, even though technically speaking in the social order of our class group, he was. This Danny really was a boy on the path to no good. Fortunately for me because of our rural area, I wasn't able to see him anywhere outside of school, so no real harm came to me.
This is a really lovely novel, but even in 1972 its references to Rin Tin Tin, Tom Mix, and Greta Garbo as famous Hollywood stars was dated and irrelevant for young readers. I had heard of all these stars but they might as well have been as old as Gilgamesh. I think children can still enjoy "old" stories like these - I loved reading The Peterkin Papers when I was young and obviously Little Women hasn't lost any of its popularity over time. So I'd happily recommend this sweet novel to young kids today, especially little girls who worry about not being popular and aspire to write plays.
Sarah is the main character, and with her self-doubts, writing aspirations, and desire to be liked by the cool girl, I did identify with her. Katie provides the story's moral compass, and she never doubts what is right and wrong, nor is she ever for a moment fooled by all that glitters. Near the end of the novel, Sarah's father says to Katie with a laugh "Katie, Katie, you're the salt of the earth. Don't let anyone ever teach you to compromise, Katie, or I'll feel that the props have been pulled out from under me." I had a little bit of Katie in me too, growing up, and it's possible that novels like this one encouraged me to develop my inner Katie a little more. None of us is completely immune to wanting to be liked by the popular kids, in school and in the rest of life. Novels like this one are good to have in one's hands when trying to figure it all out.
It's possible that this novel is what put the idea in my head of wanting to write and stage a play in the fifth grade. I did write a play (a very very bad one) and my wonderful fifth grade teacher gave me leave to try my best to put it on. I cast my classmates in parts; my teacher mimeographed copies of the play; we had a few rehearsals; but mounting a full production was beyond my fifth grade directorial skills. Much later, in high school, as part of the so-called gifted program, I and a few other kids staged a production of Hansel and Gretel for the delight of elementary school kids, complete with scenery and costumes we made ourselves. As I recall we were quite proud of our effort but it probably was not much beyond the level of Sarah and Katie's production of "Thanksgiving for Collette!"
Sarah's mother advises her, after she has been led a bit astray by her desire for friendship with the new girl, that it's "good to have all kinds of friends...but it isn't good to be led" and that is a piece of wisdom every child can use. Every adult, too!
I don't know how I felt about the ending of the book when I read it as a child; it strikes me as hopelessly optimistic from an adult perspective. I knew a Danny, or several Dannys, throughout my K-12 schooling. Because of the rural area I grew up in, we all more or less went to school with the same group of kids from grade school on through graduation and knew each other well. I can't imagine the main group of kids suddenly changing their perspective on and acceptance of a Danny, or a Danny suddenly altering his attitude and disposition, merely because of a one time intervention of a teacher and principal. I do think this book probably had a subtle influence on the way I personally looked at the Dannys in my class. When one declared his love for me in the eighth grade, I didn't reject him out of hand as being outside the pale, even though technically speaking in the social order of our class group, he was. This Danny really was a boy on the path to no good. Fortunately for me because of our rural area, I wasn't able to see him anywhere outside of school, so no real harm came to me.
This is a really lovely novel, but even in 1972 its references to Rin Tin Tin, Tom Mix, and Greta Garbo as famous Hollywood stars was dated and irrelevant for young readers. I had heard of all these stars but they might as well have been as old as Gilgamesh. I think children can still enjoy "old" stories like these - I loved reading The Peterkin Papers when I was young and obviously Little Women hasn't lost any of its popularity over time. So I'd happily recommend this sweet novel to young kids today, especially little girls who worry about not being popular and aspire to write plays.
April 20, 2016
One of the very first books I ever remember reading, back in elementary? middle? school. Had an overwhelming desire to find it and read it again, and I'm glad I did. It's remarkable how books from our childhood stay with us... I've had "The tooth ate Lucy!" floating around in my head for over 30 years! :)
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December 30, 2020Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.
Okay, first off, this is a scan of my actual copy, and let's talk about a couple things about that. One, it's pretty gross and boy my scanner picked that up incredibly well. This book is forty years old and there's not a lot of information about it or the author online. It doesn't, in fact, seem like the author wrote any other books. Which is kind of sad. It seems she died in 2007. I hope she was happy. Goodreads does have a slightly cleaner-looking photo, but it's much smaller. I'm going to include it to talk about a thing that I have before.
This is apparently another old book that was yellow and turned pink! I wish I had more pictures of this, because I find it so interesting how so many books that were originally deep mustard colours or bright yellows eventually turn this not very pretty, pale peachy-pink. I'm so curious about how this happens and why so many books end up such a close shade to each other.
Okay, now on to the actual book.
It was fine. I did appreciate that they actually mentioned the Depression, and I thought the attitude about it being absolutely fine to get help when you needed it wasn't bad at all. Sarah's mom also is fat and it's handled very well. Her illustrations even draw her that way, and it's not exaggerated or stereotyped. She's just a mom who's all round and soft, and it's nice.
There's some casual racism that you'd expect from a book written in the 70s and set in the 30s, and overall there's really nothing special to it besides that in the modern world it reads as exceptionally queer. Sarah is super fascinated about Melanie and it honestly reads like she has a crush on her. Like hugely. Girlfriend smells Melanie's perfume and gets super excited about it while sitting next to her. Also, the book does do the "gay old time" thing including Melanie smiling "gaily" at them.
Reader, I laughed a lot.
Anyways, it's not the worst thing I've ever read, and if you have nostalgia for this, I don't think it would hurt to pick up a copy, but it's not one I'm super drawn to. Also it's physically kind of gross. I'm gonna pass it on, but it was a cute read.
Okay, first off, this is a scan of my actual copy, and let's talk about a couple things about that. One, it's pretty gross and boy my scanner picked that up incredibly well. This book is forty years old and there's not a lot of information about it or the author online. It doesn't, in fact, seem like the author wrote any other books. Which is kind of sad. It seems she died in 2007. I hope she was happy. Goodreads does have a slightly cleaner-looking photo, but it's much smaller. I'm going to include it to talk about a thing that I have before.
This is apparently another old book that was yellow and turned pink! I wish I had more pictures of this, because I find it so interesting how so many books that were originally deep mustard colours or bright yellows eventually turn this not very pretty, pale peachy-pink. I'm so curious about how this happens and why so many books end up such a close shade to each other.
Okay, now on to the actual book.
It was fine. I did appreciate that they actually mentioned the Depression, and I thought the attitude about it being absolutely fine to get help when you needed it wasn't bad at all. Sarah's mom also is fat and it's handled very well. Her illustrations even draw her that way, and it's not exaggerated or stereotyped. She's just a mom who's all round and soft, and it's nice.
There's some casual racism that you'd expect from a book written in the 70s and set in the 30s, and overall there's really nothing special to it besides that in the modern world it reads as exceptionally queer. Sarah is super fascinated about Melanie and it honestly reads like she has a crush on her. Like hugely. Girlfriend smells Melanie's perfume and gets super excited about it while sitting next to her. Also, the book does do the "gay old time" thing including Melanie smiling "gaily" at them.
Reader, I laughed a lot.
Anyways, it's not the worst thing I've ever read, and if you have nostalgia for this, I don't think it would hurt to pick up a copy, but it's not one I'm super drawn to. Also it's physically kind of gross. I'm gonna pass it on, but it was a cute read.
August 2, 2018
"Sarah didn't see how she could manage the costumes and scenery alone, and she wished she could talk to Katie about it. After all, it was Katie's play, too. But Katie seemed to have forgotten that. Everyone was leaving everything to Sarah.
"At this low point in Sarah's life, she wished every morning that something different would happen, but when something finally did happen, she wished it hadn't."
- from Sarah and Katie by Dori White. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.
I'm a major fan of Trina Schart Hyman, so when I encountered a book I had never heard of with her illustrations, I snapped it up. I was hoping it might be a good one to pass on to my niece, who is 9 and recently starting to gobble up chapter books. After reading it I've decided it's a little old for her. All the characters are sixth-graders, and beginning to have the friendship drama that typifies that age.
Sarah and Katie are best friends going to school together in the 1930s. At the beginning of the story, they find out they have won a school contest to write a Thanksgiving play for the sixth grade. Then, one of the two classic story beginnings occurs: a stranger comes to town. Melanie is from Hollywood, California, and has gorgeous long curls, beautiful dresses, and has actually met movie stars. Sarah, along with most of their class, is star-struck, and when Melanie offers to be the lead role in their play, she finds it hard to refuse. Katie, who is too practical to be drawn in my Melanie's charms, feels snubbed and stops speaking to Sarah.
It's an insightful story told with kindness and wisdom, and it would definitely help kids work through the confusions that develop with a growing social awareness. Touches on poverty, divorce, and the different ways people need each other. Good for fifth-seventh grade, to read in the fall.
"At this low point in Sarah's life, she wished every morning that something different would happen, but when something finally did happen, she wished it hadn't."
- from Sarah and Katie by Dori White. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.
I'm a major fan of Trina Schart Hyman, so when I encountered a book I had never heard of with her illustrations, I snapped it up. I was hoping it might be a good one to pass on to my niece, who is 9 and recently starting to gobble up chapter books. After reading it I've decided it's a little old for her. All the characters are sixth-graders, and beginning to have the friendship drama that typifies that age.
Sarah and Katie are best friends going to school together in the 1930s. At the beginning of the story, they find out they have won a school contest to write a Thanksgiving play for the sixth grade. Then, one of the two classic story beginnings occurs: a stranger comes to town. Melanie is from Hollywood, California, and has gorgeous long curls, beautiful dresses, and has actually met movie stars. Sarah, along with most of their class, is star-struck, and when Melanie offers to be the lead role in their play, she finds it hard to refuse. Katie, who is too practical to be drawn in my Melanie's charms, feels snubbed and stops speaking to Sarah.
It's an insightful story told with kindness and wisdom, and it would definitely help kids work through the confusions that develop with a growing social awareness. Touches on poverty, divorce, and the different ways people need each other. Good for fifth-seventh grade, to read in the fall.
August 15, 2017
Loved this book as a kid. It's fun to read old books . Brought back memories .
December 30, 2009
Does friendship or fitting in matter more. With the backdrop of the school play Sarah and Katie argue and Melanie comes between them.
July 14, 2012
A surprise gift from my dad. I don't remember anything about the book. I'm not sure I really liked it. But I did like him surprising me for no special occasion with this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews