The Courage of Sarah Noble
By Alice Dalgliesh
The Story
In 1707, an eight-year-old girl travels into the Connecticut wilderness with her father to build a new home, then must find her courage when he leaves her with their Indian neighbors.
Why It's Special
For the kid who feels scared and still does the brave thing anyway, Sarah Noble's journey shows that courage was never about not being afraid.
- Big idea: Being brave doesn't mean feeling fearless — it means moving forward with your fear riding along beside you.
- Vibes: quiet, dignified, and gently tense, with the hush of deep woods and the warmth of an unlikely friendship.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on managing fear in new situations
- enjoy true stories about brave children
- respond well to quiet, thoughtful historical fiction
- like to talk about feelings instead of hiding them
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Sarah felt when her father left her with their Indian neighbors?
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Sarah told herself to keep up her courage, the way her mother asked?
- Real-life connection: Can you remember a time you were scared but did something brave anyway?
- Imagination: If you had to travel into the wilderness to build a new home, what would you miss most?
- Character study: What do you think it was like for Sarah to become friends with people so different from her own family?
