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    Grandfather's Dance
    Grandfather's Dance
    Grandfather's Dance
    Ebook61 pages47 minutes

    Grandfather's Dance

    By Patricia MacLachlan

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    The fifth book in the series that began with the Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.

    Jack leans back on Grandfather's shoulder. Aunt Mattie's knitting needles click in the dark. The moon rises. The candle flickers in the gentle prairie wind. I close my eyes to keep everything there.

    Could anything be more perfect than a prairie wedding? Cassie Witting doesn't think so, for her sister Anna's wedding brings two lovebirds together, aunts from faraway Maine, a long white dress with a wedding veil, dancing under a clear blue sky, and a world that smells of roses.

    As the Witting family comes together for this most special day, Cassie sees that life brings the change of seasons, brother Jack on Grandfather's lap, joy, sorrow, and a special dance only Grandfather does.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 25, 2013
    ISBN9780062285744
    Grandfather's Dance
    Author

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Patricia MacLachlan (1938–2022) was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb’s Story; Edward’s Eyes; The True Gift; Waiting for the Magic; White Fur Flying; Fly Away; and Snow Horses. She lived in western Massachusetts.

    Read more from Patricia Mac Lachlan

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    Reviews for Grandfather's Dance

    4.5/5

    41 ratings5 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Cassie is a little older now and Jack - John Jacob after his grandfather and father - is toddling not far behind. She describes her own thoughts on marriage and growing up, as well as the special relationship young Jack has with Grandfather as the family prepares for Anna's wedding and visiting family.This bittersweet book is a fitting end to the series that began with Sarah, Plain and Tall. Anna and Caleb are all grown up, and Cassie and Jack meet the aunts and William for the first time. The event I kept expecting to happen didn't until the final pages. A lovely family story that I found as charming as Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark.
    • 4/5
      Cassie is still narrating, Jack is a toddler, Anna is getting married, and Grandfather is getting very old. The aunts and William come for the wedding and stay for some time. The family also gets a car. A good, quick read for young people.
    • 4/5
      GRANDFATHER'S DANCE concludes the five-book story of the Witting family. Fourth-grader Cassie Witting continues to write the family journal; this novel is narrated from her point of view. Caleb is away at school. Wedding preparations have begun for Anna and Justin. Grandfather, a beloved family member, spends much of his time with baby Jack, his special pal. Sarah's aunts and brother are coming from Maine to assist with wedding plans. This novel presents moments of great joy with a bittersweet conclusion. Author Patricia MacLachlan states, "It is bittersweet for me to end my writing relationship with them (the Witting family) and all the extended family in the book GRANDFATHER'S DANCE. The "real" Sarah was my step-great-great grandmother, though I never knew many things about her. And the grandfather is modeled after my own father..."
    • 4/5
      This book is a sweet conclusion to the Sarah Plain and Tall series. Company is coming from far away for a special event, while Grandfather has his hands full with little Jack.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Could anything be more perfect then a prairie wedding? Cassie doesn’t think so, for a wedding brings:Two lovebirds together,Aunts from faraway Main,A long white dress with a wedding veil,Zinnias,Satin Ribbons Dancing under a clear blue skyAnd a world that smells of roses.And the Witting family comes together for this most special day, Cassie sees that life brings:The change of seasons,Brother Jack on Grandfathers lap,A brand new carJoy,Sorrow,And a special dance only Grandfather can does.

    Book preview

    Grandfather's Dance - Patricia MacLachlan

    1

    Spring. School was hard in the spring. Even fourth grade was hard. The windows of the small school were open and the sweet smell of new grass blew in. I couldn’t pay attention. Neither could Ian or Min or Grace. Will was half asleep, and Isabel looked out the window. There were only six of us in school, from first grade to fifth. Mr. Willet read out loud to us, but no one seemed to hear. One of the horses whinnied outside and we all looked out the window. Finally Mr. Willet put down his book and looked out the window, too.

    Let’s go home, he said softly.

    Ian, the youngest of everyone, only six, clapped his hands, making Mr. Willet laugh.

    Go home, go on home, he said, still laughing. We’ll try again on Monday.

    I gathered my books and helped Ian with his. I made sure he got home every day. Today I’d ridden Molly, and I gave Ian a leg up. We rode together, Ian’s arms around my waist.

    Caleb and I used to ride home from school just like this, I said.

    Caleb’s big now, said Ian.

    Yes. He’s big. Away at school.

    Do you miss him?

    Yes. I miss Caleb.

    Does he tease you? asked Ian.

    Yes, Caleb has always teased me.

    I tease my little sister every single day, said Ian.

    I heard him yawn behind me, and I turned and wrapped a long scarf behind him and tied it in front of my waist. Sometimes Ian fell asleep on the way home. I didn’t want him falling off Molly.

    Lily loves me even if I tease her, said Ian matter-of-factly.

    Yes.

    Let’s do twosies, said Ian.

    Okay. Two times two is . . . ?

    Four.

    Two times three is . . . ?

    Six.

    Ian laid his head against my back and Molly walked slowly down the road to his house.

    Two times four?

    Ian didn’t answer. I smiled. He’d fallen asleep, his breath warm on my back.

    Way off in the fields, meadowlarks flew and the smell of prairie spring followed us home.

    Cassie! Cassie!

    Jack ran out of the barn, Papa and our dog Lottie following him. His pale hair was long and curly around his face. Mama once said he looked like an angel. Grandfather said most times he didn’t act like one.

    The surprise was that Jack did act like an angel around Grandfather. He never frowned at Grandfather. He never showed Grandfather his temper. Every evening he sat on Grandfather’s lap and made him tell a story, made him sing. From the very beginning, Grandfather had been Jack’s favorite.

    Papa lifted Jack up to sit with me on Molly. Jack leaned down and kissed Molly on her neck, and we went into the barn.

    Doggie, said Jack.

    I smiled.

    Horse, I said to him. Molly’s a horse.

    Jack turned and frowned his fierce frown at me.

    Doggie, said Jack, making me laugh.

    I kissed the top of his head. It was warm and sweet smelling.

    All right, I

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