On Yonder Mountain

Title: On Yonder Mountain
Author: Milly Howard
Major Themes: Pioneer Life, Friendship, Forgiveness
Synopsis: Sarah could hardly wait until she could go to school so she could have a girl friend—but what a disappointment to find only boys!

I needed to come up with a book for my 9-year-old to read aloud to me recently, for practice in oral reading. It’s hard to find a book he thinks he’ll be interested in, so sometimes I just have to assign something. I chose On Yonder Mountain, even though it says it is for Grade 1, because I wanted something he would find easy, and because it has a gentle story with no violence—he does not like violent stories. I knew I had made a good choice when, after reading the first chapter to me, he wanted to read ahead!

Sarah was ready to start school, and she was excited. She would have a girl to play with, at last! But, when she arrived at the little school on Yonder Mountain with her brothers, she was bitterly disappointed to find only boys. Jonathon, the other beginner, was all right to play with, but what she really wanted was a girl. She determined to pray for one to come to the area.

Meanwhile, Sarah faced another challenge. A big boy in school accidentally destroyed her beloved doll. Could Sarah ever forgive him? And, as time passed, she began to wonder: Did God sometimes not answer prayer?

On Yonder Mountain is a wonderful story from pioneer times. My children love this kind of story, with a glimpse into how people lived long ago and how other children handled the challenges they faced. I liked the lessons learned in this story, of forgiveness and how God answers prayer. This is also a beautiful story about friendship and family.

No warnings!