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On Yonder Mountain
In Milly Howard’s On Yonder Mountain, Sarah and her doll EmmyLou are all alone. Every other child she knows is a boy, and all six-year-old Sarah wants is another girl in her one-room schoolhouse. From sugaring off the maple sugar, spelling bees, carding wool, and learning lessons of life, this Christian fiction shows Sarah learning the most important lesson of all—learning to trust God to answer her prayers. On Yonder Mountain is historical fiction presented in simple chapter format for young readers.
Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 15, 2023
I believe this was the very first historical fiction book I ever read, and it was the beginning of a life-long love affair!
This book meant so much to me as a little girl. I, too, had all brothers (until my first sister was born when I was ten!); I, too, was surrounded with friends who had only boys. I played with dolls alone, and joined in the boys' games as best I could, and wished and prayed and begged and wept for 'another girl' - sister, friend, anything! God blessed me with a long line of girl friends, and two sisters - one ten years younger, one eighteen years younger - but this book was just what I needed at the time when I first read it, a little girl with four brothers and a desperate longing for someone who understood and wanted to play and talk about the things little girls love. And that surge of emotion, the tears in the eyes and the instant desire to read it again, helped to create the deep love I have now for historical fiction.
This book meant so much to me as a little girl. I, too, had all brothers (until my first sister was born when I was ten!); I, too, was surrounded with friends who had only boys. I played with dolls alone, and joined in the boys' games as best I could, and wished and prayed and begged and wept for 'another girl' - sister, friend, anything! God blessed me with a long line of girl friends, and two sisters - one ten years younger, one eighteen years younger - but this book was just what I needed at the time when I first read it, a little girl with four brothers and a desperate longing for someone who understood and wanted to play and talk about the things little girls love. And that surge of emotion, the tears in the eyes and the instant desire to read it again, helped to create the deep love I have now for historical fiction.
July 1, 2015
This was the first novel I ever read. It was first grade, and it was our big reading project. I LOVED this book! I couldn't get enough of it! I read it for several years and honestly wish that I had a copy of it. It's such a sweet story about a girl who seems to be the only little girl in her entire mountainous town. She wants nothing more than an "Anne of Green Gables"-like "bosom" friend to share secrets and giggles with.
I simply adore this book. HIGHLY recommend!
I simply adore this book. HIGHLY recommend!
April 19, 2024
A nice, sweet, simple story with good morals that flow naturally out of the events and don't feel crammed in for the sake of a lesson. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it as a child, but even as an adult, it gave me a nostalgic smile.
February 1, 2024
Read the summary a few times and have been meaning to reread. After finishing The Cabin Faced West, also about a country girl who would like a friend who is also a girl, decided it was a good time to try it.
Says it's for the first grade, which may have been when Mom had me read it to her. Don't think we finished. I probably dragged my feet thinking it was meant for girls. (The untrained eye could easily mistake the salmon back cover for pink.) The first and last chapters are more that way, but the rest is fairly neutral. Your average first grader probably wouldn't reach that same conclusion. Pretty sure I didn't. My younger sister, born about the time we read it, probably would have liked it more.
Might be where I learned the word yonder. And it's a proper noun: Yonder Mountain. Setting feels fictional, but is something like 1800s in a religious agricultural community in the northern US. Wondering if the skewed male-to-female ratio happened a lot in those conditions: More boys/men means more farmhands, given societal conventions...
Sarah Goodwin's older brothers William and Thomas have been going to school and now it's her turn. She hopes to meet girls her age there, because she doesn't know any in her family or near where she lives. But when she arrives, she finds out not only is the only other first grader a boy but also that there are no other girls at the school at all. Sarah navigates her way through being the only girl, while still praying (literally) for a new girl friend.
It's a well-rounded book. There are life lessons about forgiveness, patience, and being helpful. Like Little House in the Big Woods, there are also "day in the life" descriptions of chores (carding wool and tapping maple trees for syrup) and events (a Sugaring-Off party following a sugar snow and going to meeting in the spring), though less detailed. Quite a bit of attention is given to what it feels like to be the "odd one out": Sarah does her best to behave herself but, in a classroom of boys who are mostly older than her, she's also ahead of her lessons thanks to help from her brothers.
It's an all right book. Better than I remembered.
Says it's for the first grade, which may have been when Mom had me read it to her. Don't think we finished. I probably dragged my feet thinking it was meant for girls. (The untrained eye could easily mistake the salmon back cover for pink.) The first and last chapters are more that way, but the rest is fairly neutral. Your average first grader probably wouldn't reach that same conclusion. Pretty sure I didn't. My younger sister, born about the time we read it, probably would have liked it more.
Might be where I learned the word yonder. And it's a proper noun: Yonder Mountain. Setting feels fictional, but is something like 1800s in a religious agricultural community in the northern US. Wondering if the skewed male-to-female ratio happened a lot in those conditions: More boys/men means more farmhands, given societal conventions...
Sarah Goodwin's older brothers William and Thomas have been going to school and now it's her turn. She hopes to meet girls her age there, because she doesn't know any in her family or near where she lives. But when she arrives, she finds out not only is the only other first grader a boy but also that there are no other girls at the school at all. Sarah navigates her way through being the only girl, while still praying (literally) for a new girl friend.
It's a well-rounded book. There are life lessons about forgiveness, patience, and being helpful. Like Little House in the Big Woods, there are also "day in the life" descriptions of chores (carding wool and tapping maple trees for syrup) and events (a Sugaring-Off party following a sugar snow and going to meeting in the spring), though less detailed. Quite a bit of attention is given to what it feels like to be the "odd one out": Sarah does her best to behave herself but, in a classroom of boys who are mostly older than her, she's also ahead of her lessons thanks to help from her brothers.
It's an all right book. Better than I remembered.
April 15, 2020
It's the first day of school and Sarah, whilst a little nervous, is looking forward to having a girlfriend. She has two brothers and all her cousins are also boys! Imagine Sarah's surprise when she gets to school and she is the only girl. She and a new boy, Jonathan, are the only new first graders. Sarah's tough though and sticks up for Jonathan who is a little small for his age. She realizes that she does indeed have a new friend. Uh oh! The Clanton boys are back in school!
This historical fiction set back in the days of horse and cart was a delightful read aloud with the family. The story is well-written and clean with Christian values. Sarah has some lessons to learn. Enjoy reading about life way back when. Will Sarah ever get a girlfriend? I purchased this book for my Kindle. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
This historical fiction set back in the days of horse and cart was a delightful read aloud with the family. The story is well-written and clean with Christian values. Sarah has some lessons to learn. Enjoy reading about life way back when. Will Sarah ever get a girlfriend? I purchased this book for my Kindle. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
February 11, 2020
This is a sweet, historical fiction story similar to Caddie Woodlawn or LHOP. Sarah is the only girl in her community and longs for a girl her age to play with. She has many adventures throughout her year, and in the end, a family with a little girl moves to their town.
When I was little, I received this book for my birthday along with Sarah plain and tall and Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble. My mom had bought me all books with a Sarah as the main character. That was such a thoughtful gesture that has always stuck with me. I'd like to do that for kids in my life now. I've been trying to remember this title for a while and it finally came to me today! So nostalgic for me.
When I was little, I received this book for my birthday along with Sarah plain and tall and Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble. My mom had bought me all books with a Sarah as the main character. That was such a thoughtful gesture that has always stuck with me. I'd like to do that for kids in my life now. I've been trying to remember this title for a while and it finally came to me today! So nostalgic for me.
December 15, 2017
All Sarah wanted was another girl to come to yonder mountain. Trace and Lijah were bullies they had an accident or what they so call accident but it was and Sarah thinks not she didn't talk for a whole month but when they did secret Santa but she threw a tantrum but when it was Christmas eve and Sarah decided to give trace a present after all.
I cant tell you the ending then I would spoil it but the characters were credible and my favorite part was the end
I cant tell you the ending then I would spoil it but the characters were credible and my favorite part was the end
October 12, 2023
This historical fiction tells the story about a sweet little girl and the adventures she has with the boys in her one-room schoolhouse. Sarah longs for another girl in her class and prays for God to send someone who can be her own special friend. The book is 12 chapters (119 pages) with pictures and simple enough vocab that even lower elementary students will enjoy.
April 14, 2026
Sweet book..
April 24, 2014
I loved this book when I was a kid!! I came from a family of all boys so I understood Sarah's predicament very well. Easily one of my favorite books!!! :)
January 24, 2016
Previously Read
September 23, 2014
January 2013
September 23, 2014
January 2013
February 2, 2022
I don't remember anything about this book except for the fact that I loved it when I was like 8 and read it like 10 times, so it must have been somewhat good.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews