Sarah and Alice: A Marvelous Friendship

Sarah and Alice: A Marvelous Friendship is a story of two friends and the power of poetry and letter writing during Sarah’s treatment for cancer. Pursuing mid-life second careers, Sarah and Alice were hired by Seattle Public Schools at Asa Mercer Middle School. With purpose and vision, these two new teachers dug into curriculum expectations to explore the Lewis and Clark Trail (Corps of Discovery), perform Shakespeare, recite poetry, learn about Washington State History, investigate Antarctica, read good books, and so much more. A shared enthusiasm for teaching and love for their students established Sarah and Alice as “best friends forever” (BFFs). When Alice moved to rural northern Wisconsin, their friendship was elevated through dedicated letter writing. Alice’s letters often focused on the seasonal changes of the landscape while Sarah’s cancer informed her perspective of life inside and outside the classroom. Both friends spoke of hope and healing even when the going became tough for Sarah. A Marvelous Friendship is a collection of letters that complemented the friendship of two lifelong learners: Sarah and Alice. Read more