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Our take
Sarah's Oil is a US PG fact-based drama about Sarah Rector, an 11-year-old Black girl who strikes oil in 1910s Oklahoma and has to fight greedy speculators. Dialogue covers guns, shooting threats, a slain dog and talk of murdered Creek children. Mild damn, hell and s-word language also appear. It is a strong pick for family history talks, even with the heavy injustice themes.
Uplifting themes
Standing up to injustice, family loyalty and believing in yourself are the core themes Sarah Rector models courage, faith and smart negotiation at just eleven It introduces real oil-boom history and Sarah Rector's landmark story
Story (may spoil tone)
Sarah Rector, a Black girl born in early 20th-century Oklahoma Indian Territory, believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted, and her faith proves right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation's first Black female millionaires—at eleven years old.
Details
Violence Guns, shooting threats, a slain dog and murder talk run through the sto…
Guns, shooting threats, a slain dog and murder talk run through the story
Language Expect strong language in tense frontier moments, including damn, hell…
Expect strong language in tense frontier moments, including damn, hell and the s-word
Sex / nudity No sex found in this title
No sex found in this title
Drugs / alcohol Drunkenness and cigar smoking get passing references
Drunkenness and cigar smoking get passing references
Frightening Standoffs and murder threats may unsettle more sensitive kids
Standoffs and murder threats may unsettle more sensitive kids
Child peril / abuse Eleven-year-old Sarah faces intimidation, gun threats and talk of child…
Eleven-year-old Sarah faces intimidation, gun threats and talk of child murder
Bullying / discrimination Racist greed and legal schemes target a young Black landowner throughout
Racist greed and legal schemes target a young Black landowner throughout
Gore / death / weapons Rifles, machine guns and murder references appear in the frontier confl…
Rifles, machine guns and murder references appear in the frontier conflict
Dangerous behaviour No dangerous behavior found in this title
No dangerous behavior found in this title
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health No mental health found in this title
No mental health found in this title
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Funeral threats and murdered neighbors weigh heavily on the community
Funeral threats and murdered neighbors weigh heavily on the community
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
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Talk after watching
- Sarah trusts her instincts about oil beneath her land. How can kids advocate for themselves?
- Greedy adults try to seize her wealth. What systems were stacked against her?
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Sarah's Oil
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