The Memory Coat

Title: The Memory Coat

Author: Elvira Woodruff

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Rachel and Grisha lived in a town in Russia called a “shetetl”, which is where many of the Jewish people lived. Rachel and Grisha were best friends; they spent every moment together. Rachel would tell stories and Grisha would draw pictures to go along with them. Grisha lived in Rachel’s home with her family because he lost his parents in an epidemic and was orphaned. Often, he would go behind the synagogue to grieve alone, but Rachel always followed for comfort. One day, there was word that the Cossacks were coming through their town with swords, trying to kill anyone who was Jewish. Rachel and Grisha watched from the attic window. That night, Rachel’s father suggested that they go to America, because her grandfather said it wasn’t safe in Russia anymore. The family wanted to make a good impression once they reached Ellis Island at the New York harbor. Their only problem was that Grisha’s coat was torn apart and not in good condition, but he refused a new one. Rachel said it was because his coat was lined with his mama’s wool from her coat, so he still feels her “touch.” Nothing was said about the coat again. The voyage took fourteen days. When they go to the New York Harbor, they were worried about passing the inspections and being separated. While they were waiting, Rachel and Grisha played their story game, and Rachel pretended to fly like a bird. She accidently knocked into Grisha, who fell down and hurt his eye on Bubba’s basket. While examining the kids, Grisha’s eye wasn’t okay. The examiner shook his head and put an “E” on the back of Grisha’s jacket. Rachel took him aside, turned his coat inside out, and Rachel’s father took him to another examiner, who was more understanding. He kept his chalk in his pocket and allowed Grisha to walk past with the rest of Rachel’s family. Currently, Grisha’s coat has been passed down to his children and to his grandchildren.

Characters: Grisha, Rachel, Rachel’s father and grandfather, examiners

Setting: Russia, New York Harbor, Ellis Island

Plot: pass the examinations and stay together in America

Theme: sticking together

Opinion: This book was sad to me, but it was also very informational in a child-friendly way. It showed how it really was for the Jews to come to America, but it explained it in a way that children would understand clearly.