Book Review: The Memory Quilt

Reviewed By: NH Storm

The Memory Quilt     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Pamela J. Erickson
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Historical   Young Adult
Expert Pub Inc, Dec 2003, 124 pages

The author combines history, fiction and mystery while presenting an interesting account of the Spanish flu epidemic, World War I and the fire that destroyed Cloquet, and its aftermath.

While sick with the flu, Lisa, who is named after her great aunt Lissa, huddles under the quilt that her grandmother who died a year ago made. Falling asleep, Lisa dreams of her grandmother and her sister who disappeared during the 1918 fire. This book is more of a "whatever happened to" than a "who dunnit." Lisa becomes not only travels into the history but becomes Liisa.. Lisa can only find out what has become of Liisa but not do anything to change history.

By the end of the book, Lisa awakens knowing what did happen to her great aunt. Things are looking a whole lot better for Lisa after her visit to the family doctor and the hopes of helping his son adjust to a new town and school..

Pamela Erickson successfully weaves details of history and rural life in Minnesota. The Memory Quilt gives us a glimps of the bittersweet story of Lisa's relationship with her grandmother, the maker of the quilt.

NH Storm

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm