"The Memory Coat" By: Elvira Woodruff

The Memory Coat is a story about two cousins' journey to a better life. This book is very interesting and very informational. The author's note is neat because it gives the reader a little insight into the thought process of the writer. This book is based on actual events, but the characters are not real. The coat, which is a symbol throughout the book, caught the author's attention while she was visiting Ellis Island. At the beginning of the book the narrator brings up the poor condition of Grisha's tattered wool coat. Despite what all his family members think, he keeps the coat because it is lined with the wool from his mother's coat. Grisha, lives with his cousin, Rachel, because his parents died from an epidemic. As the family's luck starts to change, and their hopes for a better life start to come true the coat is described as special. I like how the coat seems to represent the family's journey, and the turn in their luck.
The book also neat illustrations. The illustrations were done by Michael Dooling. He used oil paints on canvas for the book's pictures. The canvas made some of the pictures look like they had texture to them which was neat becasue it gave more life to the image.
I really enjoyed this book because the story related to many things I've learned. Having been to Ellis Island it was neat to put an image to the place, and have some background knowledge about what Rachel and Grisha's expereince was like. It was also an interesting story because I remember learning about the pogroms, and hearing this story reminded me that many Jews had to make a similar journey to that of Rachel and Grisha's.