The Patchwork Quilt

Flournoy, Valerie. The Patchwork Quilt. New York: Penguin Publishing, 1985.

The Patchwork Quilt is a story about an African American girl learning about life through her Grandmother by making a patchwork quilt. Tanya learns each patch of the quilt represents a past memory consisting of a life lesson. Every time a piece of the quilt is sewn on the memory lives on forever. Unfortunately, Tanya’s Grandmother becomes ill, but Tanya finishes the family quilt herself.

Flournoy incorporates the African American culture stressing the value of family and memories. As many families the elderly are the strength of the family. Flournoy addresses the issue of elders becoming ill in a positive light because both by Tanya becoming independent and the quilt allowing one’s memory to live on forever. I believe many children of all cultures can relate to this book because of family and past memories. The Flournoy shows African American woman being providers, teachers, and learners. Tanya becomes a strong African American woman by learning the importance of family and past memories by finishing the quilt for her grandmother.