Fleeing Russia and coming to America is a harrowing experience for young Rachel and her Jewish family. They know that once they step off the boat and onto Ellis Island, they will have to be very careful about how they are perceived. Rachel’s family warn cousin Grisha that his raggedy old coat may spoil their chances of entering the country; but even the scrutinizing eyes of the stern American officials won’t deter Grisha from wearing the only thing he has left to remember his dead mother. Elvira Woodruff’s The Memory Coat is as educational as it is heartwarming and celebratory. | The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters