This book could be enjoyed on different levels by younger and older readers. It describes the rite of passage of a young girl making her very first quilt in the small rural community of Gee's Bend where generations of African American women have made quilts together - some of which now hang in museums Her account is set out like a poem - itself a patchwork of memories mixed with observations on the practicalities of the craft - vivid language combined with stunning illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera, that echo the importance of colour and pattern. Quilting is shown to be a sociable activity, a form of story-telling, a piecing together of family history, and a craft with a particular significance in the history of the larger community from the days of slavery to the struggle for civil rights. An afterword provides additional information on these traditions.