Synopsis
With paintings that capture all the beauty of Appalachia in authentic detail, this tender story about a resourceful mountain girl's special coat will touch readers with its affirming message of love and friendship.- ★★★★☆
- ★★★★☆
- ★★★★★
- ★★★★★
- Minna remembered the words of her father which gave her strength when she was really down, “People only need people, and nothing else.” He reminded her that strength comes from community, not possessions or wealth.
- When we rely on Allah ﷻ alone, His help will come. In this case, it came from Minna’s community. How does this relate to the verse from the Quran, “with hardship there is ease” (94:6)?
- What made Minna’s coat beautiful? She had chosen the most worn pieces for her coat because of the stories that went with each piece.
- Why is it important to talk to those who hurt you? What if Minna never went back to school? Who would she ultimately be hurting? When she returned, she gave her classmates an opportunity to realize their mistakes, allowing her to form friendships with them.
- Compare Minna’s school to your school. Why wasn’t Minna able to attend school when she was of the right age?
- Make it cross-curricular! (science, geography, history)
- What is coal? What is it used for? Where can coal be found? How is it mined today?
- Find the Appalachian Mountains on a map of the United States.
- What was life of a coal miner like in the Appalachian Mountains in the mid-20th century? Find out more about the time period, setting, and hardships associated with coal mining.
Mindful Muslim Review
Teaching children to rely on Allah ﷻ (tawakkul) and understand that ultimately all help comes from Him alone is essential as they learn to navigate the hardships of life. In this story, a young girl named Minna loses her father to illness. Through her loss, she finds comfort in the support and generosity of a warm and loving community–a community ready to come to her aid by quilting a coat so that she can attend school. With a deep appreciation for the time and effort of the Quilting Mothers and an understanding of the value and the history of each piece of her coat, she returns to school, but her classmates tease her. Because she has a strong foundation rooted in faith, family, and community, Minna gains the strength to face her classmates, forgive, and ultimately form friendships. Lessons abound in this historical fiction piece which poignantly illustrates the Quranic verse “with hardship there is ease” (94:6) earning our Gold Star.