Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever come across something like an old quilt or photo and thought, “What’s the story behind this?” In The Recollection by Cherie Dargan, college teacher Gracie MacNeill wonders the same thing about a Crazy quilt that once belonged to her mother. Instead of just thinking about its past, she begins unraveling its hidden history. Set in Jubilee Junction, Iowa, the story shifts between past and present. In the present, Gracie and her husband dig through archives and memories to uncover why her sister-in-law’s mother, from another state, had an almost identical quilt. In the past, readers meet Marie Olson, a relative connected to both Gracie’s and Katie’s families, and whose story of living through the Great Depression is a key to the quilt mystery. Her family lost their farm, but they found support through their community. Marie joins a group of local women in a “Quilting Circle,” where they repurpose scraps into quilts and clothing for those in need through a project called Loaves to Fishes. Even though the women in different states made the two quilts in question, the nearly identical designs reveal a shared legacy of connecting families across generations. Gracie discovers that the quilts are lasting symbols of survival and generosity.

The Recollection wasn’t just a story—it was a learning experience that taught me so much about a time I wasn’t around to experience. I never knew about “truck houses” before, and the image of a family building a home onto a truck to head west in search of work made the era vividly real to me. Cherie Dargan did an excellent job of weaving historical details into the overall plot. I especially appreciated how it also highlighted women’s strength during that period, as they banded together to help those in need while also connecting with others during such a trying time. I also loved how each chapter began with a meaningful quote. There’s one from President Jimmy Carter that stood out and reminded me that he lived through the Depression. As someone who admires FDR, I was thrilled by the many subtle details and references to him that were woven into the story as well. If you like historical fiction, reading about the Great Depression, or enjoy stories about a family mystery, then this is the book for you.