Leah Carlson

The Healing Quilt Leah Carlson

Young Carla is a ten-year-old girl at Yosemite Elementary School battling cancer. She is also an ice skating student of Mrs. Moon, who is putting together a healing quilt with the help of Carla's classmates in the hopes it will bring Carla some comfort during her difficult chemotherapy treatments.

Mrs. Moon asks the children to submit quilt blocks, and she receives quilt blocks of various animals: a lion, alligator, crab, centipede, octopus, and many more. As Carla sends updates on her cancer treatment to Mrs. Moon, the animals magically come to life whenever the ice-skating teacher leaves the sewing room. With each creature taking on the personality of the classmate who created them, the group engages in a wide variety of activities-tangling with a sewing machine, ice skating on a cutting table, and even clashing with a mischievous pack rat, all while working together to overcome their own personal issues. Based on the true story of a young girl's battle with cancer and interwoven with an exciting fantasy adventure, The Healing Quilt is both inspiring and educational as it follows Carla's struggle against her illness while addressing many of the social issues commonly found in every schoolyard.