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American Girl: Short Stories #16
Addy's Wedding Quilt
Addy's parents renew their vows with a church wedding in freedom. Addy can't wait -- until Harriet makes fun of her wedding present and her family's past.
47 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
293 people want to read
About the author
Connie Rose Porter
56 books114 followersConnie Rose Porter is an American author best known for her books for children and young adults. She was the third youngest of nine children of a family living in a housing project.
She has since taught English and creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and was a regional winner in Granta's Best Young American Novelist contest.
She has since taught English and creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and was a regional winner in Granta's Best Young American Novelist contest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 5, 2026
"She had been sewing for weeks, ever since Momma and Poppa announced their wedding plans. They had wed twenty years earlier on Master Stevens's plantation, but they had not been married in a church."Addy is so excited for her parents' wedding and plans to make them an extra special quilt made from scraps of fabric belonging to various family members.
She wants to embroider her parents names and their wedding date, so she brings the quilt to school to get help from Miss Dunn.
Addy is quite proud of her work but then the odious Harriet stops by after school to leave a comment.
Addy is immediately furious with Harriet...but a small part of her wonders if what Harriet said is true? With the church playing such a prominent role in their lives, Addy begins to feel worried and a little ashamed.
"...that quilt should be a secret. After all, your parents aren't married."
Should she just ignore these feelings? Or should she talk to her mother (and risk ruining her mother's happiness)?
Just as a note, this one takes place after the main series, so the whole family was reunited, which is why Momma and Poppa felt like they were ready to celebrate their marriage.
And whew. This was a rougher one to read. It didn't make me cry like some of these books but it did deal with some rather heavy material and harsh realities that Addy (and many other families) faced.
The author did a great job of showing the impact of the inhuman restrictions placed on the slaves and how they found ways around those laws. We learn about how marriages were constrained and how families were often used as collateral.
I was a little confused when we had scenes at the school and Sarah was not mentioned. I would have assumed that Sarah dropping out of school would still be at the forefront of Addy's mind but perhaps the excitement of the wedding overshadowed it.
Addy's confusion, worry, and ultimate joy were really well written. I was so excited for the wedding (and the wedding quilt) that my heart sang along with Addy when it finally happened.
Though, as an aside, the one thing I was kind of confused on was that Addy specifically mentions that making the wedding quilt was hard because she used scraps of Uncle Solomon's shirt.
But Addy and her Momma didn't take spare clothes from Uncle Solomon when they ran to freedom, and it isn't mentioned that Auntie Lula carried Uncle Solomon's shirt with her after he passed and was buried in a freedman camp. So, where does the shirt come from? I'm willing to overlook this because the thought of having a quilt made with Uncle Solomon's shirt really makes my heart happy.
May 10, 2021
An absolutely perfect way to wrap up a Monday
"Maybe that don't mean nothing to Harriet. It mean a whole heap to me. I think it mean something to you, too, or you wouldn't have brung it up. You need to know your own mind, Addy. Harriet might know all there's to know in a book, but she don't know your heart. She don't know how you feel, so don't let her or nobody else tell you how to feel."
"Maybe that don't mean nothing to Harriet. It mean a whole heap to me. I think it mean something to you, too, or you wouldn't have brung it up. You need to know your own mind, Addy. Harriet might know all there's to know in a book, but she don't know your heart. She don't know how you feel, so don't let her or nobody else tell you how to feel."
February 24, 2018
This was such a beautiful story, Addy’s parents were getting married in the church and she wanted to give them the most perfect gift ever. So she made the quilt that her momma had never been able to make and was determined to make it personal just for them. Though when Harriet causes trouble saying her parents weren’t married as they only ‘Jumped the broom’ it makes Addy doubt everything and she loses her confidence for a while, until she realises that what her family has is really special.
This was honestly so adorable and I loved how sweet Addy was spending so much time and dedication to making this quilt for her parents to ensure hey had the best day they could.
This was honestly so adorable and I loved how sweet Addy was spending so much time and dedication to making this quilt for her parents to ensure hey had the best day they could.
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October 30, 2024wish we kept harriet's character development justice for my girl
September 26, 2021
Addy's parents are getting married in a church with a real marriage certificate - teaching the reader about wedding customs used by enslaved people - and Addy makes a quilt as a present.
There are so many good things here:
- M'Dear is back! Addy works on the quilt in her room to keep it a surprise, and as ever, she has wise and lovely things to say.
- Miss Dunn is back, teaching Addy embroidery and giving her a glimpse into teachers' after-school lives.
- Harriet is back, with her unique blend of friendship and scorn, giving Momma an opportunity to say wise and lovely things about knowing your own mind. And Addy does a lovely job of putting Momma's advice into action.
There are so many good things here:
- M'Dear is back! Addy works on the quilt in her room to keep it a surprise, and as ever, she has wise and lovely things to say.
- Miss Dunn is back, teaching Addy embroidery and giving her a glimpse into teachers' after-school lives.
- Harriet is back, with her unique blend of friendship and scorn, giving Momma an opportunity to say wise and lovely things about knowing your own mind. And Addy does a lovely job of putting Momma's advice into action.
March 30, 2013
A difficult story about a much neglected point of history. Are Addy's parents married or not and what does "jumping the broom" mean exactly. And what it means for them to get married finally in a church. I liked this, and thought the gift was perfect. Now I want to learn how to make a quilt.
February 17, 2025
another fantastic addition to addys story.
i find myself in awe at the amount of issues that are tackled in a way that’s child friendly but shows the harsh realities of slavery.
the discussions on feeling married vs the freedom to be legally recognized was fantastic
i find myself in awe at the amount of issues that are tackled in a way that’s child friendly but shows the harsh realities of slavery.
the discussions on feeling married vs the freedom to be legally recognized was fantastic
September 12, 2021
I'm glad I got this book from the library rejects a while ago. What a cute read for younger kids! The history behind marriage for Black Americans is so interesting. Would recommend to any little girl!
July 5, 2020
This is a sweet story to add to the collection of the Addy American Girl books. Addy is excited to celebrate her parents' church wedding. Her parents were only allowed to "jump the broom" when they were slaves. The mini book gives young readers a peek into the lives of newly freed slaves.
Grown-up readers might notice that many of these short stories were taken from the American Girl magazines circa the 1990s and repackaged into a keepsake mini hardcover books. Like the original six Addy books (and most of the other American Girl) books, Addy's Wedding Quilt includes a visual list of the characters inside at the beginning and "Looking Back: A Peek Into the Past" which explains the history behind the story. Each of the American Girls Short Stories also contains instructions for a simple historical activity. Great book to introduce elementary school-age readers to history and a worthy addition for anyone who couldn't get enough of Addy Walker and her adventures!
Grown-up readers might notice that many of these short stories were taken from the American Girl magazines circa the 1990s and repackaged into a keepsake mini hardcover books. Like the original six Addy books (and most of the other American Girl) books, Addy's Wedding Quilt includes a visual list of the characters inside at the beginning and "Looking Back: A Peek Into the Past" which explains the history behind the story. Each of the American Girls Short Stories also contains instructions for a simple historical activity. Great book to introduce elementary school-age readers to history and a worthy addition for anyone who couldn't get enough of Addy Walker and her adventures!
April 13, 2015
Nice! In an easy to understand voice, Porter peels back one more layer for young children trying to understand the consequences of slavery. Here, Addy's parents decide to marry "in freedom" in a church, instead of the informal jumping the broom ceremony they had on the plantation as slaves. The characters openly question the institution of marriage and what it means, and how former slaves might deal with yet another disruption to their lives during Reconstruction.
May 7, 2021
Did Connie Porter make me cry in a 20-page children's story and help me realize yet another of the horrors of slavery. Yes, yes, she did. Addy is the best, thanks to Connie Porter.
May 24, 2021
I can't believe how much was packed into such a short book! This was surprisingly deep, and it even made me get a little choked up.
December 24, 2024
I really liked this story. At first it seemed to take place before Addy Saves the Day, because Harriet is still being a mean little jerk, but Addy refers to Uncle Solomon and Auntie Lula being dead already, and Esther is home -- meaning, this happens after Changes for Addy! So Harriet DID go back to being a jerk to Addy after book 5. I guess that's realistic. One heartfelt conversation doesn't change a jerk into a good person.
Addy is making a quilt as a surprise in celebration of her parents upcoming wedding. How special to be able to attend your own parents' wedding! Her mom and dad have been married for 20 years, but since slave marriages weren't 'legal', they are now going to be married officially in freedom. Harriet finds out that her parents 'aren't married' and tells Addy that slave marriages didn't mean anything, which upsets Addy greatly. Harriet seems deeply insecure with herself, because she's always looking for ways to feel superior to others by putting them down. She's like, 'jumping a broom isn't a real marriage', which, girl? Saying some magic words in a church isn't any more or less real than jumping a broom. It's the feelings and commitment that are ATTACHED to ceremonies that is important, and her parents have remained committed to each other for 20 years. They're married, girl! Even so, this conversation hurts Addy, so she looks for reassurance from adults around her. Addy's teacher Miss Dunn encourages her while she's working on the quilt in secret, and her mother also talks about how much that broom-jump meant to her and Poppa, whether or not it was recognized legally, it meant something to them. This inspires Addy to make a broom applique on her quilt for her parents.
I had heard of 'jumping the broom' before, but I never realized it referred to slave marriages. I also never explicitly put it together that it was illegal for slaves to get married legally/or in church, because I'd heard of slaves getting married in other books and historical accounts, and obviously enslavers could separate families and couples on a whim -- but I never realized that it was explicitly //illegal// for slaves to be legally married. Seeing the illustration of Addy's mother weeping with joy and her father glowing with pride, getting married and re-establishing their commitment to each other was really beautiful.
"You know something, Addy? In the bible it says a man and wife are to be together until death part them. When you got married in slavery, they left that part out because the master could part you anytime he wanted to. So me and your Poppa never had them words spoken over us, but we had that broom, and when we jumped it, we know we belonged to each other for life. Maybe that don't mean nothing to Harriet, but it means a whole heap to me." This conversation really touched me.
I like the little tidbits about life for a girl around this time. Addy dreaming of becoming a teacher, embroidering at recess, jump-rope games (the letter will be the name of the boy I marry, I remember that one).
The one thing I have a complaint about is the quilt on the cover of the book. What IS that?! Is that KIRSTEN'S doll-item quilt?! Babbity Kate mentioned this in her Kirsten Youtube video, but why is the quilt shown in the illustrations a patchwork quilt, and NOT an album quilt, as is described in this book? By this point in Addy's collection, her album quilt was for sale as a doll item, and it's been an illustration in OTHER Addy books, so there's really no excuse for this. There's LITERALLY a picture of the album quilt on the cover of Addy Studies Freedom, like COME ON.
We get these rich descriptions and vignettes of album quilt elements in this book, as well as the album quilt doll item, and then in this book cover and other illustrations, she's got a patchwork quilt in her hands. There's a page later in the book where she's 'showing' her friends her broom applique, and in the picture, she's holding Kirsten's patchwork doll quilt, no applique in sight. What???? Was this a miscommunication with the illustrator? What a weird detail for them to flub. American Girl is usually really meticulous about the little details, and considering Addy got a complete re-illustration, I don't understand how they could have gotten this wrong.
Anyway, what a lovely message in this book. I really like the relationship between Addy and her teacher, as well as that conversation with her mother.
Addy is making a quilt as a surprise in celebration of her parents upcoming wedding. How special to be able to attend your own parents' wedding! Her mom and dad have been married for 20 years, but since slave marriages weren't 'legal', they are now going to be married officially in freedom. Harriet finds out that her parents 'aren't married' and tells Addy that slave marriages didn't mean anything, which upsets Addy greatly. Harriet seems deeply insecure with herself, because she's always looking for ways to feel superior to others by putting them down. She's like, 'jumping a broom isn't a real marriage', which, girl? Saying some magic words in a church isn't any more or less real than jumping a broom. It's the feelings and commitment that are ATTACHED to ceremonies that is important, and her parents have remained committed to each other for 20 years. They're married, girl! Even so, this conversation hurts Addy, so she looks for reassurance from adults around her. Addy's teacher Miss Dunn encourages her while she's working on the quilt in secret, and her mother also talks about how much that broom-jump meant to her and Poppa, whether or not it was recognized legally, it meant something to them. This inspires Addy to make a broom applique on her quilt for her parents.
I had heard of 'jumping the broom' before, but I never realized it referred to slave marriages. I also never explicitly put it together that it was illegal for slaves to get married legally/or in church, because I'd heard of slaves getting married in other books and historical accounts, and obviously enslavers could separate families and couples on a whim -- but I never realized that it was explicitly //illegal// for slaves to be legally married. Seeing the illustration of Addy's mother weeping with joy and her father glowing with pride, getting married and re-establishing their commitment to each other was really beautiful.
"You know something, Addy? In the bible it says a man and wife are to be together until death part them. When you got married in slavery, they left that part out because the master could part you anytime he wanted to. So me and your Poppa never had them words spoken over us, but we had that broom, and when we jumped it, we know we belonged to each other for life. Maybe that don't mean nothing to Harriet, but it means a whole heap to me." This conversation really touched me.
I like the little tidbits about life for a girl around this time. Addy dreaming of becoming a teacher, embroidering at recess, jump-rope games (the letter will be the name of the boy I marry, I remember that one).
The one thing I have a complaint about is the quilt on the cover of the book. What IS that?! Is that KIRSTEN'S doll-item quilt?! Babbity Kate mentioned this in her Kirsten Youtube video, but why is the quilt shown in the illustrations a patchwork quilt, and NOT an album quilt, as is described in this book? By this point in Addy's collection, her album quilt was for sale as a doll item, and it's been an illustration in OTHER Addy books, so there's really no excuse for this. There's LITERALLY a picture of the album quilt on the cover of Addy Studies Freedom, like COME ON.
We get these rich descriptions and vignettes of album quilt elements in this book, as well as the album quilt doll item, and then in this book cover and other illustrations, she's got a patchwork quilt in her hands. There's a page later in the book where she's 'showing' her friends her broom applique, and in the picture, she's holding Kirsten's patchwork doll quilt, no applique in sight. What???? Was this a miscommunication with the illustrator? What a weird detail for them to flub. American Girl is usually really meticulous about the little details, and considering Addy got a complete re-illustration, I don't understand how they could have gotten this wrong.
Anyway, what a lovely message in this book. I really like the relationship between Addy and her teacher, as well as that conversation with her mother.
August 15, 2025
In this sweet short story, Addy's parents want to renew their vows, since they were unable to have a church wedding while they were both enslaved. To surprise them, Addy works in secret on a quilt to give them as a present, with the help of her teacher. When her old school nemesis Harriet makes fun of Addy's parents for not being truly married and of her quilt, Addy is hurt and confused. Does a slavery 'jumping the broom' wedding mean her parents were never really married?
This was a great lesson to Addy to stand tall in her beliefs and not think less of herself or her family, no matter what others may say and think. My heart hurt for how mean Harriet is to Addy! But this is relatable for young readers who will unfortunately but undoubtedly encounter similar scenarios from classmates. Aside from Harriet, this was such a sweet story, and I loved the emotional moment when her parents finally got to have a church wedding that they were denied during slavery. This felt like such a full and complete story, despite its short length!
Like all of the short stories, this is best read after reading all of the full-length books in order to avoid major plot spoilers!
This was a great lesson to Addy to stand tall in her beliefs and not think less of herself or her family, no matter what others may say and think. My heart hurt for how mean Harriet is to Addy! But this is relatable for young readers who will unfortunately but undoubtedly encounter similar scenarios from classmates. Aside from Harriet, this was such a sweet story, and I loved the emotional moment when her parents finally got to have a church wedding that they were denied during slavery. This felt like such a full and complete story, despite its short length!
Like all of the short stories, this is best read after reading all of the full-length books in order to avoid major plot spoilers!
October 10, 2023
Addy made a beautiful quilt for her parents. Harriet made fun of Addy's family's slave customs and experiences but Addy was proud of her family, and rightly so.
Wondeful story 😊
I want to learn to quilt haha
Wondeful story 😊
I want to learn to quilt haha
March 4, 2024
This was an interesting and informative piece of fiction on the sweetness and hardships of marriage for slaves before and after the Civil War. It was also fun to "see" Addy, her family, and her love-hate friendship with Harriet again!
July 10, 2022
such a sweet short story
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November 15, 2022Another lovely Addy short story!
December 26, 2022
There were some really wise quotes there. ❤️❤️❤️
January 5, 2023
A Memorable Moment introducing my 5 year old Granddaughter to Addy 💗
February 17, 2025
Harriet always got some shit to say smh
October 3, 2024
Addy's parents are finally going to be legally married, and Addy is making them a quilt as a wedding present (reminding me of Kirsten's books.) Miss Dunn helps her with the embroidery after school, which leads Harriet to find out that Addy's parents were "married" in slavery by what was called "jumping the broom." Harriet is super rude and insists that jumping the broom didn't mean anything (since it wasn't legal), and that everything related to slavery should be left in the past.
This book has some good insights on whether to forget the past, or to celebrate it as part of one's journey. It's definitely fitting for an AG book. Mrs. Walker simply says that although jumping the broom may not mean anything to Harriet, it meant a lot to her. And although it only arose out of the evil institution of slavery, it was a defining moment in her life that she will carry forever. Addy ends up sewing squares of both a broom AND a church on the quilt.
The Looking Back section about slave marriage was fascinating. Apparently, plenty of slave owners would throw their slaves weddings (especially if they were higher-ranking house slaves) in order to keep them happy and possibly prevent them from running away. But then, they would still separate a "married" couple without a moment's hesitation to make a buck. Wild.
This book has some good insights on whether to forget the past, or to celebrate it as part of one's journey. It's definitely fitting for an AG book. Mrs. Walker simply says that although jumping the broom may not mean anything to Harriet, it meant a lot to her. And although it only arose out of the evil institution of slavery, it was a defining moment in her life that she will carry forever. Addy ends up sewing squares of both a broom AND a church on the quilt.
The Looking Back section about slave marriage was fascinating. Apparently, plenty of slave owners would throw their slaves weddings (especially if they were higher-ranking house slaves) in order to keep them happy and possibly prevent them from running away. But then, they would still separate a "married" couple without a moment's hesitation to make a buck. Wild.
August 4, 2014
Addy's parents were married in a slave ceremony, but now they want to be married in freedom and Addy is working on a special quilt to give them as a gift for their special day. Harriet, a girl in Addy's class makes fun of the slave wedding her parents had and makes Addy feel bad about their past. Can Addy find a way to cherish the past and the future without shame?
June 1, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this "JF" book about a little girls wedding gift to her parents. It was a heart-warming SHORT story. I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed it so much that I will let Jasmine read it sometime this Summer. :)
November 9, 2014
When Addy's mom and dad got married they jumped the broom. Because they were slaves. But now they are free and they want to get married in the church. So Addy wants to make a quilt. When she is done she puts a broom for when they got married first.
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August 27, 2010What a quick read for a young girl learning about why quilts are important to families.
November 28, 2013
This was a really good short story. I really enjoyed it. Interesting plot and point of view. Really gave me a feeling of what things were like.
October 11, 2021
Poor Addy :(
August 13, 2016
I loved this short story. It gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I thought it was the sweetest one.
January 12, 2009
A childhood favorite; very interesting, but now it's not quite as good as when I was little.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews