Book Summary

Molly's Pilgrim, a short novel by Barbara Cohen

Fountas and Pinnell Level M (beginning third grade)

    Molly and her family have moved to America from Russia. Her mother says they moved to find freedom. But the other kids in Molly's third grade class make fun of her accent and clothes - and that doesn't seem like freedom to Molly at all.

    At Thanksgiving everyone has to bring a pilgrim doll to class. The doll Molly's mother makes looks like a Russian peasant girl. It's doesn't look at all like the pilgrims Molly has seen in her American history book. Molly is afraid she'll never fit in with her classmates now.

    When Molly brings the doll to school, something wonderful happens to make Molly - and her classmates- learn the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

    Cohen, Barbara. (1983). Molly's pilgrim. New York: Bantam Skylark