Quinn writes to her about Sean's situation. In October, her hopes are shattered when she receives the horrible news that both her parents have died. Work at the mill is hard, but Mary continues working tirelessly since she wishes to save enough for her parents to come to America soon. Mary never warms to Clarissa, who is prejudiced against Irish people. Annie invites Mary to her boardinghouse and introduces her to her roommates Laura Austin, Ruth Shattuck, and Clarissa Burroughs. The two of them become friends, after meeting by chance one Sunday. A few days later, she starts her job at the mill and a 'Yankee' girl, Annie Clark, trains Mary. Mary stays with Nora in an Irish neighborhood called the Acre. Kate fetches Mary in Boston and brings her to Lowell, where she helps her get a job at the mill. Quinn takes her away and sends her to a safe place. In Boston, Sean and his uncle Patrick Quinn are able locate Alice who is blind. O'Donnell pass away, Mary decides to find their daughter Alice.

She also becomes acquainted with Sean Riordan, a boy around her age. O'Donnell, who are looking forward to seeing their daughter in America. On board the ship, Mary befriends an married couple, Mr. Three weeks later, Mary departs her hometown of Skibbereen and a neighbor takes her to Cork where the ship is docked. Her father, however, is upset that both his daughters will now be gone, but remains quiet once he says his piece. Mary's mother is happy that she will be joining her sister Kate, who left two years earlier. Two years after the Great Famine began in Ireland, fourteen-year-old Mary Driscoll receives a ticket for her passage to America from her aunt Nora Kinsella. What could be worse than what I had already seen back in Ireland? I had to go through those gates.' Plot There is nothing to be afraid of, I told myself. There were smokestacks blowing their blackness heavenward and darkening the sky. It looked to me like all the people in Ireland could fit inside. I never dreamed earthly hands could make anything that big. Abbott's house is so near the mills we were able to walk there.

Dedication ' To the memory of my grandfather, Louis Denenberg' Book description ' Friday, July 9, 1847

So Far From Home by Barry Denenberg