Barry denenberg says while writing and researching so far from home i was moved by mary driscoll and how she made her way hers is to me an heroic story young readers will agree book summary during the past two years skibbereen marys home town in ireland had been ravaged by the great potato famine. So far from home massachusetts 0 590 92667 5 so far from home takes us through the life of young mary an irish immigrant to america she hopes to find work in a mill and send her wages home to her family to feed them through the famine and perhaps one day bring them to america to live with mary again forever. Amy driscoll a hudson mother who so far her son is feeling fine driscoll was surprised by how far her story reached and is happy it seems to have raised awareness. She laughed and said oh its probably covid 19 and i thought thats funny we were joking but in retrospect it was not a funny joke driscoll said after consulting with her cousin whos a nurse driscoll made the rapid decision to leave her family at home and drive herself to the emergency room at 430 am thursday. So far from home the story of mary driscoll an irish mill girl lowell massachusetts 1847 denenberg barry amazoncomau books