"Polacco adds to her library of autobiographical stories with this tale about her Irish forebear Fiona. Polacco’s valuable portrait of hardship in Ireland and her descriptions of the unjust working conditions that émigrés encountered in the U.S. supplies a gritty picture of the immigrant experience. " Publishers Weekly
– Publishers Weekly, June 16, 2014
"Polacco’s large and multiethnic family yields up another fine story, this one in greens and grays, lace and fire." Kirkus Reviews
– Kirkus Reviews, July 2014
"Once again, Polacco has drawn on a rich family history to present this story of courage, perseverance, and love. Illustrated with pencil and acetone markers in Polacco’s recognizable style, this is a story with many themes and lessons—the love of family, the immigrant experience, and family history and stories passing from generation to generation, to name a few. It’s sure to find an appreciative audience." School Library Journal
– School Library Journal, September 2014
"The most compelling feature of this well-crafted immigrants’ story is how it might inspire adults to share
their own family stories with their kids." Booklist
– Booklist, September 1, 2014
