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As I continued my journey through Patricia Polacco’s body of work this year, Fiona’s Lace was a title I was especially eager to find. Based on the true story of Polacco’s Irish ancestors who immigrated to Chicago during the Potato Famine, this book is excellent. Somewhat unique among Polacco books, this one has elegant, cooler-toned illustrations—more subdued and refined than many of her others. Having lived in Ireland myself, I was particularly struck by how authentically the early pages evoke the Irish landscape and atmosphere.
When Fiona’s family accepts passage to America, they do so under the sponsorship of a wealthy family in Chicago. But their journey is anything but easy. Each member must work long hours to repay their debt, and they’re housed in one of the city’s slums. Food and wages are scarce, and only through taking second jobs can anyone survive. What lifts this story from hardship to hope is Fiona’s remarkable skill at lace making. Her delicate work catches the attention of Chicago’s best dressmakers, providing her family with a path towards savings and freedom.
Then, the great fire comes. With their parents at work in another part of the city, Fiona and her sister flee through the chaos. Separated and terrified, Fiona remembers the old story of how her parents met—how her mother had scattered lace to lead her father to her. Desperate and determined, Fiona cuts apart her treasured lace and leaves a trail behind her. By morning, the family is miraculously reunited; her parents had followed the charred and ash-stained lace through the streets. In a touching author’s note, Polacco shares that this singed lace became a family heirloom, passed down and woven into wedding garments by generations of daughters.
This is a deeply moving story that I would recommend to anyone studying American immigration, Irish heritage, traditional handicrafts, or the history of the Chicago fire. It is also a strong addition to any Patricia Polacco collection.
Fiona’s Lace is a tender reminder of the power of family, art, and memory woven through generations.