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The sequel to Frank McCourt's memoir begins in October 1949, as he returns to America after his family moved back to Ireland due to poor prospects. Now a 19-year-old with a "pimply face, sore eyes, and bad teeth," he feels out of place among confident college students. His initial experiences in the U.S. are as bleak as his impoverished childhood in Ireland, highlighted by two of the most dismal Christmases ever depicted. McCourt's sharp observations and dark humor reveal the harsh realities of race prejudice, casual cruelty, and dead-end jobs that dampen his spirits as he seeks a way forward. A glimmer of hope arises from the army, where he gains valuable skills, and from New York University, which admits him despite his lack of a high school diploma. However, the path to becoming a creative writing teacher at Stuyvesant High School is fraught with challenges. McCourt's remarkable ability to connect with a diverse range of human emotions allows him to portray even the most troubled individuals as complex characters, fostering a sense of uncomfortable kinship. His lyrical prose, infused with Irish rhythms, elevates even the saddest moments, culminating in a poignant scene in a Limerick graveyard.