STONE DOLL

An immigrant from Italy discusses growing up to succeed as an entrepreneur, politician, and philanthropist in the United States in this memoir.

In 1955, at the age of 5, Antonietta “Toni” Boucher and her family left behind life in their rural Italian village to sail into America’s New York Harbor. The planned seven-day journey on the Saturnia stretched to over two weeks due to a storm—the first of many difficulties her family would face as immigrants. But the author soon thrived in her new home; she was awarded a prestigious Rotary International study-abroad opportunity in high school and attended American University before working her way up in the hotel industry. Eventually, Boucher entered Connecticut politics, first serving as a member of the Wilton Board of Education, then as a state representative and state senator. She details the triumphs and hardships of her life in politics, often related to her adamant opposition to legalizing medical marijuana. Personal photos appear throughout the memoir, including childhood snapshots and candid pictures from a peace rally in Washington, D.C., during the Vietnam War. Tracing her journey from penniless immigrant to successful politician and philanthropist, the author repeatedly emphasizes the need to better the world for those who come after: “For me, it has always been about bringing along the next generation, whether in education, politics, or business.” Most of the events she describes unfold at a relatively brisk pace, with a few grindingly slow exceptions (such as an account of the surprisingly lucrative stock investments Boucher’s husband made). The author’s clear narrative voice cleanly traces the arc of her life, prioritizing facts over emotions. The photos add a welcome sense of intimacy (as does the recipe for her family’s homemade pasta sauce, Italian sausage, and meatballs). Boucher delivers an inspirational story that both recounts her own journey and serves as a larger reminder of the important contributions that immigrants have made—and continue to make—to America’s melting pot.

A triumphant personal history.