Being Irish Catholic and living in America is very hard for the McCourt's. Together they live in a one room apartment and their father works to feed the family. The novel starts off saying: "When I look back at my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Frank the main character lives in Brooklyn, New York till he is four. He takes care of his brother Malachy and frequently plays out side with him, even when it's snowing-without gloves and coats.

His mother gives birth to twin boys when Frank turns four. When Frank asks his parents about his name and about his birth his mother tells him about how his father was always drunk and drinking away the family money for food. She tells Frank that his name was MALE on his birth certificate, until he was baptized. His father was too drunk to write the real name on the birth certificate, so instead of Frank, his name was MALE.

Frank's mother gives birth to another baby named Margaret. The baby is the pride and joy of the family. Frank's father stops drinking and actually bringing home wages for food. The money goes towards clothing and food for the family. For the first time Malachy-the father stops drinking and actually cares about the family and their well being.

Unexpectedly Margaret dies from a cold. Frank's mother goes through depression and his father leaves and does not come home for days. The neighbors help take care of the McCourt’s, feeding and clothing the boys. They call Frank's grandmother to see if she would pay for them to come and visit in Ireland. His grandmother agrees and when Frank's father appears again from the pub, the whole family moves to Ireland to be with Frank's Grandmother.

In Ireland the family gets and new apartment and the apartment is full of fleas! The whole family shares a bed until one of the twins becomes very ill from the cool air and the moisture in the air. Gene, one of the twins, dies. The other twin, Oliver is very upset and the family moves to a new home to escape the memory of Gene. Together they move to a two story house and go on the dole (welfare).