Review: "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

Did you know that most of Chicago used to be built out of wood? From houses to factories to government buildings, the city was teeming with wooden structures. Even the sidewalks were wooden. It was a fire's dream and a people's nightmare.

"The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy tells the harrowing true story of the 1871 fire that devastated Chicago. Both mesmerizing and horrifying, the reader will follow the growth of the fire from the first sign of smoke in a neighborhood barn to the ashen remains of the once thriving metropolis. Poor weather conditions and a series of seemingly minor mistakes led to the destruction of the majority of the city and over 100,000 homeless. The book utilizes four real life survivors to show us the experiences of the people duriing the fire: Joseph Chamberlin (a young news reporter), Horace White (the editor in chief of the Chicago Tribune), Alexander Frear (in Chicago visiting relatives), and Claire Innes (a twelve year old girl who is separated from her family in the fiery streets). Illustrations and historic photographs depict the terrifying events as they unfold. You'll learn about the steam fire trucks of the time and the elaborate fire warning system that still did not save the city. As the fire unfolds, maps depict the spread of the Great Fire from one small neighborhood to the entirety of the downtown area.

"The Great Fire" is a Newbery Honor book and is recommended for grades three to seven. Click on the link to reserve a copy today.

--Madeline B., Mid County