Reviews
History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes by Alex Graudins, Kate Hannigan
waterviolite's review against another edition
4.0
A historical fiction graphic novel about the Chicago Fire. The two main characters (white, Irish-catholic children) are fictional, but many background characters are historic figures. Includes an epilogue featuring the Chicago World's Fair, a timeline, map, fast facts, and research resources.
While I enjoyed the book, it focused far more on two kids looking for their parents and caring for a puppy than on the fire. This may be because the historic record is limited enough it can be told in a few pages or it may be an effort to make it more relatable to the kids reading it.
As an adult reading this, I was frustrated that, although buildings were clearly destroyed and loss of life was mentioned, the fire seemed to be more set dressing than an active danger. The kids spent about half the book wandering through burning streets, looking for people they knew, chasing the dog, looking for water, watching people pack their belongings to evacuate, and talking/bickering with one another. The survivors whose words were quoted were shown standing in the street mesmerized by the flames. While I wouldn't want the book to show graphic injuries, it would have been nice to see the humans have at least some consequences from lingering in a burning street, running into a burning building, or being lit on fire. As it was, it gave the impression that they could have survived by simply waiting it out downtown and smothering any flames that landed on their clothes.
While I enjoyed the book, it focused far more on two kids looking for their parents and caring for a puppy than on the fire. This may be because the historic record is limited enough it can be told in a few pages or it may be an effort to make it more relatable to the kids reading it.
As an adult reading this, I was frustrated that, although buildings were clearly destroyed and loss of life was mentioned, the fire seemed to be more set dressing than an active danger. The kids spent about half the book wandering through burning streets, looking for people they knew, chasing the dog, looking for water, watching people pack their belongings to evacuate, and talking/bickering with one another. The survivors whose words were quoted were shown standing in the street mesmerized by the flames. While I wouldn't want the book to show graphic injuries, it would have been nice to see the humans have at least some consequences from lingering in a burning street, running into a burning building, or being lit on fire. As it was, it gave the impression that they could have survived by simply waiting it out downtown and smothering any flames that landed on their clothes.
thepageladies's review against another edition
3.0
A deadly blaze engulfs Chicago for two terrifying days! A brother, a sister, and a helpless puppy must race through the city to stay one step ahead of the devilish inferno. But can they reunite with their lost family before it’s too late?
In History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire, writer Kate Hannigan and illustrator Alex Graudins tell the true story of how a city rose up from one of the worst catastrophes in American history, and how this disaster forever changed how homes, buildings, and communities are constructed.
Thank you, Goodreads and First Second Books for a chance to read The Great Chicago Fire Rising From the Ashes!
I read this book with my son because when it came to the house, he opened it and saw the inside of the book and thought it as for him. So, we ended up reading it together. It was an ok book. When I first read the title of the book, I thought it was going to be a book based on facts of the actual events. But in a twist the author adds in some of the myths that have come along with the Chicago fire. I didn’t really know much about the event in the first place. Except what everyone else has probably be told. But my son liked the book and I enjoyed the time spent with him and it truly wasn’t a bad book. I just think its geared towards the youngsters. Happy reading everyone!!
In History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire, writer Kate Hannigan and illustrator Alex Graudins tell the true story of how a city rose up from one of the worst catastrophes in American history, and how this disaster forever changed how homes, buildings, and communities are constructed.
Thank you, Goodreads and First Second Books for a chance to read The Great Chicago Fire Rising From the Ashes!
I read this book with my son because when it came to the house, he opened it and saw the inside of the book and thought it as for him. So, we ended up reading it together. It was an ok book. When I first read the title of the book, I thought it was going to be a book based on facts of the actual events. But in a twist the author adds in some of the myths that have come along with the Chicago fire. I didn’t really know much about the event in the first place. Except what everyone else has probably be told. But my son liked the book and I enjoyed the time spent with him and it truly wasn’t a bad book. I just think its geared towards the youngsters. Happy reading everyone!!
josephine_jellybean's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
lostinausten's review against another edition
4.0
A graphic novel that tells the true story of the Great Chicago Fire.
I love any book that presents history in an engaging way for kids. I especially loved how it shed light on how much hate O'Leary got for being an immigrant and how she "allegedly" caused the fire. The hate that immigrants got because of this event is still so accurate and timely. This book really breaks down the timeline of the fire and how it was able to keep spreading. No one thought it could jump over each neighborhood and river, but it did. I also loved how the book discusses the development of the "new" Chicago architecture via...Jenney, Burnham, Sullivan etc.
This is such a great, all encompassing book about Chicago and how it rose from its ashes to become what it is today.
I love any book that presents history in an engaging way for kids. I especially loved how it shed light on how much hate O'Leary got for being an immigrant and how she "allegedly" caused the fire. The hate that immigrants got because of this event is still so accurate and timely. This book really breaks down the timeline of the fire and how it was able to keep spreading. No one thought it could jump over each neighborhood and river, but it did. I also loved how the book discusses the development of the "new" Chicago architecture via...Jenney, Burnham, Sullivan etc.
This is such a great, all encompassing book about Chicago and how it rose from its ashes to become what it is today.
meredithmc's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a grown woman and didn't know a lot about this topic, so I think middle grader readers will find it really intriguing. The pacing threw me off at a few times but overall, an interesting read. I liked how the myths were dispelled, as well as going into anti-immigrant sentiments. (As a fan of world's fair histories, the glimpse at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago at the end had me especially interested!)
elizabethlk's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
I've really been enjoying the History Comics series so far, and I'm glad to have had the chance to read The Great Chicago Fire! This feels like the kind of book I would have enjoyed more as a kid than I did as an adult, but it was still an entertaining and educational story for the most part.
The art was really cute and helped liven up the story. The information given was accurate to the best of my knowledge and was genuinely very informative. I feel like I definitely learned from this story, even though I was familiar with parts of it. I do wish that the story had been told by omniscient narrators (like they have usually been in my experience with Science Comics and History Comics) rather than children involved in the events. I probably would have enjoyed this aspect more as a child, but in some ways I feel like we got less information as a result (for example, no one in the story dies, which would have been upsetting to read, but an omniscient narrator could have given us information about some of the people who died in the fires without it being traumatic for readers).
Despite it's flaws it's still an enjoyable and informative history comic that kids will learn from and enjoy. For the most part I would recommend it for the younger end of middle grade, but some of the story/art might be upsetting for more sensitive readers (I would have loved this book as a kid, my sister would have been sobbing for parts of it), so I've left some content warnings below.
Content warning: a horse collapses of exhaustion/smoke inhalation on page, puppies in peril (everyone is okay), people are shown on fire but not dying.
I've really been enjoying the History Comics series so far, and I'm glad to have had the chance to read The Great Chicago Fire! This feels like the kind of book I would have enjoyed more as a kid than I did as an adult, but it was still an entertaining and educational story for the most part.
The art was really cute and helped liven up the story. The information given was accurate to the best of my knowledge and was genuinely very informative. I feel like I definitely learned from this story, even though I was familiar with parts of it. I do wish that the story had been told by omniscient narrators (like they have usually been in my experience with Science Comics and History Comics) rather than children involved in the events. I probably would have enjoyed this aspect more as a child, but in some ways I feel like we got less information as a result (for example, no one in the story dies, which would have been upsetting to read, but an omniscient narrator could have given us information about some of the people who died in the fires without it being traumatic for readers).
Despite it's flaws it's still an enjoyable and informative history comic that kids will learn from and enjoy. For the most part I would recommend it for the younger end of middle grade, but some of the story/art might be upsetting for more sensitive readers (I would have loved this book as a kid, my sister would have been sobbing for parts of it), so I've left some content warnings below.
Content warning: a horse collapses of exhaustion/smoke inhalation on page, puppies in peril (everyone is okay), people are shown on fire but not dying.
nitwit92's review against another edition
Similar to the Nathan Hale books by being a fun and different way for kids to learn about different parts of history.