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Reviews
History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes by Alex Graudins, Kate Hannigan
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.
thrifty_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
May appeal to a similar age group as the I Survived series but accessible to less advanced readers. Will be purchasing for my public library.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
hal2499's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great book to get you started on learning about the great fire that happened in Chicago and how it changed Chicago for the better.
const_elle_ations's review against another edition
4.0
My brother had this and I needed books for my reading challenge lol
hrmason's review against another edition
3.0
Gives readers a glimpse into what it was like to have lived through that night. Downplays some of the horror, but provides lots of historical information along the way.