A review by waterviolite
The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes by Kate Hannigan
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.