A review by kateteaching7and8
The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes by Kate Hannigan

4.0

Thank you to #NetGalley and First Second Books for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire: Rising From the Ashes by Kate Hannigan. This book will be released on June 30, 2020. All opinions are my own.

In this installment of History Comics, it's 1871 and a fire is blazing through Chicago. The story follows a two siblings as they struggle to stay ahead of the fire and reunite with their family. It not only discusses theories about how the fire started, but it goes through why the fire was so damaging, and what changes came about in regards to architecture and city planning due to the fire.

I found this to be a fun way to learn more about the Great Chicago Fire. I liked that it discussed more than just the Old Lady Leary theory. I also like that it stated that Mrs. Leary was cleared of fault. There was a big focus on architecture and how the fire changed the way buildings were built. In 1871, Chicago was a wooden city and that had fatal repercussions. I also liked that it discussed the Chicago World's Fair and all of the events and things that occurred there. The Orville brothers play a cameo as do Frederick Douglas, Ida B. Wells, and Buffalo Bill. There is also a focus on acceptance. It examines the way Irish immigrants were treated and then Polish, Greek, Italian, and Jewish immigrants. One of the young characters questions why we can't all get along which is a question still being asked today. Another character makes it a point to state that we're all originally from somewhere else. I think this book could spark great discussions with students and is a fun way to introduce them to the topic of the Great Chicago Fire.