The Great Chicago Fire: All Is Not Lost

by Steven Otfinoski

Overview

Vivid storytelling brings American history to life and place readers in the shoes of people who experienced one of the worst fires in American history - the Great Chicago Fire. In October 1871 the Midwest was in the midst of one of the driest periods on record. A center of modern firefighting technology, all of Chicago's resources were put to the test by a fire that almost completely destroyed the city. Suspenseful, dramatic events unfold in chronological, interwoven stories from the different perspectives of people who experienced the event while it was happening. Narratives intertwine to create a breathless, "What's Next?" kind of read. Students gain a new perspective on historical figures as they learn about real people struggling to decide how best to act in a given moment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515779629
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/08/2018
Series:	Tangled History Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Steven Otfinoski has written more than 150 books for young readers. Three of his nonfiction books have been chosen Books for the Teen Age by the New York Public Library. Steve is also a playwright and has his own theater company that brings one-person plays about American history to schools. Steve lives in Connecticut with his wife, who is a teacher. They have two children, two dogs, and a cat.

Table of Contents

Foreword — "The barn is afire!" — "Where is your water, Bill?" — "This is the end of Chicago" — "Time to get out" — "And I'm just the man that would do it" — "We may go through in safety or we may die in the attempt" — "All is not lost" — Epilogue — Timeline — Glossary — Critical thinking questions — Internet sites — Further reading — Selected bibliography — Index.

Interviews

Readers gain an intimate portrait of many of the people who experienced one of the worst fires in American history. Students who are interested in history will be mesmerized by little known details of the time period such as firefighting technologies and strategies. The large cast of characters helps students see historical figures as real people struggling to decide how best to survive and deal with an unfolding disaster.