Fire at the Triangle Factory (On My Own History) [Hardcover]

Holly Littlefield (Author), Mary O'Keefe Young (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: On My Own History

Two fourteen-year-old girls, sewing machine operators at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, are caught in the famous Triangle fire of 1911.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?This is a story of two fictional young girls who become involved in a real-life tragedy. On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company went up in flames, killing 146 workers, some of whom were as young as 14. Minnie, a Jewish girl, and Tessa, an Italian Catholic, are friends and coworkers at the factory. Littlefield relates the historical events through these likable characters with whom youngsters will easily identify. She creates the mood with an earnest writing style. The girls' different backgrounds are handled in a natural way, and at the end readers are left with the feeling that these young women may have taught their elders a lesson in friendship. The colorful illustrations complement the text and follow the story nicely. The text is large and easy to read. A good addition.?William C. Heckman, Lake Forest Elementary, Hollywood, FL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. Minnie and Tessa have worked together in the shirtwaist factory since they were only 10 years old and needed to hide from the inspector. Now, at 14, they are old enough to work, and both operate sewing machines to help their families scrape together a living. In 1911 New York City, Jewish Minnie and Catholic Tessa can only be friends at the factory, but this friendship pays off when the famous and tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire takes the lives of many of their coworkers and threatens theirs. The story builds in suspense as the girls help each other in their struggle to escape from the burning factory. The numerous, large color drawings by Mary O'Keefe Young are a wonderful asset to the story, which young readers will find exciting as well as touching. Susan DeRonne

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876148682
• ISBN-13: 978-0876148686
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,073,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wrong age group listed for this great intro to biography, March 27, 2001

By 

Reader "kpcetal" (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire at the Triangle Factory (On My Own History) (Paperback)

My 7 year old loved this book, and has gone on to enjoy many others from Carolrhoda. Well written, true stories featuring interesting real people (many of them female). However, they are rated grades 4-6, which I think is way off- a strong first grade reader, most second grader, and any average third grader should fly through these books. Strongly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I teach about immigration, January 26, 2002

By 

Barbara N. Estes (Warrior, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fire at the Triangle Factory (On My Own History) (Paperback)

I am a sixth grade social studies teacher. I teach about immigrants and their assimilation into the American way of life. This book is very much below the reading level of average sixth graders. However, due to the brevity of the story and its valuable historical significance, I was able to read it orally to my classes as an introduction and enhancement to my immigration unit. It was also a valuable story upon which to refer to aid my students' understanding throughout the unit of study. One thing which I think "tickled" the interest of my sixth graders in particular, was that the story focused on two youths very close to their age. I think it is a "must have" for those who want to add a little something to their immigration lesson plans and to add realism.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fire at the Triangle Factory, December 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fire at the Triangle Factory (On My Own History) (Paperback)

I found this book to be a good book for early readers. The typeface used was large and easy to read but for older reader it was a little too basic.

I also found that older readers would benefit from a more detailed account which this book does not cover.

All in all it is a very simple account of two young ladies whom were caught up in this very terible tragedy.