Children Of The Fire (Hardcover)

by Harriette Gillem Robinet (Author) "ON THAT SUNDAY IN 1871 A WARM WIND OFF the Illinois prairie moaned..." (more)
Key Phrases: honey child, taffeta dress, Miss Tilly, Mary Jane, Edward Joseph (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Robinet makes history come alive in this riveting account of the Great Chicago Fire as witnessed by an orphaned African American girl. Eager for adventure, Hallelujah, a former slave, follows her foster brother through city streets to watch the conflagration that has started in Chicago's West Division. Excitement turns to fear when the 11-year-old girl sees rows of buildings engulfed in flames and realizes how many people have lost their homes. During the next few hours, as she weaves her way through crowds, experiences the chaos that is the aftermath of destruction and shares the pain of loss with strangers, Hallelujah learns how all people become equals in times of crisis. Hallelujah emerges as a likable, spunky heroine who discovers her self-worth during the course of events. Readers will feel the intensity of her emotions and will applaud her ability to cling to hope in the midst of disaster. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-- The Chicago fire of 1871 is seen as an adventure by 11-year-old Hallelujah. However, as she wanders the streets meeting the rich and poor of all races and religions dispossessed by the fire, she realizes that people's similarities are stronger than their differences. Hallelujah's maturation comes slowly and believably. Her mother was an escaped slave who brought her children safely to Chicago before dying, but Hallelujah is accustomed to an easier life with her foster parents. They have a house and give food to their unemployed Irish Catholic neighbors. Instead of being grateful, Hallelujah is often bossy and inconsiderate toward others. The night of the fire she becomes separated from her family and seeks excitement on her own. Moving around the city, she meets several "children of the fire," and gets to know Rachael, a poor Jewish girl, and wealthy, snobbish Elizabeth. Hallelujah ends up helping Elizabeth and the girls stay together for several days. They become friends, but the message gets heavy-handed when they vow to remember that "we're always free to be ourselves," and "we're all equally special ." Although the persistent resurgence of the racial/economic tolerance theme can be distracting, the story is vividly told and full of interesting historical details. Robinet evokes a real sense of the destruction the fire caused and the residents' quick determination to rebuild. The well-realized setting and unusual characters counterbalance the story's didacticism, making the book an uneven but worthwhile effort. --Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, County of Henrico Public Library, Richmond, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (October 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689316550
• ISBN-13: 978-0689316555
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,246,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flames of fire draw my attention!, February 22, 2001

A Kid's Review

I gave this book a 5 stars because it caputers the moment in how one little girl runs away and has so many things happen on this journey. I really enjoyed this book because it shows you you how people back in the 1871 really did have fires and were losing all of there belongings. In many other books that I read are similar to this book Children fo the Fire becaseu people are having things bring wrong with world today that we live in. This book also told me that when you run away from things that you shouldn't fo then you also know that you may never find your way back home. Hallelujah is an orhan gril were her father died and her mother was trying really hard making it to chicago when she died. Hallelujah when she ran away from home because she had follwed some of her friends to see what they were up to. They were were picking stuff for their father when Hallelujah wanted to go on Adventare to waht brings next in life...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I read this book for my mother/daughter bookclub., September 22, 2003

By	Anna Gaebler (River Forest, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Fire (Paperback)

I read this book and I absoulutely loved it. A third grader could read it at the youngest. It is historical fiction.
If you like adventures, this is the book for you. The main charactor is a 11 year old girl who is black and goes to see the Great Chicago Fire. She makes friends that are white and black. My only concern is that the book is very sad but other than that, anyone would like it.