The Great Fire

The Great Fire
By Jim Murphy
Scholastic, 1995. 144 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

The great fire of 1871 burned for thirty-one hours, leaving an area of Chicago four miles long by one mile wide destroyed and thousands of people homeless. Here, Jim Murphy discusses the causes of the fire and the impact of it on Chicago and shares stories of people caught in the midst of the disaster.

Murphy uses clear language and excellent illustrations (including numerous maps to show the spread of the fire) to help readers understand the devastating course of events. This is a great introduction to an important piece of history for both teens and adults.

AE