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The Great Fire

(1995, Non-Fiction - History, Written by Jim Murphy)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Spellbinding account of disaster.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Immigrants are blamed for the fire and persecuted.

  • Violence:

    An out-of-control fire destroys a significant part of a city and kills scores of people. Family members and friends are separated from each other during the confusion following the outbreak of the fire.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Great Fire

Parents need to know that this details the tragic Great Fire of Chicago, which killed scores of people. The fire itself is made a powerful character in this exciting account.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the book's central tragedy. Could a fire like this happen today? What kind of techniques are used to keep fires from spreading so freely?
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