Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids face deadly fire in vivid, informative graphic novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE: RISING FORM THE ASHES opens, J.P. and his sister, Franny, are doing their evening chores when they discover their aunt and uncle have ridden away without taking one of their puppies. Fearing the pup won't survive without its mother, they chase after them, only to be caught up in a devastating fire. Will they be able save themselves as much of the city burns to the ground?
Is It Any Good?
Comics excel at depicting disasters, and this fact-based graphic novel presents a kid's-eye view of a devastating calamity. In The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes, author Kate Hannigan and illustrator Alex Graudins capture the action and suspense of the firestorm, showing people from all walks of life as they fight to survive. J.P. And Franny are likable main characters, thoroughly human in the ways they react to the disaster. Somehow, the quest to save a puppy in jeopardy seems a little too on-the-nose. But that choice may not bother young readers who want some kind of homey anchor amid the scary chaos. The creators of The Great Chicago Fire take pains to get the details right, and young history buffs will enjoy learning about a disaster that still resonates today.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Great Chicago Fire mixes fact and fiction to show full extent of that event. Why do you think the author add a fictional family to the story?
Even today, people believe Mrs. O'Leary's cow started the fire. How do urban legends grow? Do you think O'Leary was scapegoated because she was Irish? Why is it important not to spread rumors?
How do people treat each other in the middle of a disaster? Can you tell right away who will be courageous and who will be cowardly?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Alex Graudins
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : First Second
- Publication date : June 30, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 13
- Number of pages : 128
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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