I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

In I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871, young Oscar Starling never wanted to leave Wisconsin for the big city of Chicago—but by the time the massive fire ignites, he’s right in its fiery path. When the city’s wooden buildings become an inferno, Oscar teams up with unexpected allies to flee the chaos. Fast-paced and grounded in historical detail, this installment brings 19th-century urban terror to life with emotional immediacy and vivid survival stakes. At around 590–700L Lexile and an AR Level of ~4.0–4.6 (2–3 points), this 112-page novel is ideal for young readers exploring bravery amid disaster, and a perfect pick for classroom or independent reading.

{My thoughts} – Oscar is a young boy that has his entire world flipped upside down. His father passes away and then his mom meets a new guy and they get married. The new guy wants them to move with him in Chicago and so they do. They sell their farm and head off to Chicago by train. Oscar isn’t happy about this at all. He’d made a promise to his dad that he’d look after the farm and since his mother has sold it, that isn’t a promise he can keep.

When they get to Chicago Oscar is distracted by a young girl and some older boys steal their suitcases. Oscar isn’t sure what to think about that other then he is upset he lost his father’s sheriffs badge and that he’d like to get it back. His mom and his new step dad call the show more police and they tell them more or less that there isn’t anything that they can do. They also told them their belongings would probably never be recovered.

That night they go out to eat at the Palmer House and his mother notices that the sky is orange. His new step dad says it’s nothing to worry about and that Chicago has the best fire department in the country. They continue on with their night in a sense. As they are about to walk into the Palmer house he sees the little girl that distracted him and he decides to run after her and see if he can get their stuff back. It takes a bit but he realizes what a terrible mistake he’d made by following her.

While everything is going on at once he quickly starts going back and forth in his mind about the fire that had happened at the farm where he’d grown up. How out of control it was and how many things were burnt up and how many lives were lost. He ends up getting hurt and saving the girl and her little brother from the house they lived in because it caught on fire and they got trapped. They girl and her brother get out but he ends up almost being trapped inside until he realizes the girl is telling him how to get out. This starts their journey to try and get back to the Palmer House, back to his mother.

So much takes place from the time they leave the girls house to when he finally reaches the Palmer House. So much devastation and destruction. This book is one that was really hard for me to read. My family has personally been affected by a house fire and the outcome was grim. I am thankful that the author allowed these children to get out of the house, to have a fighting chance, not everyone in such a situation has that kind of opportunity.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series very soon! show less

My son and I love reading these books together, and this one was especially interesting to me, having spent a year living in Chicago during my early 20's. These books are great for new-ish readers (my son has loved them since he was 7, and he's 9 now) and older folks too! Always full of great detail, lots of adventure, and fabulous relationships!

I liked this book for two main reasons. I enjoyed the language that the author used, as well as the plot in the story. The way the author writes feels as though the reader is present in the moment that they are in the story. When times are tense, the author writes in a frantic way, which brings the story to life. The plot of the story is also interesting because it is based off of a real event, but the story itself did not happen. I think this is interesting, and I also liked that the story kept the readers on their toes and was exciting throughout. The big idea in this book is to portray some of the events that took place during the Great Chicago Fire.

Oscar arrived in Chicago the afternoon of the Great Chicago Fire. He does get singed and has an adventurous and uncomfortable escape. But more interest is put into describing the fire that the impact of it on Oscar.

Oscar lost his father, and it seems all to soon his mother is remarried and her new husband is whisking them off to live in Chicago. His families arrival coincides with the great fire of Chicago. Reportedly the fire began in a barn when a cow kicked a milk can. This book places Oscar lost from his family. Surrounded by fire and huge burning conflagrations, Oscar wonders if he will ever get out and live to tell the tale.

Oscar Starling never wanted to come to Chicago. But then Oscar finds himself not just in the heart of the big city but in the middle of a terrible fire