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Firestorm!

by Joan Hiatt Harlow
317p. 978-1-41698-485-6.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4—6—Orphaned Poppy, 12, is tired of stealing for Ma Brennan and living in a rough Chicago neighborhood in 1871, so she begins to plan her escape. By chance she meets Justin Butterworth, the son of a wealthy jeweler who lives in a beautiful house and has a new pet goat named Ticktock. He takes Poppy to see his goat, and she meets his sister, who gives Poppy her old clothes. Ma Brennan finds out about Poppy's new friends and threatens to hurt Ticktock if the child does not get her a key to the jewelry shop. Although Poppy does not take anything from Mr. Butterworth, she overhears him accuse her of stealing. She runs away and takes Ticktock with her so Ma Brennan can't harm her. The night of the Great Chicago Fire, Justin and Poppy struggle with thousands of others to flee before they are reunited. The narrative alternates between the two friends; both characters represent the time period, but lack a spark of originality. The plot moves steadily until the night of the blaze, when the action and details are literally on fire. Harlow's afterword gives additional information about the Great Chicago Fire and clarifies which parts of her book were based on facts and real people.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT
Chicago is about to be engulfed by the Great Fire of 1871. After befriending Justin, a jeweler's son, orphan (and pickpocket) Poppy finds herself caught not only in the fire's path but also between two families with very different motives. Though the voices don't always ring true, Harlow's shifting perspective between Poppy and Justin helps illuminate diverse experiences and consequences of the disaster.
Reviewed by Samantha Larsen Hastings , Feb 01, 2011

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