Children of the Fire

Grade 4-6-- The Chicago fire of 1871 is seen as an adventure by 11-year-old Hallelujah. However, as she wanders the streets meeting the rich and poor of all races and religions dispossessed by the fire, she realizes that people's similarities are stronger than their differences. Hallelujah's maturation comes slowly and believably. Her mother was an escaped slave who brought her children safely to Chicago before dying, but Hallelujah is accustomed to an easier life with her foster parents. They have a house and give food to their unemployed Irish Catholic neighbors. Instead of being grateful, Hallelujah is often bossy and inconsiderate toward others. The night of the fire she becomes separated from her family and seeks excitement on her own. Moving around the city, she meets several "children of the fire," and gets to know Rachael, a poor Jewish girl, and wealthy, snobbish Elizabeth. Hallelujah ends up helping Elizabeth and the girls stay together for several days. They become friends, but the message gets heavy-handed when they vow to remember that "we're always free to be ourselves," and "we're all equally special ." Although the persistent resurgence of the racial/economic tolerance theme can be distracting, the story is vividly told and full of interesting historical details. Robinet evokes a real sense of the destruction the fire caused and the residents' quick determination to rebuild. The well-realized setting and unusual characters counterbalance the story's didacticism, making the book an uneven but worthwhile effort. --Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, County of Henrico Public Library, Richmond, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In search of adventure, feisty 11-year-old Hallelujah escapes the watchful eye of her guardian and watches Chicago burn down around her during one memorable October week. Meticulously, Robinet re-creates the events of the 1871 fire. Hallelujah wanders about, witnessing behavior both brave and cowardly; performing some brave deeds of her own; alternating between excitement, horror at the destruction, and guilt that she is enjoying the experience; and meeting a succession of people- -including Elizabeth, a wealthy, newly homeless white girl who lives with Hallelujah until her snooty parents track her down. The characters here are less well developed than the themes; adults can sound childlike (``Lordy, Mr. Joseph, what have you done did?'') while children sound like adults (``We're both children. We have the same feelings and needs...''), but Hallelujah sees many people put aside their racial prejudices and pitch in to begin rebuilding. The message sits a bit heavily, and there are some careless repetitions; still, this child's-eye view of a great event should appeal to readers with a historical bent. Bibliography; maps not seen. (Fiction. 10-13) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.