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Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show On Earth
International Literacy Association Award Winner for Intermediate Nonfiction 2016
Eureka Children's Book Honor 2016
On July 6, 1944, thousands of fans made their way to Barbour Street in Hartford, Connecticut, to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance. Not long after the show’s start, a fire broke out and spread rapidly as panicked circus-goers pushed and scrambled to escape. Within 10 minutes the entire big top had burned to the ground, and 167 people never went home.
Big Top Burning recounts the true story of one of the worst fire disasters in US history. It follows the tragic stories of the Cook family—including children Donald, Eleanor, and Edward, who were in the audience that day—and 15-year-old Robert Segee, a circus employee with an incendiary past. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with survivors, author Laura Woollett guides readers through several decades of investigations and asks, Was the unidentified body of a little girl nicknamed “Little Miss 1565” Eleanor Cook? Was the fire itself an act of arson—and did Robert Segee set it? Young readers are invited to evaluate the evidence and draw their own conclusions.
Combining a gripping disaster story, an ongoing detective and forensics saga, and vivid details about life in World War II–era America, Big Top Burning is sure to intrigue any history or real-life mystery fan.
Eureka Children's Book Honor 2016
On July 6, 1944, thousands of fans made their way to Barbour Street in Hartford, Connecticut, to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance. Not long after the show’s start, a fire broke out and spread rapidly as panicked circus-goers pushed and scrambled to escape. Within 10 minutes the entire big top had burned to the ground, and 167 people never went home.
Big Top Burning recounts the true story of one of the worst fire disasters in US history. It follows the tragic stories of the Cook family—including children Donald, Eleanor, and Edward, who were in the audience that day—and 15-year-old Robert Segee, a circus employee with an incendiary past. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with survivors, author Laura Woollett guides readers through several decades of investigations and asks, Was the unidentified body of a little girl nicknamed “Little Miss 1565” Eleanor Cook? Was the fire itself an act of arson—and did Robert Segee set it? Young readers are invited to evaluate the evidence and draw their own conclusions.
Combining a gripping disaster story, an ongoing detective and forensics saga, and vivid details about life in World War II–era America, Big Top Burning is sure to intrigue any history or real-life mystery fan.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2015
30 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
Laura A. Woollett
2 books13 followersLAURA A. WOOLLETT is the author of the middle-grade book Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show On Earth (Chicago Review Press, 2015), a nonfiction account of the 1944 Hartford circus fire. She is also an editor of literacy curriculum for kids in grades K–12. Laura has a Master’s degree in Children’s Literature from Simmons College and is a member of SCBWI and the Author's Guild. Originally from South Windsor, Connecticut, Laura now lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 18, 2022
3.5 stars
"I've been a cop for 25 years, but I never saw anything like this. I won't sleep for weeks. I was gonna take my kid to the circus today, but I had to work. Thank God, I had to work." -- unidentified Hartford police officer, tasked with manning the temporary morgue (for the 100+ recovered bodies, over a third of them children) at the Connecticut State Armory, on page 69
I did not realize Woollett's Big Top Burning was specifically meant for a YA audience when I selected it at the library, but it was not a bad 'intro' book of sorts into the Hartford, Connecticut circus tragedy of Tuesday 6 July 1944. The author presents an extremely streamlined and concise retelling of that afternoon - when a still-unexplained fire erupted and quickly blazed through and incinerated the big top during a Ringling Brothers / Barnum & Bailey matinee show to kill 167 spectators and injure over 400 more - and also details the 'Little Miss 1565' identification mystery as well as a possible arson suspect. However, for those seeking a more comprehensive overview of the incident I would recommend Stewart O'Nan's excellent The Circus Fire, which Woollett wisely used for research.
"I've been a cop for 25 years, but I never saw anything like this. I won't sleep for weeks. I was gonna take my kid to the circus today, but I had to work. Thank God, I had to work." -- unidentified Hartford police officer, tasked with manning the temporary morgue (for the 100+ recovered bodies, over a third of them children) at the Connecticut State Armory, on page 69
I did not realize Woollett's Big Top Burning was specifically meant for a YA audience when I selected it at the library, but it was not a bad 'intro' book of sorts into the Hartford, Connecticut circus tragedy of Tuesday 6 July 1944. The author presents an extremely streamlined and concise retelling of that afternoon - when a still-unexplained fire erupted and quickly blazed through and incinerated the big top during a Ringling Brothers / Barnum & Bailey matinee show to kill 167 spectators and injure over 400 more - and also details the 'Little Miss 1565' identification mystery as well as a possible arson suspect. However, for those seeking a more comprehensive overview of the incident I would recommend Stewart O'Nan's excellent The Circus Fire, which Woollett wisely used for research.
June 12, 2015
Excellent book. Written for upper elementary/middle school age but provides a great amount of information. Leaves nothing out other than the morgue photos which is appropriate when writing to this age group.
This book is a good introduction for anyone of any age to the tragedy that was the Hartford circus fire. I grew up knowing about the fire because I lived just outside Hartford. My grandmother spoke of it often. I imagine now she felt some relief that she was at home with my aunt and uncle. They had just had a baby sister who would have been only just over a month old when the fire happened and I am sure 2 small children and a baby that small would have been too much to handle taking the train in. However many families including people my grandparents knew were at the circus that day. My grandfather worked in downtown Hartford but he never spoke of the fire, it made that much of an impact. He faced its aftermath day after day. He was just very lucky that none of his family was involved.
Even though I grew up in the area and followed the news coverage each year, I was able to learn some new things from this book. It is extremely well researched. You can tell the author really cared about the topic. This is a book everyone should read because while tragic, it tells of a community that came together to help each other. A level of helpfulness we don't see today. It also reminds us that no matter the decade, tragedies occur and we must be ready to help each other. The fire happened less than a decade after the school in Texas exploded killing many which led to the scent being added to natural gas. (Gone at 3:17: The Untold Story of the Worst School Disaster in American History by David Brown) and just a little more than a decade before the fire at the Catholic school in Chicago that would lead to reform in school safety. This book shows that each generation has its tragedy and we need to learn to prevent them.
This book while considered a "children's" book has the most up to date information. It has excellent pictures from the time including the famous one with Emmet Kelly. I recommend taking the time to read it.
This book is a good introduction for anyone of any age to the tragedy that was the Hartford circus fire. I grew up knowing about the fire because I lived just outside Hartford. My grandmother spoke of it often. I imagine now she felt some relief that she was at home with my aunt and uncle. They had just had a baby sister who would have been only just over a month old when the fire happened and I am sure 2 small children and a baby that small would have been too much to handle taking the train in. However many families including people my grandparents knew were at the circus that day. My grandfather worked in downtown Hartford but he never spoke of the fire, it made that much of an impact. He faced its aftermath day after day. He was just very lucky that none of his family was involved.
Even though I grew up in the area and followed the news coverage each year, I was able to learn some new things from this book. It is extremely well researched. You can tell the author really cared about the topic. This is a book everyone should read because while tragic, it tells of a community that came together to help each other. A level of helpfulness we don't see today. It also reminds us that no matter the decade, tragedies occur and we must be ready to help each other. The fire happened less than a decade after the school in Texas exploded killing many which led to the scent being added to natural gas. (Gone at 3:17: The Untold Story of the Worst School Disaster in American History by David Brown) and just a little more than a decade before the fire at the Catholic school in Chicago that would lead to reform in school safety. This book shows that each generation has its tragedy and we need to learn to prevent them.
This book while considered a "children's" book has the most up to date information. It has excellent pictures from the time including the famous one with Emmet Kelly. I recommend taking the time to read it.
August 24, 2016
On July 6, 1944, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Hartford, Connecticut. Everyone was excited to see the big show and the big top was packed. During the circus a fire started on the tent. Because the tent was waterproofed with a mixture of gasoline and wax, it was highly flammable. The small fire quickly spread and engulfed the tent. People rushed for the exits, but one side was on fire and another side was blocked by animal shutes. The big top burned within 10 minutes killing 167 people inside and injuring hundreds of others.
This highly readable and enjoyable book looks at the fire and its aftermath. Two mysteries remain to this day. Who set the fire? Who was Little Miss 1565, one of the unclaimed victims of the fire? Woollett explores the different theories around both of these questions. Years after the fire Robert Segee, a teenage circus worker, confessed to setting many fires including the Hartford circus fire, but he later recanted his testimony. Little Miss 1565 was one of six people left unclaimed after the tragic event. Many people believe she was 8-year-old Eleanor Cook, but there were inconsistencies with the dental records. Woollett leaves it up to the reader to decide.
I had never heard of the Hartford circus fire before reading this book and found the entire thing fascinating. I literally couldn't put this book down once I started it. Woollett includes many photographs from the incident to help the reader understand exactly what happened. This wonderful book is written in a style that seems almost like a novel instead of a work of nonfiction. That made it even more compelling to read. I highly recommend this book!
This highly readable and enjoyable book looks at the fire and its aftermath. Two mysteries remain to this day. Who set the fire? Who was Little Miss 1565, one of the unclaimed victims of the fire? Woollett explores the different theories around both of these questions. Years after the fire Robert Segee, a teenage circus worker, confessed to setting many fires including the Hartford circus fire, but he later recanted his testimony. Little Miss 1565 was one of six people left unclaimed after the tragic event. Many people believe she was 8-year-old Eleanor Cook, but there were inconsistencies with the dental records. Woollett leaves it up to the reader to decide.
I had never heard of the Hartford circus fire before reading this book and found the entire thing fascinating. I literally couldn't put this book down once I started it. Woollett includes many photographs from the incident to help the reader understand exactly what happened. This wonderful book is written in a style that seems almost like a novel instead of a work of nonfiction. That made it even more compelling to read. I highly recommend this book!
January 13, 2016
Review by Karen, intended for young readers:
Imagine it’s a warm summer day and you’re going with your family to the circus. You get some snacks, enter the big tent, and take your seats in the stands. You watch in awe as a lion tamer cavorts with the ferocious beasts, and you hold your breath as acrobats glide effortlessly across the high wire. And then… someone yells, “FIRE!”
This is exactly what happened to 6,000 people in Connecticut on a balmy July day in 1944. They turned up to watch the famous Ringling Bros. circus, but by the end of the day 167 people would perish in the flames (59 of them were children under the age of 10).
It’s a true story — one that I’d never heard of before reading Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show on Earth by Laura A. Woollett. But from the first page, I was drawn into this fascinating history.
The book gives you basic information about the tragic events of that day, but it also brings you into the world of the circus workers, audience members, and rescuers affected by the fire.
For example:
- Thirteen-year-old Donald Anderson, who helped hundreds of people escape with his quick thinking: He cut some ropes that fastened the tent to the ground and people were then able to climb underneath to safety.
- Eugene Badger and his father, who was on crutches: They got out by breaking through the wooden floor in the bleachers and then dropping through the hole down to the ground. Then they found a hole that had been cut in the tent wall and climbed outside.
- Circus performers May Kovar and Joseph Walsh: They successfully got every one of their animals out of the big top unharmed, then went back to help spectators get out safely too.
- Unidentified Body 1565: Buried without being claimed by anyone, this little girl may or may not have been Eleanor Cook, whose family was unable to confirm it in the days immediately following the fire.
The biggest mystery of all — how did the fire start — remains unsolved even to this day. But Big Top Burning won’t leave you hanging: The book explores the life and motivations of a possible arsonist, accused of setting fire to the tent on purpose. And even if there’s no definitive answer, one thing is for sure: You’ll find this true story easy to get into and really interesting to read.
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
Imagine it’s a warm summer day and you’re going with your family to the circus. You get some snacks, enter the big tent, and take your seats in the stands. You watch in awe as a lion tamer cavorts with the ferocious beasts, and you hold your breath as acrobats glide effortlessly across the high wire. And then… someone yells, “FIRE!”
This is exactly what happened to 6,000 people in Connecticut on a balmy July day in 1944. They turned up to watch the famous Ringling Bros. circus, but by the end of the day 167 people would perish in the flames (59 of them were children under the age of 10).
It’s a true story — one that I’d never heard of before reading Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show on Earth by Laura A. Woollett. But from the first page, I was drawn into this fascinating history.
The book gives you basic information about the tragic events of that day, but it also brings you into the world of the circus workers, audience members, and rescuers affected by the fire.
For example:
- Thirteen-year-old Donald Anderson, who helped hundreds of people escape with his quick thinking: He cut some ropes that fastened the tent to the ground and people were then able to climb underneath to safety.
- Eugene Badger and his father, who was on crutches: They got out by breaking through the wooden floor in the bleachers and then dropping through the hole down to the ground. Then they found a hole that had been cut in the tent wall and climbed outside.
- Circus performers May Kovar and Joseph Walsh: They successfully got every one of their animals out of the big top unharmed, then went back to help spectators get out safely too.
- Unidentified Body 1565: Buried without being claimed by anyone, this little girl may or may not have been Eleanor Cook, whose family was unable to confirm it in the days immediately following the fire.
The biggest mystery of all — how did the fire start — remains unsolved even to this day. But Big Top Burning won’t leave you hanging: The book explores the life and motivations of a possible arsonist, accused of setting fire to the tent on purpose. And even if there’s no definitive answer, one thing is for sure: You’ll find this true story easy to get into and really interesting to read.
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
May 7, 2015
"The fire broke out at 2:40 p.m. Thousands of men, women, and children were crowded under Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s big top watching the Flying Wallendas begin their death-defying high-wire act. Suddenly someone screamed “Fire!” and the panic began. By 2:50 the tent had burned to the ground. Not everyone had made it out alive."
I will try not to compare this book to Stewart O’Nan’s book about the 1944 Hartford circus fire. While not as detailed as O’Nan’s book, it stands very well on its own. Particularly interesting, this book went into great detail of the identification of Little Miss 1565, the beautiful little girl found among the burned ruins with hardly a mark on her.
I have been to canvas tent circuses and can imagine the frightening aspect of the Big Top burning all around you with no place to go.
I recommend this book.
I will try not to compare this book to Stewart O’Nan’s book about the 1944 Hartford circus fire. While not as detailed as O’Nan’s book, it stands very well on its own. Particularly interesting, this book went into great detail of the identification of Little Miss 1565, the beautiful little girl found among the burned ruins with hardly a mark on her.
I have been to canvas tent circuses and can imagine the frightening aspect of the Big Top burning all around you with no place to go.
I recommend this book.
August 4, 2017
In the summer of 1944, people near Hartford, Connecticut were excited to attend the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was coming to town. Being distracted for a couple of hours by entertainers and animals was just what people thought they needed. Unfortunately, a massive fire broke out and tragedy struck. What happened as a result of the fire was a lesson for the Ringling Brothers and the local emergency department. Reading this narrative nonfiction book about a true event that happened not far from where I live really hit home. My heart broke thinking about all the people and animals trapped inside the tent. Fire isn't the only damage to worry about during an emergency, when people don't stay calm- more people get hurt. Have you ever heard of the Hartford Circus fire of 1944?
I discovered Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and the Greatest Show on Earth on Rosi’s blog; The Write Stuff. I was lucky enough to win a copy of the book. The story intrigued me because I live a state away from Connecticut and had never heard of the fire (or any other circus fire for that matter). Reading about the mystery that surrounded not only how the fire started, but what happened to the people lost during the tragedy, peaked my interest. I was shocked to learn that the pieces of the puzzle were never put together, and the exact cause of the fire, along with a list of all the people who died, have yet to be determined. Each chapter was filled with careful research. The photos made the story even more real. Although the book includes information that's horrific, it's based on true events, and none of the details are gory; they're just sad. When we understand things that went wrong in history, and how common sense and safety precautions weren't in place, we can be thankful for lessons learned. This was my first book by Laura A. Woollett, but I plan to read more by this author!
I discovered Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and the Greatest Show on Earth on Rosi’s blog; The Write Stuff. I was lucky enough to win a copy of the book. The story intrigued me because I live a state away from Connecticut and had never heard of the fire (or any other circus fire for that matter). Reading about the mystery that surrounded not only how the fire started, but what happened to the people lost during the tragedy, peaked my interest. I was shocked to learn that the pieces of the puzzle were never put together, and the exact cause of the fire, along with a list of all the people who died, have yet to be determined. Each chapter was filled with careful research. The photos made the story even more real. Although the book includes information that's horrific, it's based on true events, and none of the details are gory; they're just sad. When we understand things that went wrong in history, and how common sense and safety precautions weren't in place, we can be thankful for lessons learned. This was my first book by Laura A. Woollett, but I plan to read more by this author!
June 18, 2015
And this is how we get our kids to learn about history! Laura A. Woollett has done a fantastic job weaving the many quotations, facts, details and questions about the Hartford Circus Fire into a thrilling narrative. Impeccably researched, fluidly told and delicately handled, this is a book I will gladly share with my students as the author presents facts and theories, but still invites the reader to draw their own conclusion to the remaining mysteries. The back of the book offers great insight to her research and does an excellent job citing primary and secondary sources (another reason I can't wait to share this with my students!)
Aside from the well-assembled historical story, it is easy to read. The text is not overwhelming to the eye, there are a good number of pictures and other materials to inform the reader. It is a book I would confidently give one of my struggling readers.
Aside from the well-assembled historical story, it is easy to read. The text is not overwhelming to the eye, there are a good number of pictures and other materials to inform the reader. It is a book I would confidently give one of my struggling readers.
March 5, 2015
This masterwork of narrative nonfiction will seize you from the opening line and not let you go. Gruesome but never gratuitous, Woollett's portrait of the Hartford Circus Fire puts you in the middle of the action, fleeing for safety with the patrons, performers, and animals. But this is more than mere disaster story: Two captivating unsolved mysteries unfold. Who started the fire? And who was the little girl, whose body no one ever claimed? Woollett presents the facts and theories, and readers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions. The book's content is well researched and sensitively handled; give this to any middle grade reader who enjoys history, mystery, or simply a darn good story!
March 9, 2016
Along with the Great Chicago and Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fires, the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944 was one of America's greatest tragedies.
Well written and thoroughly researched, the author has presented a detailed anatomy of a disaster and it's aftermath. Set aganist a "cultural clip" of American life in the mid-1940's, Ms. Woollett sets out the perfect research method for solving a mystery,what questions to ask, how to gather information and where to locate resources.
Steeped in science with a touch of forensics, this nonfiction book is a "middle school must-have". They will love it.
Well written and thoroughly researched, the author has presented a detailed anatomy of a disaster and it's aftermath. Set aganist a "cultural clip" of American life in the mid-1940's, Ms. Woollett sets out the perfect research method for solving a mystery,what questions to ask, how to gather information and where to locate resources.
Steeped in science with a touch of forensics, this nonfiction book is a "middle school must-have". They will love it.
November 8, 2018
Taken form the inside cover sleeve. "On July 6 1944, thousands of fans made their way to the Barbour Street in Harford, Connecticut, to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance." A fire breaks out and 167 lose their lives. This book walks you through the disaster and the many theories on the cause of the fire and the true identity of a little girl who died in the fire. I found it to be well written and researched. A few pictures scattered throughout the book give you a look at the circus tent, before and after the fire, and a look at some of the people involved with the tragedy. Not overly detail and I recommend to older children, young adults and adults.
October 1, 2015
This is a fairly riveting story of a disastrous fire at the circus in Hartford, CT in 1944. I think this book will have a lot of appeal for the kids who love to read about true disasters (Titanic, the I Survived series, etc.). I would not hand this to sensitive readers; the chapter about families identifying the bodies of dead children was especially harrowing for me (although kids who seek out disaster stories can probably handle it!). It's an interesting true story and one that's not well known down here in Indiana, so I'll be excited to add this one to my booktalking roster.
July 8, 2015
A book that shows how historical research can read like a detective story. This impeccably researched work of narrative nonfiction draws readers deep into a mysterious arson case, leading readers to examine evidence and draw conclusions. The author takes a difficult historical event and presents it to young readers in a way that invites empathy while encouraging a passion for historical investigation.
August 1, 2015
Big Top Burning is a well researched book about the Ringling Brothers Circus fire in Hartford, CT in 1944. Questions still linger about that fire, but the author lays out all the evidence and lets the reader decide. A sad story to be sure that will raise questions of safety.
Pairing this with Circus Mirnadus which also came out this year to share the similarities of maintaining fire retardant tents.
Pairing this with Circus Mirnadus which also came out this year to share the similarities of maintaining fire retardant tents.
January 17, 2020
I'd procrastinated reading this, but once I started, it was enthralling! Although considered a book for kids, I think most adults would also enjoy it. It incorporated social justice, mystery, medicine, crime, and psychology.
February 21, 2026
Someone needs to rewrite this and put it in order. Tell me why we didn't get the beginning of the story till like 4 chapters in. Also why is it so repetitive. The event was cool to learn about but this book was just nahhhh.
January 7, 2020
Does a great job of presenting a horrible and mysterious historical event in an age appropriate way, and without overly sensationalizing an inherently sensational event.
November 13, 2015
Review originally posted at Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2015/...
On a fateful July day in 1944, more than 6,000 people attended the circus in Hartford, CT, enjoying a morale-boosting diversion from the difficulties of life on the home front during World War II. 167 of them never made it home. Big Top Burning covers the circus fire that affected the lives of so many, and the investigations that followed.
Chapter by chapter, Woollett follows the arrival of the circus, the fire itself, the aftermath, the hospital treatments, matching up unknown/unclaimed victims, and whether or not the fire was an act of arson. Throughout, Woollett gives great detail about the events without being unnecessarily gory or morbid. She describes how lost children were cared for by strangers until they could be returned home. She explains how some people tried to profit from the disaster. The book also contains some truly excellent photographs from before and after the fire.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the history of the investigation surrounding Robert Segee who may or may not have set the fire. He was the subject of investigation and a person of interest regarding the devastating fire throughout his life. He was still being interviewed about the fire by police even into the 1990s! He died in 1997.
What makes Big Top Burning so great for middle school is that it has lots of possibilities for writing projects across subjects. Students could write about circus life and hazards, emergency response in the 1940s, greater trust in strangers then vs. now, or opinion pieces about Segee’s guilt or innocence. I can see lots of options for using this book.
As I read, one thing I wished for was greater context in which to situate the events of the book. Knowing a little more about how circuses worked in the 1940s would have been helpful. How was security different then compared to today? What was life like for kids in the 1940s that would make a circus such a huge treat? Overall, though, Big Top Burning would make a great addition to a school curriculum or to a classroom library.
Final note: I know that we aren’t supposed to judge books by their covers, but this one deserves special mention. As I was reading Big Top Burning, my rising 7th grader caught a glimpse of the cover and asked if he could read it when I was done. He found both the topic and the cover intriguing. So, kudos to Sarah Olson for the middle-school-eye catching cover design.
On a fateful July day in 1944, more than 6,000 people attended the circus in Hartford, CT, enjoying a morale-boosting diversion from the difficulties of life on the home front during World War II. 167 of them never made it home. Big Top Burning covers the circus fire that affected the lives of so many, and the investigations that followed.
Chapter by chapter, Woollett follows the arrival of the circus, the fire itself, the aftermath, the hospital treatments, matching up unknown/unclaimed victims, and whether or not the fire was an act of arson. Throughout, Woollett gives great detail about the events without being unnecessarily gory or morbid. She describes how lost children were cared for by strangers until they could be returned home. She explains how some people tried to profit from the disaster. The book also contains some truly excellent photographs from before and after the fire.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the history of the investigation surrounding Robert Segee who may or may not have set the fire. He was the subject of investigation and a person of interest regarding the devastating fire throughout his life. He was still being interviewed about the fire by police even into the 1990s! He died in 1997.
What makes Big Top Burning so great for middle school is that it has lots of possibilities for writing projects across subjects. Students could write about circus life and hazards, emergency response in the 1940s, greater trust in strangers then vs. now, or opinion pieces about Segee’s guilt or innocence. I can see lots of options for using this book.
As I read, one thing I wished for was greater context in which to situate the events of the book. Knowing a little more about how circuses worked in the 1940s would have been helpful. How was security different then compared to today? What was life like for kids in the 1940s that would make a circus such a huge treat? Overall, though, Big Top Burning would make a great addition to a school curriculum or to a classroom library.
Final note: I know that we aren’t supposed to judge books by their covers, but this one deserves special mention. As I was reading Big Top Burning, my rising 7th grader caught a glimpse of the cover and asked if he could read it when I was done. He found both the topic and the cover intriguing. So, kudos to Sarah Olson for the middle-school-eye catching cover design.
April 22, 2015
The narrative nonfiction centers around the 1944 Ringling Brothers fire in Hartford, CT that killed over 100 people. Readers experience the fire itself, the events immediately afterward, and investigations into the cause of the fire.
Big Top Burning is not for the faint-of-heart. This nonfiction book reads as part crime-scene investigation, part tragic documentary. Laura Woollett doesn't beat around the bush here. Over the course of this book people, including children, are burned to death, trampled, and suffocated. They die trying to escape. They die saving others. Their burned bodies are identified in makeshift morgues.
This material could have been ruined by either too light a touch - let's just ignore the dead kids over here - or by being too graphic. Big Top Burning threads the middle ground perfectly, never pretending that this event wasn't horrible, but also never indulging in gore for the sake of gore. The primary-source photos were especially intriguing and really added to the tale's impact.
I had never heard of the Hartford circus fire of 1944, and I found the circumstances that led to this tragedy completely appalling. I learned so much about how this event led to better regulations for safety and emergency management, and I just can't believe how much negligence was prevalent at the time. They actually covered the canvas in gasoline and wax to waterproof it. The tent was covered in gasoline! No wonder it burned so well!
Laura Woollett's narrative nonfiction follows several different people who were at the circus that day, similar to Jim Murphy's account of the Great Chicago Fire. This approach really humanized the tragedy, but it also made the narrative confusing at times since it was hard to keep track of so many different people.
Unfortunately, the last section, which chronicles the arson investigation and identification of one missing victim, felt rushed. Although interesting, there weren't as many details here to give this part of the story the same emotional impact as the first part of the book, so it fell a bit flat.
Overall, I recommend this book for those who are interested in fascinating historical events. It's great for readers who have already read and enjoyed books like The Great Chicago Fire and Chasing Lincoln's Killer, but because of some confusing elements, I don't recommend it as a reader's first foray into narrative nonfiction.
3.5 stars
Big Top Burning is not for the faint-of-heart. This nonfiction book reads as part crime-scene investigation, part tragic documentary. Laura Woollett doesn't beat around the bush here. Over the course of this book people, including children, are burned to death, trampled, and suffocated. They die trying to escape. They die saving others. Their burned bodies are identified in makeshift morgues.
This material could have been ruined by either too light a touch - let's just ignore the dead kids over here - or by being too graphic. Big Top Burning threads the middle ground perfectly, never pretending that this event wasn't horrible, but also never indulging in gore for the sake of gore. The primary-source photos were especially intriguing and really added to the tale's impact.
I had never heard of the Hartford circus fire of 1944, and I found the circumstances that led to this tragedy completely appalling. I learned so much about how this event led to better regulations for safety and emergency management, and I just can't believe how much negligence was prevalent at the time. They actually covered the canvas in gasoline and wax to waterproof it. The tent was covered in gasoline! No wonder it burned so well!
Laura Woollett's narrative nonfiction follows several different people who were at the circus that day, similar to Jim Murphy's account of the Great Chicago Fire. This approach really humanized the tragedy, but it also made the narrative confusing at times since it was hard to keep track of so many different people.
Unfortunately, the last section, which chronicles the arson investigation and identification of one missing victim, felt rushed. Although interesting, there weren't as many details here to give this part of the story the same emotional impact as the first part of the book, so it fell a bit flat.
Overall, I recommend this book for those who are interested in fascinating historical events. It's great for readers who have already read and enjoyed books like The Great Chicago Fire and Chasing Lincoln's Killer, but because of some confusing elements, I don't recommend it as a reader's first foray into narrative nonfiction.
3.5 stars
March 24, 2016
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
On July 6, 1944, thousands of men, women, and children made their way to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a hot day. The tiger show had just finished when someone noticed a fire on one side of the big top tent. Due to a series of mistakes from the water proofing being made of pitch to no fire extinguishers in the tent, the big top was soon ablaze. People rushed to escape, but the crush of people and a blocked exit caused even more chaos and confusion. Within 10 minutes the entire big top had burned to the ground and 167 people never went home.
This is the true story about the events surrounding that day as well as the decades worth of questions. Was the fire really the result of a carelessly tossed away cigarette or was it the act of an arsonist? And what happened to little Eleanor Cook? Was she the unidentified body that was nicknamed 'Little Miss 1565'?
Having not grown up in New England and since it happened so long ago, this is one particular historical account that I had never heard of. Carefully crafted, Woollett weaves together a historical narrative that is both mysterious and compelling. There were a number of times throughout the book that I found myself getting choked up, probably more than I would had this been fiction, because I knew these were not just some characters in a story. The first-hands accounts and careful scrutiny of the various mysteries made the story read more like fiction than non-fiction. Despite the heavy topic, Woollett makes the subject matter and corresponding photographs age appropriate and accessible.
Interesting side note: One of my co-workers is from Connecticut so I showed the book to her. She immediately knew of the incident as her father was in the National Guard at the time and was called to the scene to help with the clean up. That clean up including the sorting of bodies. According to her, people still talk about it.
On July 6, 1944, thousands of men, women, and children made their way to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a hot day. The tiger show had just finished when someone noticed a fire on one side of the big top tent. Due to a series of mistakes from the water proofing being made of pitch to no fire extinguishers in the tent, the big top was soon ablaze. People rushed to escape, but the crush of people and a blocked exit caused even more chaos and confusion. Within 10 minutes the entire big top had burned to the ground and 167 people never went home.
This is the true story about the events surrounding that day as well as the decades worth of questions. Was the fire really the result of a carelessly tossed away cigarette or was it the act of an arsonist? And what happened to little Eleanor Cook? Was she the unidentified body that was nicknamed 'Little Miss 1565'?
Having not grown up in New England and since it happened so long ago, this is one particular historical account that I had never heard of. Carefully crafted, Woollett weaves together a historical narrative that is both mysterious and compelling. There were a number of times throughout the book that I found myself getting choked up, probably more than I would had this been fiction, because I knew these were not just some characters in a story. The first-hands accounts and careful scrutiny of the various mysteries made the story read more like fiction than non-fiction. Despite the heavy topic, Woollett makes the subject matter and corresponding photographs age appropriate and accessible.
Interesting side note: One of my co-workers is from Connecticut so I showed the book to her. She immediately knew of the incident as her father was in the National Guard at the time and was called to the scene to help with the clean up. That clean up including the sorting of bodies. According to her, people still talk about it.
January 31, 2018
July 6, 1944 came to be known as, “the day the clowns cried”. Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show on Earth, by Laura A. Woollett, describes the events of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus fire of Hartford Connecticut. The afternoon performance was attended by 6,000 to 8,000 people. In a fire that lasted only ten minutes, 165 people died and more than 700 were injured.
The book includes black and white photos, a drawing of the layout of the tent, and scans of some of the evidence from the investigations that followed the fire. As I read this, I kept forgetting that this book is intended for a younger audience (I read this on a tablet, so the small page count wasn’t as evident as it would have been had I been holding a printed copy). For some, the subject matter may seem to be too much for children, but I think the book provides an important historical lesson for children and adults alike.
The paragraphs often switch from person to person without warning. While this may seem confusing to some, I think this constant hopping of perspectives opens a small window into the chaos the community must have felt during and after the fire. I was comforted by how the community came together after the tragedy. To this day, the people of Hartford still remember.
Humanity has a tendency of looking back on historic events and claiming that they can never be repeated. And time and time again, humanity is proven wrong. Big Top Burning offers a sliver into an event that could possibly have been avoided, and it is books such as this that remind us of the dangers of forgetting the past. I definitely recommend this book.
The book includes black and white photos, a drawing of the layout of the tent, and scans of some of the evidence from the investigations that followed the fire. As I read this, I kept forgetting that this book is intended for a younger audience (I read this on a tablet, so the small page count wasn’t as evident as it would have been had I been holding a printed copy). For some, the subject matter may seem to be too much for children, but I think the book provides an important historical lesson for children and adults alike.
The paragraphs often switch from person to person without warning. While this may seem confusing to some, I think this constant hopping of perspectives opens a small window into the chaos the community must have felt during and after the fire. I was comforted by how the community came together after the tragedy. To this day, the people of Hartford still remember.
Humanity has a tendency of looking back on historic events and claiming that they can never be repeated. And time and time again, humanity is proven wrong. Big Top Burning offers a sliver into an event that could possibly have been avoided, and it is books such as this that remind us of the dangers of forgetting the past. I definitely recommend this book.
May 12, 2016
Big Top Burning by Laura A. Woollett is a nonfictional recounting of a horrific event in American history: the 1944 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus fire. On the afternoon of July 6, 1944, thousands of citizens crowded into a circus tent in Hartford, Connecticut, excited to witness the wonders that the Ringling Brothers promised. However, only minutes after the circus began, the big top caught fire, leading to the deaths of 167 people and the injuries of hundreds more. Big Top Burning provides a fairly short, very simple account of a runaway arsonist, a missing eight-year-old, and many other details surrounding the catastrophic fire that stopped even the greatest show on Earth in its tracks.
Big Top Burning is an informational yet enjoyable book. Author Woollett includes numerous details that allow for a riveting, educational read. Also, despite the many unclear events revolving around the fire of July 1944, Woollett is unfailingly objective and unbiased, always including both sides of the story. Besides the great text of Big Top Burning, multiple photographs are also featured in the book, helping readers to understand and appreciate the tragedy that occurred. In fact, the only disappointment of the book is that the questions raised throughout its pages, such as how the fire started and whether the missing child was ever found, are never answered; the mystery has yet to be solved.
Big Top Burning is a wonderful choice for children around the fifth grade level who take interest in historical mysteries. I encourage young readers to venture into its pages and try to solve the mystery of the fire that nearly destroyed the greatest show on Earth.
review by Isabella T., age 14, Memphis Mensa
Big Top Burning is an informational yet enjoyable book. Author Woollett includes numerous details that allow for a riveting, educational read. Also, despite the many unclear events revolving around the fire of July 1944, Woollett is unfailingly objective and unbiased, always including both sides of the story. Besides the great text of Big Top Burning, multiple photographs are also featured in the book, helping readers to understand and appreciate the tragedy that occurred. In fact, the only disappointment of the book is that the questions raised throughout its pages, such as how the fire started and whether the missing child was ever found, are never answered; the mystery has yet to be solved.
Big Top Burning is a wonderful choice for children around the fifth grade level who take interest in historical mysteries. I encourage young readers to venture into its pages and try to solve the mystery of the fire that nearly destroyed the greatest show on Earth.
review by Isabella T., age 14, Memphis Mensa
June 8, 2015
Big Top Burning chronicles the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred during a performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barney & Bailey Circus. While the spectators were watching the Flying Wallendas high wire act, the big top tent caught fire. In only 10 minutes the whole thing had burned down, killing 167 people and injuring many more. It is one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history.
Illustrated with black and white photographs from before, during and after the fire, and sprinkled with numerous quotes from spectators and victims, the readers feel like they’ve gone back in time to witness events firsthand. Although told in chronological order (with the disaster described at the first part of the book), the story does not lose impact because of the lingering questions that remain even to this day. How did it happen? Was it an accident or was it arson? Why were so many people trapped and killed? The event is not only a tragedy, but also a lasting mystery.
Woollett has done a wonderful job of keeping the story interesting, without slipping either into sensationalism or being pedantic. Her background in writing for reluctant readers is evident, and this title would be a good choice for older reluctant readers. She also deserves credit for the impressive amount of research she must have undertaken, as evidenced by the copious notes section in the back matter.
This is nonfiction at its finest.
Originally posted at Wrapped in Foil blog.
Illustrated with black and white photographs from before, during and after the fire, and sprinkled with numerous quotes from spectators and victims, the readers feel like they’ve gone back in time to witness events firsthand. Although told in chronological order (with the disaster described at the first part of the book), the story does not lose impact because of the lingering questions that remain even to this day. How did it happen? Was it an accident or was it arson? Why were so many people trapped and killed? The event is not only a tragedy, but also a lasting mystery.
Woollett has done a wonderful job of keeping the story interesting, without slipping either into sensationalism or being pedantic. Her background in writing for reluctant readers is evident, and this title would be a good choice for older reluctant readers. She also deserves credit for the impressive amount of research she must have undertaken, as evidenced by the copious notes section in the back matter.
This is nonfiction at its finest.
Originally posted at Wrapped in Foil blog.
June 19, 2015
BIG TOP BURNING: THE STORY OF AN ARSONIST, A MISSING GIRL, AND THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH by Laura A. Woollett tells the true story of a circus fire tragedy and its aftermath.
Set in 1944, this well-written work of nonfiction for middle-grade readers describes the terrible fire that killed 167 people including 59 children. The book explores the many mysteries surrounding the disaster including the cause of the fire, criminal investigations, and identification of bodies. While some questions remain unanswered, youth will be intrigued by the scope of the story.
Filled with amazing photographs, survivor interviews, and other primary source materials, the book also contains an author’s note, notes, bibliography, and index. Wollett brings the incident alive by combining the historical accounts with the mystery surrounding the disaster. The author does a stellar job describing the gripping story in an age-appropriate way. For example, she focuses on the mystery of an unidentified little girl. Youth will enjoy evaluating the evidence and drawing their own conclusions.
This short book would be a good choice for reluctant readers looking for an interesting history project topic. Display it with other books about tragic fire disasters such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.laurawoollett.com/.
Published by Chicago Press on June 1, 2015.
Set in 1944, this well-written work of nonfiction for middle-grade readers describes the terrible fire that killed 167 people including 59 children. The book explores the many mysteries surrounding the disaster including the cause of the fire, criminal investigations, and identification of bodies. While some questions remain unanswered, youth will be intrigued by the scope of the story.
Filled with amazing photographs, survivor interviews, and other primary source materials, the book also contains an author’s note, notes, bibliography, and index. Wollett brings the incident alive by combining the historical accounts with the mystery surrounding the disaster. The author does a stellar job describing the gripping story in an age-appropriate way. For example, she focuses on the mystery of an unidentified little girl. Youth will enjoy evaluating the evidence and drawing their own conclusions.
This short book would be a good choice for reluctant readers looking for an interesting history project topic. Display it with other books about tragic fire disasters such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.laurawoollett.com/.
Published by Chicago Press on June 1, 2015.
March 29, 2015
This was a really interesting account of an event I had never heard of before. The burning of a Big Top of the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Curcus in Hartford, CT in the 1940s. The book gave information about events leading up to the disaster, the events of the day, an accounting of the recovery and identification of bodies, and then a more detailed account of the two mysteries that still surround the event. One of the mysteries involves how the fire started. Originally it was believed to be an accidental cigarette or match but evidence now points to arson. There is a suspect in the arson but he has since passed away. Interestingly enough the suspect was originally from Portland, ME. Score 1 for a local connection. The other mystery surrounds one of the girls who died. For a long time there was an unclaimed body but it was not believed to be her. This has changed but uncertainty still remains.
I liked this for a few reasons...
1) Local connection
2) Short text
3) Photographs
4) Element of mystery
This was a "readit readit" for me.
I liked this for a few reasons...
1) Local connection
2) Short text
3) Photographs
4) Element of mystery
This was a "readit readit" for me.
December 21, 2017
I grew up in Connecticut, and most of my family is from there. I grew up learning about the Hartford Circus fire, and I was anxious to read about the controversy and tragedy surrounding it. Mostly, I was interested in what would be discussed and how.
Written for middle grade readers, I always have trouble getting used to the style of history books written for this audience. The book started off rough for me, but it got better as it went. I really enjoyed the discussion about the possibility of an act of arson being to blame. I was particularly interested in Davey's report, but I'm baffled that so little forensic analysis has been done on Little Miss 1565 or other unclaimed victims.
The author gets it right when she says that people who have lived in Connecticut for a long time (especially if you have roots there) know about the Hartford Circus Fire. It's really made its mark on state history, and I'm glad that there are books out there that offer a more well-rounded look at this event.
Written for middle grade readers, I always have trouble getting used to the style of history books written for this audience. The book started off rough for me, but it got better as it went. I really enjoyed the discussion about the possibility of an act of arson being to blame. I was particularly interested in Davey's report, but I'm baffled that so little forensic analysis has been done on Little Miss 1565 or other unclaimed victims.
The author gets it right when she says that people who have lived in Connecticut for a long time (especially if you have roots there) know about the Hartford Circus Fire. It's really made its mark on state history, and I'm glad that there are books out there that offer a more well-rounded look at this event.
August 19, 2015
Clearly I'm an outlier here, but I thought this book wasn't nearly as interesting as it could have been, and I can't really see any kid putting up with it. I think it's the structure- it got gruesome very quickly, and the endless questions about what happened went nowhere. There needs to be some kind of thread to hold it all together and give it forward momentum. The whole thing was just *sad*, not compelling.
November 7, 2017
Just finished this young adult book about the Hartford, CT Ringling Brother's and Barnum Bailey Circus Fire. Was very well written about such a tragic event. Not to graphic but tells enough of the story to get the story across. If you want to learn more about this horrific story this is a good book to start off with. If you want further details about this fire I would suggest Stewart O'Nan's book The Circus Fire.
November 17, 2016
Wonderful way to learn about historical events.
February 21, 2017
It was a quick read. I thought it was interesting to read first hand accounts and learn about the tools (or lack thereof) used to investigate. It is a sad true story.
November 24, 2019
My coworker wrote this book. It’s an amazing story about an event I never knew about. Highly recommend for middle grade readers. Or curious adults.
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