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Fire Angels
Three weeks before Christmas, on December 1, 1958, one of the most horrific fires in American history broke out at Our Lady of the Angels elementary school in Chicago, claiming the lives of ninety-two children and three nuns. Fire Angels is a fictional account of that fire. It’s a story of arson; of bravery by parents, nuns, firefighters, and medical professionals; of a falsely accused janitor; of a cover-up within the Catholic Church; of a judge who, in having to determine the juvenile arsonist’s fate, is torn between loyalty to his church and justice; of a tight-knit community changed forever; and of two survivors who fall in love. Fire itself is also a central character in this story, a cunning observer that comes to life whenever a flame is lit.
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
14 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Kern
17 books18 followersElizabeth Kern is the author of FIRE ANGELS; MERCY GOODHUE, A PURITAN WOMAN'S STORY OF BETRAYAL, WITCHCRAFT AND MADNESS; and WANTING TO BE JACKIE KENNEDY.
She is a native of Chicago, a former manager of corporate communications for Apple, and a graduate of Stanford University, where she developed her passion for writing historical fiction. She lives in Petaluma, California.
She is a native of Chicago, a former manager of corporate communications for Apple, and a graduate of Stanford University, where she developed her passion for writing historical fiction. She lives in Petaluma, California.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 11, 2016
Absolutely heartbreaking, one could not expect any less from a school fire, Our Lady of Angels, on the northwest side of Chicago, a fire that killed almost 100 children and three sisters. Many more were burned and injured in other ways, horrific. I lived a little further west at the time, not yet in school, but my husband and his family lived in that area, moved late the summer before which proved to be a fortunate thing for my brother in law, he would have been a fourth grader at that school, at the time of the fire.
Extremely well written, well researched and told in almost a narrative non fiction voice. Except for the fire, the author made fire one of the characters and he had much to say. Takes us into the children's classrooms, the building manager, the sisters and the priest, and those poor firemen, so many not able to ever forget, seriously impacting their lives from then on, visions and responsibilities that would never leave their minds. The fire having a voice led into discussions of other deadly fires in Chicago and showed us exactly how this fire spread.
Read this with chills running up and down my spine, this was so well done. The author also lets us know what happened to all the people we meet in the book, and her author's note gives further explanations. Very well done, giving a voice to a terrible tragedy, a book not easy to forget.
Arc from publisher.
Extremely well written, well researched and told in almost a narrative non fiction voice. Except for the fire, the author made fire one of the characters and he had much to say. Takes us into the children's classrooms, the building manager, the sisters and the priest, and those poor firemen, so many not able to ever forget, seriously impacting their lives from then on, visions and responsibilities that would never leave their minds. The fire having a voice led into discussions of other deadly fires in Chicago and showed us exactly how this fire spread.
Read this with chills running up and down my spine, this was so well done. The author also lets us know what happened to all the people we meet in the book, and her author's note gives further explanations. Very well done, giving a voice to a terrible tragedy, a book not easy to forget.
Arc from publisher.
November 18, 2018
While a horrific event in the history of Chicago that claimed the lives of 92 children and 3 nuns, this fictional account gives a unique perspective from the fire itself.
August 16, 2018
Probably not the best book to read the week before school starts
November 19, 2016
Elizabeth Kern has again turned out a book that, once started, is difficult to put down. Fortunately I had the time to read it straight through, over two days, so I can attest to how easily the entire book flows and how compelling the story is.
I had not heard about this fire previously. The details speak to the level of research, and therefore I forgot that some of it, at least, is fiction. But the main points are not, so I am not concerned with that.
I am one who likes the Fire as a witness. It is the strongest creative element in the book. I found it to also set off a meditation about Fire in me. I like when a creative piece takes me beyond itself.
I am passing my copy on—to my 14 year old granddaughter for Christmas.
I had not heard about this fire previously. The details speak to the level of research, and therefore I forgot that some of it, at least, is fiction. But the main points are not, so I am not concerned with that.
I am one who likes the Fire as a witness. It is the strongest creative element in the book. I found it to also set off a meditation about Fire in me. I like when a creative piece takes me beyond itself.
I am passing my copy on—to my 14 year old granddaughter for Christmas.
November 21, 2017
This is a powerful and heart breaking look at a school fire that took place in Chicago. I remember when this happened, and over the years when ever Chicago fires were mentioned I recalled this event. I was glad to read what happened, and I also went on the internet to look up additional information.
May 7, 2017
This could have been better. I know that making the fire a character is innovative but I found it annoying. This was a dreadful tragedy and while the reader gets a sense of that, the book just didn't carry things through for me in the way I had hoped. THanks to edelweiss for the DRC.
May 11, 2017
Disappointing. I read "To Sleep With the Angels" and was excited to read this book. I did not like that the author gave "Fire" a voice in the story. She explained why at the end of the book but I did not agree with her reasons. I felt like she was trying to add humor and fakeness to this tragedy.
July 16, 2019
Nice period detail and sense of place, and I liked the historical accuracy. I didn't think the character of Fire was particularly credible within the world of the novel. The concept was sound, but the execution came off as gimmicky. In general, the characters seemed like pawns employed to fulfill the author's agenda. Their motivations didn't ring true, not consistently. The subject matter was compelling, though.
December 18, 2018
This book does a really good job of taking this history and weaving it in with fiction in a way that makes this tragedy accessible to people who didn't grow up hearing about it. A lot of what I read in history books is reflected here but in a softer way. It was really heartbreaking to read about these poor children, but also very engaging.
December 10, 2018
I have never read a,novel until now. Saw,this book on Amazon thinkingk
that it was nonfiction which is,all I ever read. Shortly after starting the book I realized it was fiction. Still read entire book. Interesting and well done!
that it was nonfiction which is,all I ever read. Shortly after starting the book I realized it was fiction. Still read entire book. Interesting and well done!
September 10, 2020
Another look at the tragic fire
Anyone who remembers the fire, where they were and how they found out should read this. A very different and unusual perspective. Good fast read.
Anyone who remembers the fire, where they were and how they found out should read this. A very different and unusual perspective. Good fast read.
October 13, 2020
Incredible story, but very heartbreaking to read.
September 15, 2017
Easy to relate to for me and/anyone else who lived a mile away. Although she wrote it as a novel we could read into how truly horrific and tangled it was going through the criminality and how it was to discover how it wound up. TT
November 24, 2016
Received a free copy for honest review.
This book is a fictional account of the fire that claimed the lives of 95 children and nuns at Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago in 1958. This book was both horrifying and riveting at the same time. Reading about the fire from many points of view including the fire's was fascinating. I have to say that I loved the way the author made the fire a character in the book and gave it a voice. I found fire's perspective to be both seductive and gruesome. This book was heartbreaking to read but it is a story that is an important one. Because of this tragedy schools were equipped with better safety features and building materials. One thing that really pissed me off in this book was how the catholic church dealt with the aftermath of the fire. The fire was started by a young student and the church covered up that fact to save themselves from liability. I was disgusted by the church's reaction and believe that their cover up caused the death of more people. Overall I found this to be a well written and extremely well research book that I would recommend to all.
This book is a fictional account of the fire that claimed the lives of 95 children and nuns at Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago in 1958. This book was both horrifying and riveting at the same time. Reading about the fire from many points of view including the fire's was fascinating. I have to say that I loved the way the author made the fire a character in the book and gave it a voice. I found fire's perspective to be both seductive and gruesome. This book was heartbreaking to read but it is a story that is an important one. Because of this tragedy schools were equipped with better safety features and building materials. One thing that really pissed me off in this book was how the catholic church dealt with the aftermath of the fire. The fire was started by a young student and the church covered up that fact to save themselves from liability. I was disgusted by the church's reaction and believe that their cover up caused the death of more people. Overall I found this to be a well written and extremely well research book that I would recommend to all.
February 2, 2017
Smitter Review
Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern
Kern tells the story of one of the most famous fires in Chicago. On December 1, 1958, a fire at a Catholic school took the lives of over 90 children. She uses the events of the fire to imagine what was happening in the school on that day to frame her story.
The narrative is most engaging in the first half of the book. We get the facts about the day of the fire. Kern mixes in lots of speculation about the events, too often using clunky dialogue. She makes the fire itself a character in the novel. This adds almost nothing to the narrative.
I was originally drawn to the events that this event in Chicago history. I learned enough to make my time worthwhile.
Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern
Kern tells the story of one of the most famous fires in Chicago. On December 1, 1958, a fire at a Catholic school took the lives of over 90 children. She uses the events of the fire to imagine what was happening in the school on that day to frame her story.
The narrative is most engaging in the first half of the book. We get the facts about the day of the fire. Kern mixes in lots of speculation about the events, too often using clunky dialogue. She makes the fire itself a character in the novel. This adds almost nothing to the narrative.
I was originally drawn to the events that this event in Chicago history. I learned enough to make my time worthwhile.
November 2, 2016
I have always been haunted by this fire, and I try to read everything written about it. I had hoped this book would finish the job. But there is still more. I want to know more about the aftermath--about the changes in the neighborhood culture after the fire, etc., etc. I guess I'm still looking for something scholarly. But as an historical novel, it was compelling. I liked how the characters came to life. I did not particularly like the device of making the flame a person.
January 29, 2017
Fire Angels is a fictional version of David Cowan and John Kuenster's book "To Sleep With the Angels." While I don't think I learned anything new in this book...except for the kid's rehabilitation, I did find the fire-narrator interesting, kind of like Death in "The Book Thief." This makes me want to visit Our Lady of the Angels church and the cemetery where there is a memorial. I think more than the children and 3 nuns died that day...
March 27, 2017
Wow ! The judge gave the kid another chance. I don't know if that was the right choice. The poor guy that was falsely accused never was the same. The kid did ok in life.
April 14, 2017
At first I thought giving fire a voice was ridiculous, but the more I read, I felt it was pretty much true; the way Fire smolders, craves air, and finally ravenously devouring all in sight. It was apologetic as it flashed across ceilings, sucking and super heating air in those upper classrooms where students were trapped.
I was 9 years old when I saw Our Lady of Angels in flames and smoke on the evening news. I saw a girl who was afraid to jump into a fireman's arms. His ladder could not reach the second floor windows.
92 children & 3 nuns died in that fire.
The boy who set the fire was never named, but was sent to a reform school in Michigan. He had set fires in Cicero and mom consented to her son taking a polygraph test. That put him in family court. He was 10 when OLA burned & 13 in Cicero fired.
He died in 2004.
I was 9 years old when I saw Our Lady of Angels in flames and smoke on the evening news. I saw a girl who was afraid to jump into a fireman's arms. His ladder could not reach the second floor windows.
92 children & 3 nuns died in that fire.
The boy who set the fire was never named, but was sent to a reform school in Michigan. He had set fires in Cicero and mom consented to her son taking a polygraph test. That put him in family court. He was 10 when OLA burned & 13 in Cicero fired.
He died in 2004.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews