I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

I Survived

by Lauren Tarshis, Nicholas Dressel (Narrator)

In a national contest, readers voted and decided that the next I SURVIVED topic will be the Great Chicago Fire, 1871!

In the next book of the I SURVIVED series, one boy will struggle to stay alive as the great city of Chicago burns.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Historical, Adventure

Audible Audio

First published February 24, 2015

About the author

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Writing these books often makes her feel very nervous, as though at any moment a volcano could erupt right outside her window. Then again, she has learned a thing or two about avoiding being eaten by a shark.
Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and its sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love.

For more information, go to her website: www.LaurenTarshis.com

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

Reviews

[Mariah Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

My student loved this book. This series is great because kids learn about different times in history while enjoying a quick, easy read. I highly suggest this series!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop action plus historical info on the Great Chicago Fire? Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner! Oscar finds himself in the midst of this national catastrophe on his first night in the city. He gets separated from his mom and stepfather and the danger intensifies. Tarshis cleverly weaves a criminal from Oscar's dad's past in with some missing suitcases and a couple of orphans. A page-turner with some helpful facts in the author's notes. Yet another strong addition to the series.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could an entire city really burn to the ground? I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (I Survived, #11)
by Lauren Tarshis continues her series on famous disasters.

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! No one knows exactly how it began, but one thing is clear: Chicago is like a giant powder keg about to explode. The author gives us a taste of what the experience of trying to survive being surrounding a raging and fast-moving fire. An army of firemen is trying to help, but this fire is a ferocious beast that wants to devour everything in its path, including Oscar! Will Oscar survive one of the most famous and devastating fires in history? Lauren Tarshis brings history's most exciting and terrifying events to life in this New York Times-bestselling series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they survived!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This I survived series in one of the most popular series in my school library. The quick moving action and appealing characters make this series an ideal way to introduce children to historical fiction. Lauren Tarshis gets a great big thank you from me for starting this series.

For this book in particular I would say this is a nice addition to the series. Disasters have long fascinated me and I know I'm not the only one. Not because of the horrible things that happen, but because of the good things that people often do in the midst of them. In many ways they are an ultimate test. And that is exactly what Oscar faces his first day in Chicago. He isn't happy to be there having spent his whole life on a farm in Minneosota. But with his mother's remarriage they've come to Chicago. Having his family's luggage stolen the minute they get there doesn't help his attitude any. So when he sees a chance to get his father's old Sheriff's badge back, he takes it. Only things go downhill quickly as the fire rushes through the city propelled by high wind conditions.

Oscar is an interesting characters with troubles that go beyond the fire, including the two street children he runs into and wants to help. Sometimes disasters help reveal what's really important in life.

[Daniel Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great series!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can*]

Narrator: 4 stars
Characters and writing: four stars
---

Random grab off Overdrive app from their "audiobooks under three hours" section:).

It felt like you were plunged into Chicago with Oscar and the fire. I was worried since it was such a short length it would be rushed but that turned out not to be the case.

I was on the edge of my seat at quite a few points, and on the verge of tears (happy and sad) more than once.

The ending I loved especially but was also sad to leave these people behind. Would not have minded seeing what came next for them:).


The author talking at the end was a nice touch too.

[Hunter Soerens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived The Great Chicago Fire

Personal Response
I really enjoyed reading this book. I visited Chicago about a month ago and stood on the place where the fire was. It's built up now. I think of how horrible it would of been to be there on that tragic day. It's a very good book and really explains the whole thing in lots of detail.


Plot

It all started when Lucas's mom was asked by Mr. Morrow to marry him. After the wedding, she had to leave their farm in Minnesota and moved to Chicago. While on the train to Chicago, they saw all kinds of little fires around Chicago. When they got off the train in Chicago, they realized their baggage was stolen. When they get out of the train station, Lucas spotted a girl running and he figured she's the one that had stolen their luggage. He followed her all the way back to her house. Suddenly, sparks rained down on him. The great Chicago fire had started. He took shelter in the girls backyard under an old chicken coop. When he saw the girl and her brother in the top window of the house, he rushed in and to get them before their house caught fire. After they were all out of the house, he decided to go back to the hotel. On the way to the hotel, there was a gang that took the girl and her brother away. When Lucas got to the hotel, it had burned to the ground. While he sat and watched the fire swirl around, he heard a voice. It was Mr. Morrow's voice. Mr. Morrow and his friends had searched for Lucas all day. When they got back to Mr. Morrow's house, Lucas asked Mr. Morrow and his friends to look for the girl and her brother. One day later they found them both and caught the guy who stole their luggage. They still live in Chicago and there hasn't been a fire like that in Chicago since the great Chicago Fire.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to any gender and to kids fourth grade and up. It's a really easy book to read and is very eye catching and interesting. If people have any likeness for history this is a book for them. It's a really good book and I think everyone living in Chicago should read it.

[Jay DeMoir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent and colorful

[Aidan Armas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.I like history and usually I like more war history,but I really wanted to read this book and liked it.I didn't know much about the Chicago Fire except that it happened.Since I love the I survived series and want to learn more about this event I gave it a try.It turned out to be a great book with one amazing turning point at the end.I love the deep description of how it was around him during the fire.Also, it wasn't about some rich kid getting out of the city and seeing it from afar,he was right in the action with his bullies being cut off by falling wood.You would just need to read it if you want more which I really recommend.

[Amber Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (and the rest of the series) was recommended to me by my nephew. I can see why he loves this series! Even though I knew a little about the Chicago Fire, I learned a lot. I was so surprised to find out how short-lived it was! In my world, forest fires can last for months so I always assumed this devastating fire lasted longer than it did. The only negative I have about this book is it seemed rushed at the end, I think it could have been a little longer.

[Ethan Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their is a lot of thing packed inside this small book. I think that this book is for people interested in history of natural disasters or maybe you have someone in your family that survived the Great Chicago Fire!

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to teach kids about the Chicago Fire.

[Joey]

Personal Response- I actually enjoyed I survived The Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis. The story had a good story line and included a lot of action. Although I did get bored with the story a few times, I managed to stay interested and kept reading up until the end. I thought the beginning of the story was the best because the story got sad toward the end.

Plot- The main event of the story was the about a fire in Chicago. The fire was an event that actually happened. The main character, Oscar, was a young boy who was living with his mother in Minnesota on the farm. His father had passed away because of a shooting. He worked on the police department and was gunned down. Oscar’s mom found a new boyfriend named Mr. Morrow. Mr. Morrow wanted them to move to Chicago with him and get away from the country life. Oscar’s mom was all ready to go, but Oscar did not want anything to do with it. Mr. Morrow got his way and they were headed to Chicago.

Characterization- Oscar was the main character in the story. He was a young twelve year old boy with no siblings. His father was not a character because he was gunned down in a police shooting, but he was thought about a few times throughout the book. Oscar’s mom was another character in the book. She lost her husband, so she found a new one that moved her and Oscar to Chicago. His name is Mr. Morrow. Mr. Morrow was a nice guy. He took both of them on a train and paid for them while in Chicago. Jenni was a little girl that got trapped in the fire with her little brother. Oscar ran in and saved them.

Impacts of setting- The setting of the story began on a farm in Minnesota, but most of the story took place in Chicago. There was no place specific other than the south side of Chicago. The story took place in October of 1871.

Theme- The message of the story was about how serious a fire can actually be and how hard the firefighters work to save people. In the story there were flames everywhere on every building. It took a few days to actually get the fire out, because it was really dry and everything was flammable. There were hundreds of fire fighters battling the blaze.

Recommend- I would recommend this book to boys and girls in eighth grade or up. This book is interesting and boys and girls could learn a few things about the fire that took place in Chicago. It was a serious topic about fire so younger kids might get scared. I give this a four out of five.

[Christian Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar was a really good person
in this book the book was really good I am
going to read more i survive books

[Christen.donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because one of my students asked me to (I told him that I had never read any of the books in the series so he borrowed this one from his brother to let me read). It was such a fun/quick read, and a great introduction into historical fiction for kids! As a teacher, I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you have a kid who likes adventure and has a hard time finding books they like.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and thought it had a good plot. It was quite intense, though, so you may want to read it first before giving it to a child, or read it aloud together. I appreciated the historical content of the story, but also the facts at the end. The author did well at researching this event. You may find that what you have always heard about how the Great Chicago Fire started isn't factual. There was also a worse fire in the U.S. that very same day (with more lives lost).

[Theo DAWG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this one i could picture it well in my head

[Shadyside Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was quite the gut punch! Very heart wrenching story up until the end of course. Very brutal but depicts the tragic event quite well.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like it my favorite part was the facts at the end you can really get to now more about the fire in Chicago I really like it I give it 5 stares and you should yoos this app called Libby it can read or you can read it your self it has all the book you want to read in joy it.

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a good one and I loved it! And with a small little twist having to do with Oscar's story was pretty great too. One thing I'm loving about the other two I've now listened to are so interesting. One thing I'm loving about these and going to love is the fun little Author notes which I normally wouldn't read to be honest but I love how the author adds facts to these disasters/events and gives more insight to them. They seriously remind me so much about the original Magic Treehouse series I read growing up in the 90s with how Mary Pope Osborne had put facts into those books which is probably why I'm not at almost 29 so invested in these kids' type books.


What's fun about these however is in a way and as short and quick as they are, these are even fascinating to me as an adult. Looking through these other events i've noticed I actually hadn't heard of some of them and so I go to youtube and find videos and/or documentaries about them so I can get a better understanding before reading. Some such as this one in particular is somewhat familiar even though I live in a different state but it's typical history book context. This story and facts were interesting to hear at the end in the author's notes and learned a few things about this fire during this time.


Overall, I can see why even adults and I'm sure even some who are schoolteachers are enjoying these books. It's like I mentioned, perhaps it's because I absolutely loved the Magic treehouse books so much that after reading my first ever of these books I was getting the magic treehouse vibes going on and now loving these and cant' wait to keep going.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

While tutoring a student, he told me this was his favorite series. "I've read every one," he said. We connected pretty well, so when he asked me to check them out, I did.

I can't believe I hadn't heard of them before, as I consider myself pretty up with YA lit - and there are currently 17 books in the series. Maybe it's because they're aimed at 2nd-4th graders, and I'm generally reading YA that's a bit older than that. (Although, what age is Greg Heffley aimed at? Love that kid...)

The student I was tutoring told me this was his favorite in the series, because he's been to Chicago, and he'd heard about the fire before. So, this is the one he recommended.

Apparently, the series picks a disaster and follows the path of a fictional character who survived said disaster. That was certainly the case here. And I can't imagine any of the I Survived books ending with the death of the protagonist. [Please insert spoiler tags in the title]

For me, the most interesting tidbit from this book came from the facts listed at the end. The death toll from the Great Chicago Fire was around 300. But it was not the highest fire-related death toll in the United States. THAT was the Peshtigo Fire which killed between 1200 and 1500 people, and was THE SAME DAY as the Chicago Fire. Talk about being overshadowed...

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name: Jimmy Cunningham

Book Title: I Survived the Great Chicago Fire 1871

Personal Response: I like this book because it is different. I did not know about the fire until learned about it in school. I did not think the book would be good. I thought it was going to be a little kids book. It kinda was, but it was pretty good for being a little kids book. It actually was good, so I would say read it.

Plot: The main event in this book was about a fire in Chicago. This fire really happened a long time ago. This book was about Oscar. Oscar had no dad because he was killed. Mr. Morrow was his mom's new boyfriend. This book started in a small town with a kid named Oscar. His dad died a while before and his mom had a new boyfriend. He lived in Chicago and so they move by him. The fire started the night Oscar and his mom moved. He had to fight through that to survive.

Recommendation: I recommend this book to girls and boys fifth grade and up. I would give it a 4 out of 5. I think it could teach kids history and the Chicago fire. It is a small book, so it would not be hard for people that are young to understand.

[Travis Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis is a magnificent story about this kid named Oscar from Minnesota in a place called Castle in 1871. He has to move to Chicago, then tons of tragedies happen. I really adore this book because of all the action that happens, and you never know how the part of the book will end. Sometimes you’ll think that Oscar had been finished, but then the story continues on and Oscar is still pretty fine. I love those kinds of books. I really like the author’s messages, which I think it are, a new home isn’t too bad, you just have to get used to it. Then the second one is, enemies are just friends that you don’t understand or actually have to get to know better. I would absolutely recommend this to people who love historical fiction, all 4th-6th graders, and maybe people who love not too fast and not too slow paced stories.

[Enrique Zatarain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire, is a historical-fiction book, by Lauren Tarshis. I like this book a lot because it gives a lot of information about the Chicago fire. I think that this book intrests a lot of people, because of the way the author wrote it. But this book gives you a feel of how a real person could have handled this. It also makes you think how you could have handled this, which I think makes the book a lot better. This book is also very thrilling, and leaves you wanting to read more after every chapter, and thats another reason people like this book. But overall, I think that people in middle school should read this book. Also, if you ever get the chance to read this book, or others in the series, you should read one.

[Sophia Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing and crazy about a boy names Oscar and him and his family have to run away due to the crazy fires that have been happening lately. Fires in Chicago happen a lot. Imagine if you have gone through the same thing as him? I also feel bad for him because he looses his house due to the fire. Also during that time he had also lost his family! This happens often in Chicago because the sun and its heat waves cause this, it was so strong that not even fire fighters could stop it! I feel so bad for Oscar! The crazy thing is that Lauren Tarshis makes it so realistic almost as life you are Oscar!

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar's dad past away leaving his wife and son with the responsibility of a farm. One day Oscar's mother meets a man who tells them to go to Chicago with him. Oscar finds himself in a great fire. His mother's boyfriend tells him tht Chicago has the best firefighters around, when Oscar see'd thoses fires he is not so sure.
I loved this book because I love this serie first of all and I Survived shows all the details which is very interesting. I would recommend this book from ages 8 to 12.

[LisaJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book #11 included in the vast I Survived.. Series. A story of young boy who was reluctant to move to Chicago in 1871. Oscar wasn’t only facing the stress of moving to a new city and changing his life, he ended up in the middle of the Great Chicago Fire! Lauren Tasrhis is a great author and researches these events in depth to write relatable stories to young readers as they learn about historical events from a child’s point of view.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book by Tarshis. I knocked this one down to three stars because I didn't like the side story with the bullies and the most incredulous coincidence related to the earless villain. (If you've read the book you'll know what I mean.) I felt that was a little much.

Besides that, though, the history was spot on. I did like the story about the Dad dying, and they had to sell the farm and move to Chicago with the new stepfather. I thought that was well done.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud to my class of 2nd graders. I was honestly very impressed by this book! We were all on the edge of our seats for a few parts. It reminded me of the American Girl series that I ate up as a child except aimed more towards boys. I would recommend to any elementary aged kiddo. My students, boys AND girls, are obsessed with the series now!