Fire at the Triangle Factory

On My Own History

by Holly Littlefield, Mary O'Keefe Young (Illustrator)

Two fourteen-year-old girls, sewing machine operators at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, are caught in the famous Triangle fire of 1911

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Marjorie Ingall]

Fine for first or second graders, a not-too-scary look at the famous fire and its role in making workplaces safer. The emphasis is on the friendship of two 14-year-old girls -- one Jewish and one Italian -- who work in the factory (spoiler alert: they don't die), so it's not too scary. This was the book that made Josie interested in the Triangle Fire, an interest that's now persisted for half her life!

[Amanda Herman]

This story is a young reader picture book that describes the life of Italians living in America in the early 1900’s. The story follows a young Italian girl and a young Jewish girl who both work in a large factory in New York City. This piece of historical fiction discusses the hardships of two girls from very different cultural backgrounds becoming friends and it also details the actual fire that happened in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911. More than 100 people were killed in this fire, including workers who were immigrants as young as 14 years old. This fire and the death of so many people was the reason many laws were changed around the conditions in which factory employees were permitted to work. The stories plotline is engaging and the illustrations allow young readers to much more easily visualize what it was like for struggling immigrants working in factories during the early part of the 1900’s.

[Hensley]

I read fire at the triangle factory.

It took place in new york city on march 25,1911.

Minnie ran to go to work with Tessa. But they were not old enough. So when the inspector came
over they hid together. Because they would get in trouble. there was a fire they were locked in din't know how to get out.

I loved fire at the triangle factory. This book told about a fire and sowing . I think this book is vary
panic and skary for them.

I recommend this book to a third grader who likes books with panic and skarenes in them if you injoy
skary and panic you will like this book.

[Kendall]

This book is about a girl named Minnie who, at age 14 worked at the Triangular Shirtwaist Company. In the book, she escaped the fire with her best friend, Tessa, by climbing on a ladder to the University next door. In the end, her father meets her best friend, Tessa, who is Italian and helps her get home.
It is a short book for easy readers. I would recommend this book for 2nd grade and younger. I think that this book is not about the fire but more about a girl who worked there.

[Alyssa]

I read the fire at the triangle factory by holly littlefield

so minnie and tessa work at the factory one day there was a little fire but it
got bigger and bigger it was crazy.

I loved this book because holly little feild added acion and evedence and lasly some one helped.

I recamend this book for 2or3 because the book isent very challing you will love this bookif you like reading storys with fire's.

[Liz]

Part of a series of historical books for independent readers. Read to compare with the picture book, Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909. Looks a little at best friends and race relationships, along with the challenging conditions that workers (mostly women) faced in the early 1900's in the New York garment district.

[Paata Sichinava]

This is book about best friends work at the Triangle shirtwaist company in New York City. also this book is about workers who dead in the Factory. On Saturday ,march 25, 1911. I like this book because this story of two young girls caught in that fire.

[Audrey]

This is an exciting story based on a true account. Minnie and Tessa share a forbidden friendship and work in a factory under terrible conditions. A fire breaks out and they were able to escape with their lives.

[Rachel]

1911 factory fire...details prejudice bw immigrants, worker conditions,and has biracial friendship. good for putting students in the shoes of the workers before and during the fire

[Faye]

Very interesting, very sad, good read for the kids, to make them aware how lucky they really are.

[Olivia]

It was really nice. I thought it was somewhat mean of the people who made that place so unsafe.

[Najat13]

it's a good book. I like it. it'S TALKING ABOUT AN ACCIDENT HAPPEND IN THE SEWING FACTORY.IT HAS FICTION STORY.

[Sohag7]

This is verey good book.Because

[Angela Avila]

this book is story about that two girls

[Soman Bishwas]

This book is about clothes factory. I like this book because they were good friendship.

[Laura]

A nice historical account of what life was like for immigrants in New York. 1st-2nd grade reading level.

[Vendea]

If this is the book I remember reading as a kid it was a good fictionalized account of two girls during the fire which made me interested in learning more about that factory and the fire.

[RuthAnn]

As I learn more about humane working conditions in pursuit of an ethical wardrobe, I researched the infamous fire in 1911 at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. This tragedy killed 145 workers who were unable to escape due to unsafe working conditions and drew attention to the poor conditions in the factories, eventually leading improvements to the work environment. This early chapter book is a fictional depiction of the fire, and it’s not graphic and does not include any death. I think it does a good job showing how lots of people depended on the factory for their livelihoods. They didn’t really have a choice about where they worked, which is something I think we take for granted in today’s society. There is a note at the end of the story about the true story of the fire and how people did not survive, so you can make the call as to how far to go down that road with your young reader. I think it’s important to come to grips with the reality that mistreatment of workers is not limited to what we might consider as faraway places; we must be alert against inhumane treatment of other people, opening our eyes to the stories of the people around us.

[Violet Rose]

It was a nice thought; however, I was shaken by the story about what it was trying to convey in its message while I read. It reads like it's meant for a 4-year-old, but the age range is a bit of a reach from there. Though it had a nice message to conclude the story with.

[William]

Terrible tragedy.

[Debra Cook]

Fire at the triangle waistcoat factory

[Molly]

An early chapter book telling the story of two fictional girls caught in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. I remember reading this in grade school. It is a pretty good historical fiction for younger readers.

[Sitora]

I like this book talking about Triangle Factory what happen in the sewing factory when fire burned