FIRE! Cora loves riding through the wild prairie with her doctor father on his house calls. One day, they have a bigger adventure than they bargained for. Prairie Fire! Their old horses will never outrun the flames that are galloping right toward them! What will Cora and Papa do to save their lives? * Cora Frear was a real pioneer girl, growing up on the prairie at the end of the nineteenth century. Her true story is as exciting as any novel. And it is only the first adventure in the Brave Kids series. Coming next: the story of Robert Henry Hendershot, Civil War drummer boy.
Susan E. Goodman is the author of more than thirty nonfiction books for children, including How Do You Burp in Space?; See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House;All in Just One Cookie, an ALA Notable Book; and On This Spot, a Washington Post Top Picture Book of the Year. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
My son (7) enjoyed the book but says he took off a star because of the fire (which was scary) and because he didn’t like when the match wouldn’t light.
“This is a book about a girl named Cora. Her father is a doctor. One day, a family calls about their baby being very sick. On the way there, Cora and her father face many adventures including a prairie fire. This part was scary, but they made it through the fire and got to the house where the baby lived. They helped him feel better. Cora lived from 1887 to 1985.”
Carolyn, age 8
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"Cora Frear" is a short historical fiction paperback geared to ages 6-10 (approximate reading level: 3rd-4th grade).
Based on a true story, the slim novel details the account of a young girl and her father who get stuck in the middle of a prairie fire. Set in Iowa in the 1800s, the story is believable and has interesting elements. That being said, it is too short to have strong character development or a well-developed plot.
What a great story about the time. It really filled my head with images of the past, despite in being more shallow for young readers to understand. It had great voice and presence to capture it’s audience in it’s few pages (about 55). I plan to have my children read it as they learn about pioneers and like in the prairie.
Quick read after my 7 yr old didn't find it interesting enough to read. I can see why she wouldn't want to read about the fire, it could definitely be a scary storyline even if it is trying to point out bravery in spite of fear.
We used as a read aloud. Fire aspect was a little intense if you have a sensitive reader, but I felt the author conveyed the reality of the situation well without dramatizing and hyping it up. Lovely pencil sketch type illustrations.
Although a short book, Cora Frear is an interesting and page turning true story of a girl and her father who got caught in a prairie fire. It is a quick look into American history that kids and parents will enjoy.
1897, Iowa. 10 year old Cora "Carrie" Frear wants to be just like her father Doc Frear when she grows up. She loves making house calls with her father. On one trip, she and her father are stuck in the middle of a prairie fire. With no place to hide, Doc Frear and Cora find a way to protect themselves from the fire.
Although this is a very short story, it is very well written. The author does a great job describing a girl who has to put her fear aside in order to help her father in a prairie fire.
A based on true life adventure of a girl and her father who are caught in a prairie fire and what they do to survive it. A nice adventure for early readers to enjoy.