Big Top Burning

April 15, 2015
In 1944, 167 people died in a circus fire in Hartford, Connecticut; 59 of them were children under 10. Some were trampled when the audience of 6,000 tried to flee the tent; others died from burns. This chronological account vividly describes the circus, the fire, the rescue, and the medical care that followed. The polished text draws from interviews the author conducted as well as legal documents, newspapers, letters, and more. Black-and-white photographs of mixed quality add both information and a sense of the time. Much of the book focuses on mysteries surrounding the fire, such as its causes and unidentified bodies, puzzling them out from official reports from the time and subsequent investigations. Woven throughout is the story of a child's unclaimed body, perhaps that of Eleanor Cook, a missing girl who wasn't identified at the time. Details about the child's clothes, her injuries from being trampled, and even a dental chart provide clues for readers to assess. It remains uncertain if the fire was caused by arson or if the body was Eleanor Cook's, leaving readers with the realistic but possibly disappointing view that not all mysteries from the past can be solved. History buffs and fans of forensic television shows will especially appreciate this exploration of one of the worst fires in American history. (author's note, notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

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June 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-The Hartford, CT, circus fire of 1944 is still infamous locally for killing 167 people and injuring more in only 10 minutes. Woollett's retelling of the event is interspersed with thought-provoking questions designed to encourage readers to ponder the gaps in our knowledge about the event ("So what about the city of Hartford? Did it have a role in not preventing the disaster?"). The story of the actual fire is gripping, but the narrative is occasionally on the dry side, and the pace slows as the book goes into more detail covering the arson investigation and the identification of the victims. The inclusion of photos and documents adds appeal, though, and students learning about forensics may be interested in the investigation processes. VERDICT A suitable addition to history collections.-Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* On July 6, 1944, a deadly fire consumed the main tent of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford, Connecticut, and many questions regarding the disaster remain unanswered today. Using primary-source documents, black-and-white photographs, and interviews, Woollett explores the mysteries surrounding how the fire began, who was responsible, and what happened to a little girl who never came home. In roughly chronological order, readers are led through the day's events, getting a feel for the initial excitement and wonder of seeing the large animal acts and the Flying Wallendas, before moving to the fire and its aftermath. Waterproofed with wax and gasoline, The tent burned to the ground in less than 10 minutes, and 167 people died. Was the fire caused by a carelessly tossed cigarette? Was it arson? Woollett presents the cases for both, while offering the history of circus hand and suspected arsonist Robert Segee. Woollett conveys the scope of the tragedy without resorting to sensationalism, and invites readers to examine the evidence and devise their own theories for the disaster. While the fire's mysteries see no resolution, this compassionate history will spark curiosity and get readers thinking critically. Fascinating, devastating, and impeccably researched.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)