Flesh and Blood So Cheap

Starred review from January 17, 2011
Published to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the 1911 fire that erupted in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, this powerful chronicle examines the circumstances surrounding the disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 146 workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish women. Though America represented
opportunity for immigrants escaping religious persecution, disease, and natural
disaster, New York City was sharply divided between the elite and those who, Marrin modestly writes, "lived more simply." B&w photographs and illustrations reveal immigrant families' impoverished living environments, while testimonials describe the "humiliating" work rules and unsafe conditions of factories like Triangle ("Slavery holds nothing worse," expressed one worker). Despite workers' efforts to organize, it took a preventable disaster to enact real change. Marrin (Years of Dust) mines eyewitness accounts of flaming bodies, and also imagines a victim's horrific internal monologue: "If I jump, my family will have a body to identify and bury, but if I stay in this room, there will be nothing left." A concluding description of a Bangladeshi garment factory fire in 2010 offers contemporary parallels. Marrin's message that protecting human dignity is our shared responsibility is vitally resonant. Ages 10–up.

Starred review from May 1, 2011

Gr 6 Up-One hundered years ago, a fire broke out in a garment factory in New York City that took the lives of 146 workers, primarily poor Jewish and Italian immigrants. It had an enormous impact on workplace conditions that reverberates even today. This comprehensive volume focuses not only on the day of the fire itself, but also on the individuals, events, and circumstances that led to the disaster and created the conditions that caused so many people to perish. Marrin also explores the aftermath of the tragedy, including union development, workplace safety regulations, and workers' rights. A final chapter examines working conditions in factories around the globe and how safety standards are compromised throughout the developing world. The writing is compelling and detailed, and the author effectively manages to bridge the gap between detached expository writing and emotionally charged content. Period photographs are an essential part of the story being told here, and short sidebars about key people help flesh out the narrative. For those looking for an intriguing, readable account of a turning point in history, or doing research on immigration, this is a useful and thoughtful addition to any American history collection.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2011
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* At the core of this landmark look at labor history is the detailed drama of the notorious 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, in which 146 workers died. Most of the victims were immigrant women between the ages of 14 and 23 who were burned or suffocated behind locked doors or who perished when they tried to escape the flames by jumping from windows. Their catastrophic deaths lead to changes in U.S. working conditions and fueled a campaign for union rights. This volumes excellent early chapters focus on the personal histories of the victims, many of whom were Russian Jews and Italian Catholics, and examine why their families left Europe, the passage to America, and life in New York Citys tenements. Following chapters delve into the horrifying factory conditions that led to the fire. The highly readable book design features black-and-white photos on every double-page spread as well as newspaper accounts and biographical profiles, including those of leading protesters, such as Jacob Riis and Rose Schneiderman. Marrin further expands the discussion with disturbing contemporary parallels to underground sweatshops today. Sure to spark discussion, this standout title concludes with source notes and suggested-reading lists that will lead students to further resources for research and debate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)