Fire at the Triangle Factory

October 1, 1996
Gr 3-5-This is a story of two fictional young girls who become involved in a real-life tragedy. On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company went up in flames, killing 146 workers, some of whom were as young as 14. Minnie, a Jewish girl, and Tessa, an Italian Catholic, are friends and coworkers at the factory. Littlefield relates the historical events through these likable characters with whom youngsters will easily identify. She creates the mood with an earnest writing style. The girls' different backgrounds are handled in a natural way, and at the end readers are left with the feeling that these young women may have taught their elders a lesson in friendship. The colorful illustrations complement the text and follow the story nicely. The text is large and easy to read. A good addition.-William C. Heckman, Lake Forest Elementary, Hollywood, FL

August 1, 1996
Gr. 4^-6. Minnie and Tessa have worked together in the shirtwaist factory since they were only 10 years old and needed to hide from the inspector. Now, at 14, they are old enough to work, and both operate sewing machines to help their families scrape together a living. In 1911 New York City, Jewish Minnie and Catholic Tessa can only be friends at the factory, but this friendship pays off when the famous and tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire takes the lives of many of their coworkers and threatens theirs. The story builds in suspense as the girls help each other in their struggle to escape from the burning factory. The numerous, large color drawings by Mary O'Keefe Young are a wonderful asset to the story, which young readers will find exciting as well as touching. ((Reviewed Aug. 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)