The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

July 1, 2007
Gr 3-6 -"Titanic" describes the 1912 collision of this "unsinkable" ship with an iceberg, and the resulting horror. "Three Mile Island" discusses the 1979 malfunction of a nuclear reactor that could have cost thousands of lives and devastated the area but, fortunately, did not. A 1911 fire in a New York City sweatshop where 146 people died because of dangerous conditions is the subject of "Triangle", which also describes resulting changes in workers' rights. "Texas" covers the 1947 explosion of a ship loading fertilizer that set off a chain reaction in which 550 people died. The disaster might have been prevented by warning labels on the fertilizer. In each of these titles, the writing is clear and concise, and nothing is described purely for shock value; the facts are allowed to speak for themselves. The books are liberally laced with pertinent period photographs and numerous quotes from people who played significant roles in the events. Brief profiles of these figures are also provided. While none of the books actively seeks to place blame, there is also no attempt to gloss over failings. Emphasis is on the laws and policies that have been adopted to ensure that such tragedies do not reoccur. Useful additions to explain painful but important pieces of history."Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2007
This offering from the Code Red series recounts the March 25, 1911, fire that destroyed a New York City clothing manufacturer,killing 146 people, most of them young female garment workers. Using a narrative style, Greene explains how the fire started, why so many workers had trouble getting out of the building, and how the blaze was finally brought under control. She also touches on the protests that followed and changes in legislation intended to prevent a repeat of this tragedy. Each double-page spread contains a brief section of text, several captioned illustrations, and a fact box; most also include a primary source quote. Potentially unfamiliar vocabulary words appear in bold print and are defined in the glossary. Other appendixes include profiles of key individuals, bibliographies, and Web links, making this book useful for report writers as well as an enticing pick for browsers drawn by the dramatic subject.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)