Fire at the Triangle Factory

by Holly Littlefield, Mary O'Keefe Young (Illustrator)

Overview

Six days a week Minnie and Tessa sit, shoulder to shoulder, bent over sewing machines in a big room overflowing with piles of fabric, patterns, and lace. There is no fresh air, the light is dim, and there are too many people in the room. The work is hard and the days are long. Minnie and Tessa work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City. The two fourteen-year-olds are best friends. It isn't easy for a Jewish girl and a Catholic girl to be friends in 1911—some people think they're just too different. But Minnie and Tessa must depend on that friendship when the Triangle factory goes up in flames and they are trapped on the ninth floor. This moving story of courage and friendship is based on true accounts of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire of March 25, 1911.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780876149706
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/1991
Series:	On My Own History
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	608,857
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 9 Years

About the Author

Holly Littlefield is the author of several books for young readers. She lives in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-5This 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

School Library Journal