I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (I Survived Graphic Novel #7)

I Survived Graphix #7

by Georgia Ball, Cassie Anderson (Illustrator), Lauren Tarshis

Could an entire city really burn to the ground? One brave boy finds out in this graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Cassie Anderson.

Oscar Starling never wanted to move to Chicago. The smog, the stench, the thieves around every corner -- it’s so different from his old life on the farm. Will the big city ever feel like home? But shortly after Oscar arrives, a huge fire breaks out. All of Chicago is ablaze and one thing is clear: the city is like a powder keg, ready to explode. An army of firemen tries to help, but this fire is a ferocious beast that wants to devour everything in its path. Will Oscar -- and his new city and new friends -- survive one of the most famous and devastating fires in history? ​​​​​​​ Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Comics, Fiction

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Georgia Ball is a writer and developer living in Orlando, Florida. She launched her first webcomic in 2004, Scooter and Ferret, with her husband, artist Scott Ball. The strip ran until 2010 when she landed her first gig writing for licensed comic books. Since then she's written for Transformers, Scooby-Doo, My Little Pony, and Disney Princesses. Her horror credits include four issues of Evil Dead 2.

Recent projects have included Disney's Frozen Comic Collection from Joe Books, three Strawberry Shortcake graphic novels from IDW Publishing and a WWII graphic novel on Guadalcanal for Osprey Publishing. She lives with her husband and daughter with their dog and two cats.

Reviews

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tense and heart-pounding graphic novel that you'll speed through in one sitting. I enjoyed following Oscar's journey and appreciate the insight into what it was like to live through (and escape) the Great Chicago Fire. The vibrant artwork made the story and characters even more alive. It's a feel-good read with some emotional moments, and I ain't complaining.

[Rachael Fryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids are HUGE fans of I Survived, especially the new Graphic novel versions. To be honest, though, I haven't been crazy about the Graphics so far, but the are getting better. The last 2 or 3 have been pretty good - it's like there was a bit of a learning curve on how to adapt them. I think they've got it now though. And I know the kids will eat this newest GN adaptation up!!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about an unbelievable event. Love learning history this way! Thank you, Jordan (a terrific 4th grader) who loaned me her book!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Oscar's father was a law enforcement officer in the country, but moved to a farm when Oscar was young. He was killed in a storm, and Oscar and his mother tried to make a go of it on their own. When Mr. Meadows, a painter, spends time capturing their farm on canvas, he strikes up a friendship with the mother. The two write letters, and soon the mother has agreed to marry the artist and move to Chicago. Oscar isn't pleased. The trip is long, and when the new family arrives in the city, their luggage is stolen under Oscar's watch by a group of street thieves who use a young girl to distract him. Seeing the girl later, Oscar follows her, but she goes home to an abandoned house to take care of a young brother, so he doesn't confront her. When a fire starts to rage through the town, Oscar helps Jennie and Bruno, but is soon separated from them. Amazingly, Mr. Meadows finds him, and the two manage to get across the river to Meadows' house and be reunited with Oscar's mother. Also amazingly, they later find Jennie and Bruno, who come to live with them. Notes on the fire are at the end.
Strengths: All of Tarshis' I Survived novels are very popular, and I love that they give students a brief glimpse of history. The pictures in the graphic novels provide an even better look at some aspects of life, like the clothing and buildings. This had an interesting look at the criminal underbelly of Chicago, and didn't shy away from the horrible aspects of the city, such as the stock yard smell and general filth. The pictures of the fire were somehow mesmerizing to look at; they made the event seem even more terrifying.
Weaknesses: There are a lot of coincidences that seem unlikely, but it makes for a good story.
What I really think: I may not purchase, since I already own the text version, which is very similar, and the graphic novels are expensive.

[B.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟
This was so much better than I expected! The art was really good and I loved the story. I like hearing about true stories and this was really fun. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn’t stop reading. It truly was so impressive for a graphic novel. I loved the characters and there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about it. For ages 11 and up and highly recommended.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great graphic novel from the bestselling author Lauren Tarshis. And a great way for kids to learn about historic events. The illustrations are amazing. I think it would be hard to make you feel like you are in a fire, but Cassie Anderson, the illustrator, does an amazing job.

[Julia Stadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on the Historical Fiction wakelet under 99+ Best Historical Fiction Books for Kids. I Survived the Great Chicago Fire (graphic novel) was published in 2023. There are over 20 books in the I Survived series and some of them have been turned into graphic novels. I Survived the Great Chicago Fire was originally a chapter book and later adapted into a graphic novel. The original chapter book version won the Iowa Children's Choice Award in 2017. Lauren Tarshis, the author of the I Survived series, has won several awards overall. I was able to read a print copy from my local library.

Each book in this series is written from the viewpoint of a young child or teen experiencing a historical disaster firsthand. This book follows Oscar Starling, an 11 year old boy who just moved from his farm in Minnesota to Chicago. Oscar finds the city to be crowded, smoky, and full of thieves. Soon after arriving, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 breaks out. The fire spreads rapidly, the flames illustrated almost like a living monster. The full color illustrations vividly show the chaos, making the danger feel intense. The books ends with a nonfiction section, providing real photos and facts to give the reader context about the real life disaster.

I think this book would work well for grades 2-5. Because it’s told from Oscar’s point of view, students can easily relate to the story and engage in discussions. It can be used for activities like retelling events in sequence, creating cause and effect charts, making text to self and text to world connections, and even comparing the graphic novel to the original chapter book version.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally finished this in 30 minutes! Such a great read!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis' story about a boy who has just moved from the Great Plains to Chicago because his mom has remarried. Oscar still misses his father and promised him to look after the farm, so he's not happy about the move. On the night of their arrival, a gang of child thieves steals their luggage. On their way to dinner, Oscar sees one of the thieves and follows her, getting separated from his mother and stepfather. And in that time, sparks start to shower down and Chicago becomes engulfed in flames. He soon learns why Jennie was helping the gang and works to help her and her little brother Bruno find safety.

We also have the History Comics graphic novel on the Chicago Fire and I think I like that telling of the disaster better. They feel very similar in graphic novel form (the original novel version of this would feel different without the illustrations). I do like how this shows the desperate state orphans could be in in a large city and get lost in the masses. There's a happy ending for all the main characters, but the seriousness of the disaster is soberingly related. Make sure the reader you hand this to is ready for the heavy feeling of the tale.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Some of the kids get little burns. They see others catch fire (not illustrated in detail), and we are told the number of deaths in the fire. Oscar's father died in blizzard, and his community in the prairies went through another bad fire. Jennie & Bruno's parents died from factory accidents and illness.
Ethnic diversity: The main characters are all White, some new immigrants. Black people do appear in crowds in the illustrations.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Jennie & Bruno are young and all alone. A gang of thieves has forced Jennie to help them.

[Izzie Murk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original text version of this book with my fourth grade class, and they were so excited when I bought the graphic novel for our classroom. I love that the graphic novel version provides the visuals that students may need to understand the story. The story of Oscar's big move to Chicago the night of the Chicago Fire engages young readers, especially young readers living near Chicago. Upon arrival in Chicago, Oscar's family's suitcases are stolen by orphans in the train station. When he spots the orphans in the city, he runs away from his family to retrieve their suitcases, but along the way, the fire spreads further. Oscar takes risks to save the orphans and find his family. I love this book, and others in the series, for 3rd and 4th grade readers to engage in reading about historical events in such an engaging way through the perspective of children. I would use this book in the classroom to guide students to think about historical events, character traits, and plot elements. I would love to have seen more diversity in the illustrations as this version was published so recently. Overall, Georgia Ball does an incredible job of engaging readers in Oscar's adventures through the great Chicago fire.

[Jim Shaner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outstanding graphics and coloring mark this fast-paced harrowing account of the Great Chicago Fire. Through the eyes of youthful Oscar, one can feel the urgency and danger in the middle of an unfamiliar city surrounded by flames. Gripping and inspiring.

[Jeremiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good But it didn't have that much of a story

[Zia Iranzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really thought he would marry jennie:(

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wills been reading all these books and wants to talk about them with me. They are really digestible historical stories for kids with a facts section in the back. I like them.

[Veronica G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.
My 8 year old loved it.
I loved it.
I gasped quite a few times at how intense it was

[Mr. Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book I wish that it would have included more of the coach drivers life though. Also why the step dad was so popular probably his painting.

[Rowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok... THIS one was longer then some of the others...

[Christina Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories in the series, but imbalanced representation

Good stories in the series, but there's an obvious imbalance of representation in the main characters.
Most of the books don't pass the Bechdel Test, even though the author is a woman.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an action-packed graphic novel about the 1871 fire in Chicago which became known as The Great Chicago Fire. Without any modern conveniences like we have today to fight fires, the Chicago Fire Department relied on pumper trucks to extinguish their fires. A city lined with miles of wooden sidewalks, streets and buildings, when any fire started, it spread quickly. Chicago did have one of the best fire departments in the U.S. yet it wasn’t adequate enough to fight any major fires that the city might have. In the evening of October 8, 1871, one such fire was started when the Midwest was experiencing drought conditions. It began in a barn and quickly spread. Oscar had just arrived in Chicago a few hours before the fire entered the city. He never wanted to leave to leave his Papa’s homestead in Minnesota and then, when faced with the hot embers of the fire, he wasn’t sure that he would survive his first night in the city.

Oscar’s Papa died a few years ago leaving Oscar and his Mama the task of tending to their Minnesota homestead. It was hard work but they managed until Mr. Morrow arrived one day and won Mama’s heart. With their recent marriage, Mama and Oscar are now moving to Chicago where Mr. Morrow resides, a popular resident Oscar soon discovers. Oscar has a reality wake-up call when he discovers how different the city is vs. the country. Mr. Morrow is proud of his city (Chicago) yet Oscar doesn’t seem impressed and his mind is occupied on other matters as they tour around. Something has caught Oscar’s eye, so he leaves the discussion and investigates.

It’s here where Oscar changed for me. I think Oscar saw life in a different light and I think he discovered a lot about himself and the word: responsibility. He mentally grew up. As he’s pondering what is happening, a spark lands on his head and starts to ignite his hair. Yep. He initially thinks red snowflakes but then sees hundreds of hot, burning embers glowing in the sky floating down towards him. Landing on his clothes – igniting them. Singeing his hair as ash floats all around him. Now what? Lost is a strange city, a city that seems to be burning, Oscar was alone.

Well, my adrenaline wanted to flip through this graphic novel as fast as I could to see how Oscar was going to get out of the city or be reunited with his mother. Perhaps he might find himself in a more horrifying predicament and he’d need to be rescued. I slowed down my reading and enjoyed this read. The illustrations of the fire were exciting and intense at times. The variety of text fonts on these pages were a great bonus. The text boxes were easy to follow and the text was entertaining and not wordy. There are some important pages at the end of the book about The Great Chicago Fire which were very interesting so don’t miss them. Oscar wasn’t thrilled about his Mama remarrying Mr. Morrow. Add that to him leaving Minnesota and landing in Chicago where a major fire erupts on his first day. Oscar sure leads an exciting life. 4.5 stars

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire, 1871: The Graphic Novel
Author: Lauren Tarshis
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I do see why so many of my students love these books. They have this hook and excitement that makes it easy to get into and impossible to put down. I do think that I actually prefer the graphic novels over the regular books.

In this one, we follow Owen, whose whole life is changing. He is leaving behind the only place he has ever known to start over in Chicago. He is upset because he promised to keep an eye on family farm. It was a promise he made to his father, who has now passed away. His mother has met someone new and thinks this is for the best. Owen is quickly thrust into this very different world. He finds himself in over his head and doesn’t think that it can get much worse. Then, the flames start.

I love takes a real historic event and turns it into something that children can relate to. While most children have not seen a city burn, they have gone through some of the changes that Owen is going through. They have had to move, maybe have lost a parent/loved one, or maybe had a parent remarry. It is these things that cause children to latch onto these books. They are seen in a time that they may be feeling a little unnoticed. It makes them see that they are not alone-even in the darkness of times.

It also brings history to life. There are many times that history is presented as something boring and important. These books help bring life to something that many children are not interested in and don’t care about. It makes it exciting and fresh. It also makes history retable by them getting to see someone their own age goes through these events that they may or may not have studied in school.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot. I think I have a few more in my classroom library that I have not read yet.

[Katarina]

Oscar never wanted to move to Chicago. There's the smog, the stench, the thieves everywhere, it's different than his life on the farm. Shortly after Oscar gets to Chicago a giant fire breaks out. All of Chicago is on fire and the city looks like it is ready to explode. The firemen try to help, but the fire is everywhere and getting more extreme and wants to take out everything in it's path.

This Graphic Novel has been one of the more entertaining ones that have kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting for what's going to happen. I do like the fact that these Graphic Novels are called I survived.... Because I know they make it out and they are okay, then I don't have to be sad. You will also speed through this book, because it's so short and you want to know what happens at the end.

Again the colours, and the illustration's in these novels are just amazing. These I would recommend to middle grad kids or any kids that love learning about history. They would love this. I love that these books don't take long to read and they are very easy to understand especially when the littles want to read. When I saw this book I didn't know that this was a major event that happened. I do love learning new things so this novel was perfect for me and for me to learn something new.

Happy Reading!!!!!

[Maria Cuenca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived The Great Chicago Fire,1871 written by Lauren Tarshis and illustrated by Cassie Anderson was published in May 2nd, 2023.

Oscar Starling had no intention of relocating to Chicago. Everything about this place is so different from his previous existence on the farm: the stench, the smog, and the thieves everywhere. Will it ever seem like home in the vast city? But a massive fire starts right as Oscar gets there. Chicago is on fire, and it's evident that the city is about to blow up like a powder keg. Despite the efforts of an army of firefighters, this fire is a fierce beast that seeks to consume everything in its path. Will Oscar make it through one of history's most well-known and destructive fires, along with his new city and friends? Graphic novel adaptations of Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series bring the story to vibrant life. These graphic novels mix historical facts with high-action storytelling that will keep readers turning the pages, making them ideal for readers who prefer the style of graphic novels or for readers who have already enjoyed the I Survived chapter book series. Features a nonfiction segment on the actual event at the back with details and images.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic novels are deceptively simple. Multiple color panels with few words are what you initially see, but if you look closer, actually read the book, you realize the creators are every bit as talented as those of traditional novels.

The I Survived graphic novels by Lauren Tarshis are a perfect example of this. There are eight books in the series so far, and each are worth reading. In the case of I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871, the art is fantastically rendered by Cassie Anderson.

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 is the adaptation of Tarshis’s novel of the same name (No. 11 in the I Survived series). And it’s a heart stopping adventure from beginning to end. But it goes beyond that. This graphic novel is steeped in history. Toward the end of the book, there’s an entire section on Chicago and the fire that changed it. Photographs and historic illustrations add context.

My 9-year-old took my review copy of I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 on a recent trip, and read it more than once. It’s a great choice for a wide cross-section of readers.

[Lacy | lacyloveslit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute middle grade, graphic novel that told about a true event- The Great Chicago Fire. I really didn't know anything about the Chicago Fire so it was interesting to read about a fictional retelling of the event. These GNs always have a sweet child as the MC who is also going through something else (in this case, moving to Chicago and getting robbed) other than the main event. The two plotline intertwine and it becomes an interesting account of a "what could have been" scenario. While short, these GNs provide a look into history for kids and I love the non-fiction account in the back of the book along with pictures of the events.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Oscar's father dies in a blizzard his mother meets Mr. Morrow from Chicago. Soon after Oscar finds himself on a train heading to Chicago away from his family farm. New to big city life he makes some mistakes which introduce him to two orphans. They find themself trapped in a lazing inferno as the city is on fire, and it's out of control. The three kids try to find shelter from the flames. It's a harrowing tale as they face fire at every turn. Telling the story of this event through the eyes of children ...how they see the situation and deal with it....is wonderful. I love the artwork that drives the tale along.

[BookCupid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar is uneased about moving to Chicago. Much of his unease stems from leaving behind his late father's cherished farm as he embarks on a fresh chapter with his mother in the city. With her remarriage, Oscar deals with an entirely new life waiting for him. Yet, as the Chicago fire rages uncontrollably, uncertainty is at bay. Will Oscar be able to survive the fire?

Yes, I know, the title is a huge reveal. And yet, I found myself completely captivated. Seamlessly blending history with narrative, this book is not only entertaining but also educational for young readers. Oscar is about 10 years old, providing a point-of-view that kids can easily relate to.

[Mark Will Never Cry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall story is pretty good, but I have some issues with the ending, that is very... Dry? There is a pretty bad issue happening during the book (to secondary characters) and the way that the issue is resolved feels very nothing. (this does not really make sense written like this, but you will understand what I am talking about after reading the book).
Overall, this is a good edition to the series and unlike the other books from this series that I read before, we are presented with just a bit of the backstory and then most of the book takes place during the event, which feels more interesting, as it is more of an experience of the event rather than of the time period.

[Rachel Nazareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this for my son and he enjoyed it. I really loved it because we went to Chicago in 2019 and I found the details about the fire so interesting. It’s so amazing that a story like this is adapted for kids because you really do learn survival skills that we might not have thought of from this book.

I never would have thought of surviving by running into a lake while the whole darn city burned!!

Its interesting that Chicago uses a lot of wood in the city. When we went in 2019, even the subway platform was made of wood. Such interesting stuff, will pray for the 300 people who died in the fire.

[Abbey Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been eyeing this series at my local library for months as a Historical Fiction lover. They weren't around for my growing up years, and so I had time to get through this one and I was VERY impressed. It had the bones of a good lyric story while also being informational and realistic. I skipped 5 stars and gave 4 cause it was a bit anxiety inducing, and I appreciate the realism but I don't think this story is for everyone. Very well written and interesting. I'm definitely gonna read more of these.

[⋆✩⋆Anja K⋆✩⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was a really great book to read. I really suggest it for beginners because it is a very quick book to read. It took me 30 minutes to read because it is very short, but I really enjoyed how the illustrations were put together I think it looks really nice and all the characters coming together as well for me. A RAW is a short story, but it was pretty good. Wish there was more to it!