The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Book Review

Title: The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Author: Suzanne Lieurance

Hardcover: 160 pages

Illustration credits: Library of Congress

Locket: Joan Loitz, Shutterstock.com

Cover Illustration: Original Painting by Corey Wolfe

Ages 9 - 12

Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.

ISBN 13: 978-0-7660-2928-6

ISBN-10: 0-7660-2928-X

The Locket Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is a historical novel written for ages 9 to 12. It tells the story of Galena, an eleven year old Russian-Jewish immigrant who lives in New York City in 1911 with her family and works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory with her older sister Anya. The factory pays low wages, has horrendous working conditions and employs under age children like Galena.

In the early 1900’s joining the union is a dangerous thing to do but Anya longs to improve working conditions for abused workers. Soon a horrible fire erupts and destroys the Triangle Shirt Factory and shatters a young girls dream.

Author, Suzanne Lieurance weaves together the fictional and non-fictional aspects of this historical story with ease. By blending dramatic factual accounts of a historical event using realistic fictional characters, Lieurance brings the reader inside the ill-fated factory. Lieurance’s account is truly a step back in time to understand how a young Jewish immigrant girl uses the support of her Jewish traditions, family and friends for inspiration to fight for workers rights.

The Locket also has an educator's guide available for teachers and parents. Go to Enslow Publishing and click on "what's new". Scroll down to Historical Fiction Adventures and click on The Locket. Next click on “Free educator’s guide." This guide is a fantastic supplement with additional reading suggestions, discussion questions and other activities.

I will be interviewing children’s author Suzanne Lieurance later in this week so be sure to check back often. You don’t want to miss hearing what this motivating author has planned next for her readers.

Write it down,

Carma