The circumstances of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911 are related through the fictional experiences of Minnie Levine, a 14-year-old Jewish girl whose father was born in Poland, and Tessa Monnetti, her Catholic co-worker from an Italian family. The girls' working conditions and experiences at the time of the fire are based on reports of survivors. Brief pages with historical background that are more challenging to read precede and follow the story. This extremely easy-to- read story introduces some of the prejudices of that time and situation. Full-color watercolor illustrations on every page spread further enliven a special format for finding out about a tragic event in U.S. history. (Ages 8-11)

Introduce young readers to history through the stories of both real and fictionalized people. By focusing on a single important episode that describes a historical event, these books engage readers' interests and imaginations. Written in a story format, each account relates events that really happened, often followed by a brief summary of the historical event to further explain the significance it had on history.