A review by serendipitysbooks
The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 The House is on Fire is stellar historical fiction based on the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, at the time the worst urban disaster in US history. It follows Sally, Cecily, Jack and Gilbert before, during and after the fire and I was equally invested in all their storylines. What I enjoyed most was the way the author interrogated factors like race, gender and class for the role they played in the fire and it’s aftermath. Excellent author’s note at the end. I can heartily recommend the full cast audio. 
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