ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 1991)

She was named Hallelujah by her father because she was born at sunrise on Easter morning. She was born into slavery in Mississippi but escaped with her parents and sister. Though her father died before reaching freedom, her mother guided her children to Chicago, where they were taken in by the La Salles, who raised the sisters after their mother died. At age 11, Hallelujah is a feisty scapegrace, practicing assertiveness a whole century before it became a feminist ideal. She resents being an orphan and hates being reminded of her dependent position. On October 8, 1871, she deliberately evades her stepbrother and spends the entire night following the path of the Great Chicago Fire. Rubinet demonstrates a thorough knowledge of Chicago history, geography, and demographics, and, with minor exceptions--such as calling Adams Street, Adam Street and Desplaines St., Des Plains Street--her information is accurate. Sometimes, though, she seems to spread historical data with a trowel. Her writing is least effective when she has children interacting. After the fire, Hallelujah and a friend talk about the changes in their outlooks like a couple of sanctimonious 80-year-olds. However, Rubinet is very effective in describing the beauty and the horror of the conflagration and the reactions of the people caught up in it. Her prose captures the heat, smells, and feel of the night when people struggled to save their most valuable possessions and then abandoned them to save their lives. For these fine descriptions and for the characterization of the indomitable Hallelujah, the novel deserves a place on historical fiction shelves. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1991)

Horn Book

Didactic, poorly developed historical fiction follows the adventures of orphaned Hallelujah during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 when, at the age of eleven, she tries to understand self-worth, racism, and privilege. Bib.

Kirkus Reviews

In search of adventure, feisty 11-year-old Hallelujah escapes the watchful eye of her guardian and watches Chicago burn down around her during one memorable October week. Meticulously, Robinet re-creates the events of the 1871 fire. Hallelujah wanders about, witnessing behavior both brave and cowardly; performing some brave deeds of her own; alternating between excitement, horror at the destruction, and guilt that she is enjoying the experience; and meeting a succession of people- -including Elizabeth, a wealthy, newly homeless white girl who lives with Hallelujah until her snooty parents track her down. The characters here are less well developed than the themes; adults can sound childlike (Lordy, Mr. Joseph, what have you done did?'') while children sound like adults (We're both children. We have the same feelings and needs...''), but Hallelujah sees many people put aside their racial prejudices and pitch in to begin rebuilding. The message sits a bit heavily, and there are some careless repetitions; still, this child's-eye view of a great event should appeal to readers with a historical bent. Bibliography; maps not seen. (Fiction. 10-13)"

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-- The Chicago fire of 1871 is seen as an adventure by 11-year-old Hallelujah. However, as she wanders the streets meeting the rich and poor of all races and religions dispossessed by the fire, she realizes that people's similarities are stronger than their differences. Hallelujah's maturation comes slowly and believably. Her mother was an escaped slave who brought her children safely to Chicago before dying, but Hallelujah is accustomed to an easier life with her foster parents. They have a house and give food to their unemployed Irish Catholic neighbors. Instead of being grateful, Hallelujah is often bossy and inconsiderate toward others. The night of the fire she becomes separated from her family and seeks excitement on her own. Moving around the city, she meets several children of the fire,'' and gets to know Rachael, a poor Jewish girl, and wealthy, snobbish Elizabeth. Hallelujah ends up helping Elizabeth and the girls stay together for several days. They become friends, but the message gets heavy-handed when they vow to remember thatwe're always free to be ourselves,'' and ``we're all equally special .'' Although the persistent resurgence of the racial/economic tolerance theme can be distracting, the story is vividly told and full of interesting historical details. Robinet evokes a real sense of the destruction the fire caused and the residents' quick determination to rebuild. The well-realized setting and unusual characters counterbalance the story's didacticism, making the book an uneven but worthwhile effort. --Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, County of Henrico Public Library, Richmond, VA