37 pages 1 hour read

Jonathan Kozol

Fire in the Ashes

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2012

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Fire in the Ashes by Jonathan Kozol recounts 25 years chronicling the lives of poor children in NYC, beginning with the closure of the Martinique homeless shelter in the late 1980s and moving to their subsequent struggles and resilience. Sensitive topics include suicide, criminality, addiction, and illness. Ultimately, Kozol highlights stories of hope and success through community support and intervention.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Fire in the Ashes by Jonathan Kozol is praised for its heartfelt narrative and insightful exploration of poverty, but some critics find its solutions overly simplistic. It powerfully chronicles the resilience of children in dire conditions, though occasionally it's criticized for being repetitive. Overall, it is a compassionate and eye-opening read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Fire in the Ashes?

Readers passionate about social justice, education reform, and urban poverty will find Jonathan Kozol's Fire in the Ashes compelling. Fans of works like Evicted by Matthew Desmond or There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz will appreciate Kozol's powerful storytelling and deep empathy for marginalized communities.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Sociology

Education

Social Justice

Genre

Education

Themes

Society: Community