Reviews

Out of the records and reports…Llewellyn has created a transcendent work of poetry.  The linked lyrics, the recurrent images, and the use of fixed forms are the work of a gifted and experienced poet.  Yet the technical facility never obscures the terror and indignation of the event; the indignation never obscures the human tragedy.  A book for all levels of readers.
... R. Whitman, Choice Reviews, American Library Association, 1987

. . .

Because so many of Llewellyn’s poems are dramatic monologues, they come alive in performance, ensuring that the Fire remains a touchstone of cultural memory.  I’m convinced that Fragments from the Fire would make a marvelous teaching tool. Combining poems in intricate forms (sestina, cento, sonnet) with documentary photographs, Llewellyn’s book could make this difficult chapter in our history come alive, encouraging students to play the parts of labor organizers, factory workers, and the captains of industry who neglected worker safety to maximize profit.​ As long as sweatshops exist, Llewellyn’s book reminds us to fight for justice. 
... Karen Kovacik, professor of English at Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis and 2011-2013 Poet Laureate of Indiana

. . .

I wish this fire and Chris’s words were just remnants of the past, especially in an age where media attention focuses on the latest device, app, or gadget.  We need this book as a reminder (although it is much more) of what workers face every day, all over the world—unsafe working conditions. Llewellyn’s writing transforms newspaper copy into a stirring and lyrical reminder of the importance of mourning the dead, and fighting for the living. She shows the power of poetry. 
... Janet Zandy, emerita professor of English at Rochester Institute of Technology and author of the award winning book, Hands: Physical Labor, Class, and Cultural Work

. . .

The value of this book is in its multiple applicability: as a writing model for various voices; as a study in American history; as a tragic example of unfair and unsafe labor practices; and as a study in characterization.  The range of reader interests that the book serves is, of and by itself, sufficient justification for its continued publication and ready availability. The quality of the writing—and the originality of the idea—are equally important aspects of the work, ones that should assure its continued acceptance and use in high school and college classroom and libraries. 
... Martin Galvin, instructor of creative writing and poetry at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD

. . .

1986 Review in the New York Times.