Every time I read a disaster related book, I am struck by the things that were allowed to go on. It was mentioned several times in this book that the school building was "legally safe" though the list of things that were wrong grew as the pages went on. The school was terribly overcrowded. I cannot imagine having that many kids in one classroom. The lack of sprinkler systems and other fire alerts were striking. It is sad that it takes huge events like this with so many lost lives and untold suffering to implement real changes. I have taken for granted that all the schools I have attended were brick and concrete, with sprinklers, fire extinguishers in every room, and only 20 or 25 kids in the room. I also never thought about how emergency services were contacted prior to 911 being the universal number for all emergency services and being dispatched out from the call center. The kids in this book died in a horrific way. I cannot imagine going through that. This was a difficult book to read at times, though it was worth it. It really made me thankful or the changes in fire code and building construction that took place in the wake of this fire.