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September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever by Héloïse Chochois, Baptiste Bouthier
amullen03's review
3.0
For me September 11 is something I'll always remember. Reading this was a very interesting read. It was good to see another teens perspective and how people viewed what the political climate was like. I didn't really learn anything I didn't already know. But I think this would be a great book for my kids. It's a graphic novel and talks about a rough time in our country. Perfect for beginners
emeelee's review
3.0
I tried to read this comic on September 11th this year, the 20th anniversary of the attack. I couldn't get past the first page. Of course I was affected by 9/11-- the entire world was, ultimately. But on that day I was nine years old, living on the West coast, and I didn't know anyone who died. So I'm surprised at what a deeply affecting read this was for me.
September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever is a French comic depicting 9/11 and the past 20 years of its aftermath through the eyes of a fictional French girl named Juliette. Constructed like a memoir, it begins as Juliette boards a flight to New York for the first time and begins to think back to her memories of the 9/11 attacks which occurred when she was thirteen years old. The narrative follows her experiences in France over the next twenty years with intermittent breaks to focus on a particular related topic or incident. For example, the story of a survivor employee of the World Trade Center, a journalist whose photos became famous depictions of the event, George W. Bush's movements on 9/11, etc. But also historical information about what happened in the wake of that day: the war in Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, France's Vigipirate, subsequent terrorist attacks around Europe, the killing of Osama Bin Laden in 2011, the Patriot Act and Edward Snowden's whistleblowing of the NSA, etc. It ends with Juliette landing in New York, experiencing a U.S. Customs search, and visiting Ground Zero.
I really appreciate that this comic gives a non-American perspective of this devastating day and its aftermath, though it also very clearly a French take rather than an objective one (if such a thing were possible). It is a Western, European, and non-Muslim perspective, which is worth remembering while reading. While the doomed nature of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are covered, there is otherwise not much focus on the impact of 9/11 on citizens of those countries, nor Muslim or Middle Eastern people living in the West. Guantanamo receives a quick mention, but widespread Islamophobia (particularly in France considering this book's origin) does not. While no single book, especially a short comic, can possibly cover 20 years worth of everything 9/11-related, these seem like glaring omissions.
Overall, it seems like the authors couldn't quite decide what they wanted their focus to be. A memoir-style look at one particular French citizen? Vignettes of the experiences of specific people who experienced the event? A historical account of the attacks and their global fallout? While certainly not a bad read, and rather interesting throughout, I think this book could have been a lot stronger with a narrower focus and a commitment to either an intimate, subjective perspective or a better attempt at a wider, universal perspective. My favorite aspect was the short, individual stories of survivors of the attacks, like World Trade Center employees, journalists, and first responders.
TW: 9/11, Islamophobic comments, death, fire, plane crash
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever is a French comic depicting 9/11 and the past 20 years of its aftermath through the eyes of a fictional French girl named Juliette. Constructed like a memoir, it begins as Juliette boards a flight to New York for the first time and begins to think back to her memories of the 9/11 attacks which occurred when she was thirteen years old. The narrative follows her experiences in France over the next twenty years with intermittent breaks to focus on a particular related topic or incident. For example, the story of a survivor employee of the World Trade Center, a journalist whose photos became famous depictions of the event, George W. Bush's movements on 9/11, etc. But also historical information about what happened in the wake of that day: the war in Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, France's Vigipirate, subsequent terrorist attacks around Europe, the killing of Osama Bin Laden in 2011, the Patriot Act and Edward Snowden's whistleblowing of the NSA, etc. It ends with Juliette landing in New York, experiencing a U.S. Customs search, and visiting Ground Zero.
I really appreciate that this comic gives a non-American perspective of this devastating day and its aftermath, though it also very clearly a French take rather than an objective one (if such a thing were possible). It is a Western, European, and non-Muslim perspective, which is worth remembering while reading. While the doomed nature of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are covered, there is otherwise not much focus on the impact of 9/11 on citizens of those countries, nor Muslim or Middle Eastern people living in the West. Guantanamo receives a quick mention, but widespread Islamophobia (particularly in France considering this book's origin) does not. While no single book, especially a short comic, can possibly cover 20 years worth of everything 9/11-related, these seem like glaring omissions.
Overall, it seems like the authors couldn't quite decide what they wanted their focus to be. A memoir-style look at one particular French citizen? Vignettes of the experiences of specific people who experienced the event? A historical account of the attacks and their global fallout? While certainly not a bad read, and rather interesting throughout, I think this book could have been a lot stronger with a narrower focus and a commitment to either an intimate, subjective perspective or a better attempt at a wider, universal perspective. My favorite aspect was the short, individual stories of survivors of the attacks, like World Trade Center employees, journalists, and first responders.
TW: 9/11, Islamophobic comments, death, fire, plane crash
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
concussedcoffeegeek's review
5.0
Baptiste Bouthier, alongside gorgeous art from Héloïse Chochois, retells the story of 9/11 through the perspective of a 14 year old french girl, Juliette. Now an adult, a trip to America brings back the memories from that day in 2001.
The events of September 11 were just the tip of the iceberg for the next 20 years of world politics, and Bouthier does an excellent job of tracing many key events of the last two decades back to the world trade center. What I really appreciated about this story was the use of Juliette's perspective to frame the event. This perspective really grounds the reader in the experience that millions had, glued to their televisions to view coverage of this atrocity.
By following the socio-political events sparked by 9/11, Bouthier truly communicates the scope of "the day the world changed forever". While many of us remember the events of September 11, there is now an entire generation moving into adulthood who weren't yet alive. This makes books like this one extremely necessary to teach future generations about historical events. I'd highly recommend 'September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever' to anyone, as it's narrative perspective really humanizes a date that has become a buzz word in our socio-political lexicon.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early access digital copy for review.
The events of September 11 were just the tip of the iceberg for the next 20 years of world politics, and Bouthier does an excellent job of tracing many key events of the last two decades back to the world trade center. What I really appreciated about this story was the use of Juliette's perspective to frame the event. This perspective really grounds the reader in the experience that millions had, glued to their televisions to view coverage of this atrocity.
By following the socio-political events sparked by 9/11, Bouthier truly communicates the scope of "the day the world changed forever". While many of us remember the events of September 11, there is now an entire generation moving into adulthood who weren't yet alive. This makes books like this one extremely necessary to teach future generations about historical events. I'd highly recommend 'September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever' to anyone, as it's narrative perspective really humanizes a date that has become a buzz word in our socio-political lexicon.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early access digital copy for review.
lelliereads's review
5.0
I'm not entirely sure how to review this one, but I can say that I'm pleasantly surprised. This graphic novel recalls the events of 9/11 through the eyes of a French high school student and her family who remember the day as the news came out. This graphic novel is factual and emotionally distant, as expected from a journalistic point-of-view, but does also weave in some stories of personal accounts from survivors. This book is a nice way to remember a horrific event in modern US history. It is as relevant as ever as we are seeing the collapse and ramifications of 9/11 in Afghanistan today, 20 years later.
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
missymouse's review
4.0
September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever is a remarkable Graphic Novel. It is the story of Juliette a French teenager and her memories of the day that really did change the world. Reading Juliette's perspective was so similiar to my own. I was in secondary school and like everyone who remembers 9/11, its so hard to forget exactly where you were when you heard the news. Following Juliette's story over the days made me flashback to that eerie time where everyone was glued to their TV. It didn't seem real.
This would be a great addition to any library for people too young to recall 9/11. It is extremely thorough and very informative. A must-buy.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This would be a great addition to any library for people too young to recall 9/11. It is extremely thorough and very informative. A must-buy.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
heather_e_lizabeth's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, having read books with first hand information from people on the ground that day and knowing there was some information missed out (probably because it leads to a more conspiracist mindset) it is for this reason I can't give it 5 stars, along with that the first 60% was more of a memory jog of what happened and if you were alive when the events happened then there wasn't any new information, however the individuals concentrated on and seeing specific stories was really interesting and the style in which all this was depicted was really nice to read.
The Graphic novel format was done really nicely and even reading as an ebook it was clear concise and easy to follow.
The last 40% of the book I found really interesting as it more to followed how the 9/11 terror attacks impacted the entire world and the follow on events. It was really interesting to see all of these thing laid out one after another and truly made you realise just how much was impacted by this day, and the things still going on today especially when regarding government agencies.
Overall this was a really good book and if this is a subject your interested in then I would recommend.
The Graphic novel format was done really nicely and even reading as an ebook it was clear concise and easy to follow.
The last 40% of the book I found really interesting as it more to followed how the 9/11 terror attacks impacted the entire world and the follow on events. It was really interesting to see all of these thing laid out one after another and truly made you realise just how much was impacted by this day, and the things still going on today especially when regarding government agencies.
Overall this was a really good book and if this is a subject your interested in then I would recommend.
hannahslibrary92's review
5.0
*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
As expected this book is packed with emotion.
The Art style was amazing and the story was engaging and informative.
I thought the subject was written about and handled well. Definitely worth reading.
As expected this book is packed with emotion.
The Art style was amazing and the story was engaging and informative.
I thought the subject was written about and handled well. Definitely worth reading.
paceima6's review
4.0
As of just few days ago, I am 25 years old making me only 5 when 9/11 happened. The memories I have, are mostly of my mom picking me up from school early. I remember swing set dressed in a blues clues jean dress (cute), when a teacher came outside and told me that I was going home early.
Now 20 years later, I find myself fascinated by everyone’s combined memory of such a tragic event, along with how it shaped their futures. I now realize that I’ve only asked Americans what their experience was. Never had I thought about the impact that event had on the rest of the world.
Since I already had interest in the topic I obviously found this graphic novel to be extremely enlightening. I never thought about how people from other countries might have experience that day, and I appreciate this novel for opening my mind to how events might impact other people.
While I loved the subject matter I did have some issues with how the events are laid out. It feels like there’s a lot of jumping around (which could also be because of the difference in times zones). I did however enjoy how much detail when into explaining the impact of 9/11 over the last 20 years. Being a kid and then a dumb teenager makes it harder to understand current events.
I’m glad I got a copy of this arc. It filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge of the topic and I’m glad I got to learn a little more about how people felt and were impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.
Now 20 years later, I find myself fascinated by everyone’s combined memory of such a tragic event, along with how it shaped their futures. I now realize that I’ve only asked Americans what their experience was. Never had I thought about the impact that event had on the rest of the world.
Since I already had interest in the topic I obviously found this graphic novel to be extremely enlightening. I never thought about how people from other countries might have experience that day, and I appreciate this novel for opening my mind to how events might impact other people.
While I loved the subject matter I did have some issues with how the events are laid out. It feels like there’s a lot of jumping around (which could also be because of the difference in times zones). I did however enjoy how much detail when into explaining the impact of 9/11 over the last 20 years. Being a kid and then a dumb teenager makes it harder to understand current events.
I’m glad I got a copy of this arc. It filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge of the topic and I’m glad I got to learn a little more about how people felt and were impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.
solesito's review
3.0
I wasn't expecting to like this book that much, but surprisingly I finished it in less than an hour. It's really easy to understand. Even if you are already informed about the topic, is cool to see every fact in order to make up your mind. It explores not only the 9/11 itself, it talks about the after hours to this day, and how it affected to the present. Also, I liked the drawings, and the use of color. The only bad thing I found is that it's you aren't going to learn a lot probably.