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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
Gratz continues his strengths as a writer by creating engaging characters and action in short chapters. I do question what felt a bit political at the end.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 this book was actually good for reading in class, I literally cried when Brandon's dad was stuck on the windows of the world and he was having trouble breathing and Brandon not being able to say he loves him when the line was dead and that's a lot of trauma for a 9 year old.
And In Reshmina pov I actually despised Pasoon since the beginning I got a bad vibe from him since he immediately shut down Reshmina teaching dreams I thought most brothers were supposed to be supportive and how he showed up in the end like why are you back! I know we only got to see Reshmina pov of the whole thing but still like I now your mad and vengeful about your sisters death but ratting out on your family for giving hospitality to an innocent soldier (BRANDON! whom I will protect with my life) and speaking of Brandon and Taz actually being Brandon I actually saw that coming and the fact he got blinded twice well not really blind the 1st time but still the ptsd that probably gave him. Anyways I'm glad this book didn't sugarcoat on any of the trauma (Warning: Yal I'ma bout to give shade to another book we were supposed to read) Unlike a Memory of things a lot of teachers students before said that 9/11 disaster should never be made into a romance in which I agree how can one feel love to random strangers except your loved ones I've read the book before and sugar coated on a lot of things (And with all respect to the author/people who liked this book its just my opinion!
And In Reshmina pov I actually despised Pasoon since the beginning I got a bad vibe from him since he immediately shut down Reshmina teaching dreams I thought most brothers were supposed to be supportive and how he showed up in the end like why are you back! I know we only got to see Reshmina pov of the whole thing but still like I now your mad and vengeful about your sisters death but ratting out on your family for giving hospitality to an innocent soldier (BRANDON! whom I will protect with my life) and speaking of Brandon and Taz actually being Brandon I actually saw that coming and the fact he got blinded twice well not really blind the 1st time but still the ptsd that probably gave him. Anyways I'm glad this book didn't sugarcoat on any of the trauma (Warning: Yal I'ma bout to give shade to another book we were supposed to read) Unlike a Memory of things a lot of teachers students before said that 9/11 disaster should never be made into a romance in which I agree how can one feel love to random strangers except your loved ones I've read the book before and sugar coated on a lot of things (And with all respect to the author/people who liked this book its just my opinion!
Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 written by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction novel published in 2021. I read this as a Buddy Read with a 10th grade student who recommended it for our Buddy Read. She had read many of Alan Gratz's books and wanted to read this one. And I am so glad that she recommended this one!
This story is told from two points of view in two different timelines almost 20 years apart. There is Brandon's timeline of September 11, 2001. Brandon is a 9 year-old boy who, after being suspended from school, has to go to work with his father. Brandon's father works at Windows of the World restaurant at the top of the North Tower of the Twin Towers. The second point of view if Reshmina, an 11-year-old girl living in Afghanistan on September 11, 2019.
Right off the bat, Brandon's story pulled me in - his story was so visceral and fraught with tension and emotions that I didn't want to rush through. For most of the book I was not too invested in Reshmina's story. Having never read Alan Gratz before, I wondered if/how this one day, these two stories, almost 20 years apart would come together.
I like the way Alan Gratz weaved these two stories, including Brandon and Reshmina experiencing similar events and the small clues that began to reveal how the two stories came together. As I said at the beginning, I read this a Buddy Read with a student and we had some amazing discussions which included predictions about how we thought the two stories would come together. This was a great read that kept me wanting to know what happens next! The descriptions of Brandon's harrowing experience in the North Tower after the first plane hit had my mouth dropping open. You actually felt like you were there with him. It took me a while to really get into Reshmina's story and I felt bad that I didn't find her story as interesting as I did Brandon's.
I may be new to reading Alan Gratz, but I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
This story is told from two points of view in two different timelines almost 20 years apart. There is Brandon's timeline of September 11, 2001. Brandon is a 9 year-old boy who, after being suspended from school, has to go to work with his father. Brandon's father works at Windows of the World restaurant at the top of the North Tower of the Twin Towers. The second point of view if Reshmina, an 11-year-old girl living in Afghanistan on September 11, 2019.
Right off the bat, Brandon's story pulled me in - his story was so visceral and fraught with tension and emotions that I didn't want to rush through. For most of the book I was not too invested in Reshmina's story. Having never read Alan Gratz before, I wondered if/how this one day, these two stories, almost 20 years apart would come together.
I like the way Alan Gratz weaved these two stories, including Brandon and Reshmina experiencing similar events and the small clues that began to reveal how the two stories came together. As I said at the beginning, I read this a Buddy Read with a student and we had some amazing discussions which included predictions about how we thought the two stories would come together. This was a great read that kept me wanting to know what happens next! The descriptions of Brandon's harrowing experience in the North Tower after the first plane hit had my mouth dropping open. You actually felt like you were there with him. It took me a while to really get into Reshmina's story and I felt bad that I didn't find her story as interesting as I did Brandon's.
I may be new to reading Alan Gratz, but I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No