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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
An excellent book about a girl who is struggling with her own personal problems: her father seems to be sick both in a way she can and cannot tell, they are living in a homeless shelter, her education has been uneven, and she is angry and confused about all of it. She ends up attending a new school in Brooklyn which has a clear view of where the Twin Towers once stood, and finds a caring teacher, as well as two friends who choose to reach out and allow her to be who she is even as she sometimes lashes out at them. This was a painful book at times as you are brought into her pain of feeling less than, her pain of having a father who was not or could not be present, her friend Ben's pain of having a broken family, and her friend Sabeen's pain at being lumped in with the terrorists. The way the school and the teacher handled teaching the history of 911 to students who were not alive when it happened was powerful and sensitive, and I loved hearing about Deja's journey towards understanding of how history can be relevant and how it can also be healing in a personal way. This book was read by the author, and her voice of Deja was a bit annoying at times. But I gave it a chance, and as the story progressed, I really started to feel what Deja was feeling and her sharp complaints no longer felt like a kid having a tantrum, but more like deep pain. It's kind of hard to explain, but the sharp voice was initially annoying, but the emotion was present. So once I reduced the volume and listened for the emotions, it became that much more powerful. I think this is an excellent book for middle school kids to learn not just about 911, but about the place history in general should have in our lives.
This is a heartfelt story of a girl in New York whose parents are struggling to survive. She makes friends at her new school and soon begins to learn about 9/11--the day the towers fell. Rhodes once again brings history alive for young people in a gentle and age-appropriate way. She is a pro at connecting the personal and historical.
It’s hard to believe that in a few short weeks we will be marking the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. Because this is a milestone year, there may be more media and news stories about it, which may provoke some tough questions from children. If any parents or teachers are searching for a book that will help their kids understand just how we were feeling in the days, weeks, and months following the events of September 11, I recommend Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Towers Falling is told from the perspective of a ten-year-old fifth-grade student who doesn’t understand the magnitude of what happened that day and the way it changed the way we live today. Adults who read it will appreciate the gentle tone and it’s portrayal of homelessness, poverty, race, mental illness, friendship, and loss. I recommend it for kids in grades 4-7, their parents, and their teachers.
Such a good book and a great way for the younger kids to learn about what had happened on 9/11.
I can see why it is a Texas Bluebonnet book of 2017-2018
I can see why it is a Texas Bluebonnet book of 2017-2018
3.5 stars...
Given the subject matter, it's not really the kind of book that you can say you "liked" or "enjoyed". Rhodes covers a difficult topic, but does it in a way where she doesn't steer away from the horror of that day in history, but yet still remains age appropriate. Quite a feat.
My issues stemmed a bit more from the insta-friendship of the characters, and I'm not entire sure how well kids will connect with some of the themes of home, units, circles...I'm curious to know what kids this of this book.
In terms of the ending.
Overall, good book about an important topic.
Given the subject matter, it's not really the kind of book that you can say you "liked" or "enjoyed". Rhodes covers a difficult topic, but does it in a way where she doesn't steer away from the horror of that day in history, but yet still remains age appropriate. Quite a feat.
My issues stemmed a bit more from the insta-friendship of the characters, and I'm not entire sure how well kids will connect with some of the themes of home, units, circles...I'm curious to know what kids this of this book.
In terms of the ending
Spoiler
I did appreciate that everything wasn't solved. Deja and her family had reached a small place of healing, but they still had a long way to go in terms of changing their situationsOverall, good book about an important topic.
Easy read, recommended for ages 10+. Features a 10 year old protagonist who is experiencing a lot of hardship as she learns about 9/11 and finds out how her family is connected. Beautifully told.
We read this for Tween Book Club this month. I think this is a great way to introduce 9/11 to tweens and/or teens. Rhodes' construct of this book works well to teach them because their learning process at this point would be very similar to the characters in this book; so they can relate to Deja's lack of knowledge on the event, they may have a military parent like Ben, have a parent who survived 9/11 or lived/s in New York, or they may be able to relate to Sabeen's feelings as a young Muslim who has dealt with others' treatment of her following the attacks.
I related to Miss Garcia as I was also in fifth grade at the time of the attacks and I think I had a very similar wariness/ apprehension about having to explain how the effects of a past event affect tweens now.
I related to Miss Garcia as I was also in fifth grade at the time of the attacks and I think I had a very similar wariness/ apprehension about having to explain how the effects of a past event affect tweens now.
An interesting take on the devastating events that happened on 9/11. Told in a way for middle grades and lower to relate to.
My fourth graders loved this book. It was perfect for a generation interested in the events of 9/11.