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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Really, really great story about homelessness and the towers falling and children learning about it for the first time.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great book for kids— a little boring for me because I am an adult. 🤣
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Kudos to Jewell Parker Rhodes for tackling such a heavy, difficult subject!! I tried to avoid rating this highly just because of that, but as far as I know this is one of the only middle grade fiction books on the Twin Towers. There’s definitely some merit in that. It did open up conversations with my kids, and for that I appreciate this book.
There is room for improvement, however. It feels as if Rhodes was attempting to write a book specifically for teachers to teach in school. There’s nothing exactly wrong with that, but it is just obvious that’s what this is which can be a little distracting. She also seems to have attempted a few too many themes. For example, the issue of prejudice against Muslims was briefly touched on with Deja’s friend Sabeen, but then it just kind of dropped out of the story. I’m also not entirely sure where Deja’s unhoused status was supposed to come in, except perhaps as a reflection of just how much her father was struggling with PTSD? I don’t know, it just seemed like too many threads that didn’t weave together well.
Still, great POV on the towers and a great jumping off point for discussion.
There is room for improvement, however. It feels as if Rhodes was attempting to write a book specifically for teachers to teach in school. There’s nothing exactly wrong with that, but it is just obvious that’s what this is which can be a little distracting. She also seems to have attempted a few too many themes. For example, the issue of prejudice against Muslims was briefly touched on with Deja’s friend Sabeen, but then it just kind of dropped out of the story. I’m also not entirely sure where Deja’s unhoused status was supposed to come in, except perhaps as a reflection of just how much her father was struggling with PTSD? I don’t know, it just seemed like too many threads that didn’t weave together well.
Still, great POV on the towers and a great jumping off point for discussion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
very funny someone dies
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Islamophobia
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated