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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
"Hundreds. Thousands of names. 'Etched in bronze. So no one forgets.'" This very well-written realistic fiction book tells a heart-wrenching tale of how one middle school child discovered why learning about American history is important fifteen years after the horrendous attacks of September 11th, 2001. Towers Falling provides humanity, insightful explanations, and hope which any age group would be able to grasp.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So powerful!
This book is incredibly powerful. The author deals with the horror of September 11th in a gentle way. I love how she included what makes our country beautiful...unity, freedom, family. It's very well-written.
This book is incredibly powerful. The author deals with the horror of September 11th in a gentle way. I love how she included what makes our country beautiful...unity, freedom, family. It's very well-written.
[2 stars for the book, 1 star for the audiobook.] I am astonished by how much I disliked the audiobook of Towers Falling, as I read it with the full expectation of loving this MG novel about 9/11. In fact, on the strength of several positive professional reviews of the book, I purchased a copy of it for my elementary school library collection before reading it myself, since we lacked any MG books on the topic and it was the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
Many times while listening to the author's narration, I wondered at how her publisher allowed her to narrate the story. She did not in any way have a credible voice of an 11 year old, and her grating, overly dramatic narration essentially trashed any possible enjoyment of the words. Deja, as read by the author, sounds shrill, whiny, immature, and ridiculous. Listening past the narration, it didn't seem as if the actual words of the dialogue necessitated even 10% of the over-the-top delivery, so I trust that readers of the book itself will not be struck by as intensely negative experience as listeners of the audiobook.
Beyond the terrible audiobook narration, I had trouble with the premise of the book itself. As a teacher, I know that my students don't know nearly as much about 9/11 as older generations do, but it stretches credulity to infinity to imagine that a bright, curious 11 year old who lived in New York City would never heard heard of the attacks on 9/11, especially because her family was so dramatically impacted by them. And while I deeply appreciate the positive representation of a loving, devoted houseless family with one parent impacted by PTSD and depression, it was implausible that a bright, inquisitive 11 year old would have no idea whatsoever about what was happening to her family and what led to their financial difficulties.
Another surprisingly problematic element what felt like unadulterated rah-rah "USA, USA" borderline jingoistic cheerleading that completely ignores prevalent anti-immigrant, racist sentiment that is only hinted at in the book. Deja's father is emblematic of our country's systemic failures to take care of survivors of the 9/11 attacks, especially first responders. But there is no criticism of that. Through her friend Sabeen's reluctance to talk about 9/11, we see hints of the terrible cost of chest-thumping American nationalism among those who blamed all Muslims and/or Middle Eastern immigrants for 9/11, but this is not addressed. Instead, the author presents the simplistic explanation of 9/11, that terrorists hated America because of how great our country is, and the jaw-dropping conclusion that they never would have attacked if they realized how many lives they ruined. (This is a breathtakingly inaccurate introduction to the concept of terrorism as a political weapon - I nearly DNF'd the book at that as well as dozens of other points, but that may have been the worst.) Of course, I wouldn't expect a middle grade book to delve *very* deeply into the concept of terrorism and problems with our country's response to 9/11, especially the wars started by the U.S. in its wake, but this was over-the-top propagandizing. The "they hate us for our freedom" and America is one big happy melting pot messaging felt like something that would have been written as an after-school special by someone in the Bush administration in 2003, not a book published in 2016.
Positives
- That it addresses 9/11 at all, because so few books do.
- Positive representation of a loving family experiencing homelessness
- Positive portrayal of a friendship between two girls and a boy from very different backgrounds
- The section in which Pa tells his story is compelling
Negatives
- Avoid the audiobook, full stop
- Unrealistic premise of a native New Yorker who has never even heard of 9/11
- Simplistic, inaccurate propaganda around 9/11
- Unrealistic dialogue
I had previously encountered many problematic elements of Ghost Boys, though I would still recommend it. In the absence of many other books about 9/11, this one has a place in a school library collection, but I'm sorry to say I won't be recommending it.
Many times while listening to the author's narration, I wondered at how her publisher allowed her to narrate the story. She did not in any way have a credible voice of an 11 year old, and her grating, overly dramatic narration essentially trashed any possible enjoyment of the words. Deja, as read by the author, sounds shrill, whiny, immature, and ridiculous. Listening past the narration, it didn't seem as if the actual words of the dialogue necessitated even 10% of the over-the-top delivery, so I trust that readers of the book itself will not be struck by as intensely negative experience as listeners of the audiobook.
Beyond the terrible audiobook narration, I had trouble with the premise of the book itself. As a teacher, I know that my students don't know nearly as much about 9/11 as older generations do, but it stretches credulity to infinity to imagine that a bright, curious 11 year old who lived in New York City would never heard heard of the attacks on 9/11, especially because her family was so dramatically impacted by them. And while I deeply appreciate the positive representation of a loving, devoted houseless family with one parent impacted by PTSD and depression, it was implausible that a bright, inquisitive 11 year old would have no idea whatsoever about what was happening to her family and what led to their financial difficulties.
Another surprisingly problematic element what felt like unadulterated rah-rah "USA, USA" borderline jingoistic cheerleading that completely ignores prevalent anti-immigrant, racist sentiment that is only hinted at in the book. Deja's father is emblematic of our country's systemic failures to take care of survivors of the 9/11 attacks, especially first responders. But there is no criticism of that. Through her friend Sabeen's reluctance to talk about 9/11, we see hints of the terrible cost of chest-thumping American nationalism among those who blamed all Muslims and/or Middle Eastern immigrants for 9/11, but this is not addressed. Instead, the author presents the simplistic explanation of 9/11, that terrorists hated America because of how great our country is, and the jaw-dropping conclusion that they never would have attacked if they realized how many lives they ruined. (This is a breathtakingly inaccurate introduction to the concept of terrorism as a political weapon - I nearly DNF'd the book at that as well as dozens of other points, but that may have been the worst.) Of course, I wouldn't expect a middle grade book to delve *very* deeply into the concept of terrorism and problems with our country's response to 9/11, especially the wars started by the U.S. in its wake, but this was over-the-top propagandizing. The "they hate us for our freedom" and America is one big happy melting pot messaging felt like something that would have been written as an after-school special by someone in the Bush administration in 2003, not a book published in 2016.
Positives
- That it addresses 9/11 at all, because so few books do.
- Positive representation of a loving family experiencing homelessness
- Positive portrayal of a friendship between two girls and a boy from very different backgrounds
- The section in which Pa tells his story is compelling
Negatives
- Avoid the audiobook, full stop
- Unrealistic premise of a native New Yorker who has never even heard of 9/11
- Simplistic, inaccurate propaganda around 9/11
- Unrealistic dialogue
I had previously encountered many problematic elements of Ghost Boys, though I would still recommend it. In the absence of many other books about 9/11, this one has a place in a school library collection, but I'm sorry to say I won't be recommending it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to think about 9/11 through the eyes of a 10-year-old who was born after it happened. She starts by thinking that it doesn't matter because it happened before she was born, but she finds that it is more connected with her life than she realizes. Her teacher has her and her classmates have quality discussions about what connects us and the importance of social units. Deja, the protagonist, has a strong voice and is determined to succeed, despite the fact that she is currently homeless and is largely in charge of her younger siblings.
I was really interested to read this book, and others coming out this year about 9/11, because I'm fascinated to see how it's being portrayed to young readers who weren't born when it happened. I was in 8th grade when it happened and it really changed my life as it did everyone's, but I talk to kids today who don't give it any though since they weren't around. It's so abstract to them.
I thought this book handled it very delicately, which at first I didn't like. But then I remembered how scared I was when it happened and with all the blunt in your face news I had access to. It was a little too much. So with that in mind, I thought this book handled it well. It covers it and leaves it open to discussion with an adult and further research.
I thought this book handled it very delicately, which at first I didn't like. But then I remembered how scared I was when it happened and with all the blunt in your face news I had access to. It was a little too much. So with that in mind, I thought this book handled it well. It covers it and leaves it open to discussion with an adult and further research.
From time to time, I wonder what future generations will think of 9/11. If they will think of it. Eventually there will be nobody left who remembers that day. I myself was only a child and have the faintest memory, mostly of the aftermath. It's crazy to think that children now and future generations will have little to no emotional connection to this event when it scarred so many of us. From the youngest to oldest. I think this book certainly gives children who weren't alive yet a chance to learn. They'll see a girl who wasn't even born when this happened be affected by this tragedy. That it is set in modern day NYC, is a totally new and well received approach. I think in this way, kids will be able to relate much more to these (diverse!) characters.
emotional
inspiring
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:
Yes
Wow. This is Deja's story. Deja is a born and bred New Yorker, born in Brooklyn in 2006. Her class at school is learning about 9/11 and she has no idea about it at all, has never even been to Manhattan.
I'll admit, I cried a little when Deja watched the video of the towers collapsing and I could see it happening again in my mind's eye, even though I haven't watched them in 15 years - I'm not even sure I could watch them again. I saw the North tower fall on live TV and the hundreds of replays in the days following.
So now I'm wondering, does my 8-year-old know about 9/11? Should I tell him? How?
I'll admit, I cried a little when Deja watched the video of the towers collapsing and I could see it happening again in my mind's eye, even though I haven't watched them in 15 years - I'm not even sure I could watch them again. I saw the North tower fall on live TV and the hundreds of replays in the days following.
So now I'm wondering, does my 8-year-old know about 9/11? Should I tell him? How?