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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
What a compelling book! This story shows so many aspects of life in NYC and into the head of a homeless 10 yo girl. Not only will I recommend this to my students, but even more so to my teachers to help them remember that they don't always know what's going on in their students' lives.
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-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
3.5 bumped up. While there are elements I didn’t like there are many elements I loved. As someone with elementary aged children I think the book is important.
The characters in are descendants of adults involved with the attacks on 9/11. It's set in the present day and how people are still dealing with the fallout from the attacks. As someone that remembers the day well, this perspective is great for middle schoolers wanting to learn a bit about the historical event. It's not scary or full of awful statistics, so the average middle schooler can handle the content.
This was a hard book to read, as someone who vividly remembers that morning and knew people who lost their lives that day. I think the author did a really good job of weaving a story into this tragedy that will help people connect to that day who were not yet alive...who don't have the same schema as those that experienced it personally.
Great book up until the explanation that the terrorists hate us because of our freedoms! Learn a little Middle East/ US History please Ms. Rhodes.
As weird as this is to say, this book about 9-11 for middle-grade students was absolutely beautiful! It was wonderfully written and was hard to put down. 9-11 is such a difficult topic to discuss with young children but this was tastefully done. I highly recommend reading this book with your child as it will lead to some good discussions.
emotional
sad
medium-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
This book is so important. There is a generation of kids coming into school and learning about 9/11 for the first time. They may or may not know how this history relates to them. Deja learns the importance of history to the world but also to her family. She learns about 9/11 for the first time and comes to understand that history is always a part of who we are as a country and as people. I loved this book and the message it sends. I think this would be a great assigned reading for kids who are learning all the dynamics of 9/11 and the way it has shaped our world today.
Deja has a lot of responsibilities in her family because her mom is always working and her dad is sick. Deja is also starting at a new school because they've moved to a homeless shelter. She immediately loves her new school and makes two close friends. As her class starts to study the towers that used to fill the nearby skyline, Deja makes great connections between history and her life, but when her dad finds out the topic they're studying he becomes furious. Deja has never learned about 9/11, and her curiosity draws her to learn more.
This is a good read for kids who were not alive to experience 9/11 - they would learn about this historical date along with Deja as she uncovers new facts and revelations. The friendship between Deja, Ben, and Sabeen is an example of true friendship; they support each other and help each to learn a little more about their own lives, while not judging anyone. Deja is a 5th grader, so I would say this is perfect for kids in grades 4-6.
This is a good read for kids who were not alive to experience 9/11 - they would learn about this historical date along with Deja as she uncovers new facts and revelations. The friendship between Deja, Ben, and Sabeen is an example of true friendship; they support each other and help each to learn a little more about their own lives, while not judging anyone. Deja is a 5th grader, so I would say this is perfect for kids in grades 4-6.