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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This book is geared for children but is a powerful read about 9/11 from the perspective of someone who was not alive when it happened. The stories of hope, courage, family, love, and resiliency share incredibly images of how we should teach our future generations about 9/11
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What an awesome book for all those students who were born post 9/11. This is a must read aloud or classroom book for any middle school classroom. Well done! And I will also never forget how blue the sky was the day I saw the towers falling.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
N/A
Towers Falling is a heartfelt, age-appropriate exploration of how 9/11 continues to shape the lives of younger generations. Told through the eyes of Déja, a ten-year-old girl grappling with the challenges of poverty and homelessness. As the story unfolds she learns about the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and their connection to her own family and community.
There is a wonderful balance of a heavy topic with moments of hope and resilience, making it accessible to middle-grade readers while still engaging for adults. Déja’s voice is authentic and relatable, and her relationships with her friends Ben and Sabeen bring warmth to the narrative. The classroom discussions about history, culture, and community offer meaningful lessons without feeling overly didactic.
The author connects the personal to the historical, showing how past events continue to ripple through families and neighborhoods. The focus on understanding and empathy, especially in light of diversity, is particularly relevant today.
While the story is powerful, it does feel slightly rushed in parts, and I found I wanted more depth in the exploration of Déja’s family history. However, this does not take away from its emotional impact and the important conversations it inspires.
Towers Falling is a poignant reminder of the importance of remembering, understanding, and moving forward as a community.
There is a wonderful balance of a heavy topic with moments of hope and resilience, making it accessible to middle-grade readers while still engaging for adults. Déja’s voice is authentic and relatable, and her relationships with her friends Ben and Sabeen bring warmth to the narrative. The classroom discussions about history, culture, and community offer meaningful lessons without feeling overly didactic.
The author connects the personal to the historical, showing how past events continue to ripple through families and neighborhoods. The focus on understanding and empathy, especially in light of diversity, is particularly relevant today.
While the story is powerful, it does feel slightly rushed in parts, and I found I wanted more depth in the exploration of Déja’s family history. However, this does not take away from its emotional impact and the important conversations it inspires.
Towers Falling is a poignant reminder of the importance of remembering, understanding, and moving forward as a community.
I think that this is a good book for high elementary students, like 5th graders. It focuses on building relationships, communities, and families. I like the diverse group of friends at the core of this book, and how 9/11 has touched them all in different ways.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
I think this was a great story to introduce the impact that 9/11 has/had on people who experienced it. I will be teaching it in my 5th grade class from now on. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the type of empathy that it brings kids to reflect and challenge daily.
I read an advanced copy of this book (generously shared with me by the publisher) to my Grade 6 class as part of our guided novel study. This is their honest review.
In “Towers Falling”, Jewell Parker Rhodes explains the horrific events of 9/11 in a way that children today can understand. The author has beautifully described the life of Déja, a young girl who lives in a homeless shelter with her sick father, overworked mother, and two young siblings. Secrets unravel as Déja learns about 9/11, and her world is changed forever in a hurricane of emotion. Her journey to uncover the truth about that horrible day also helps her learn about other cultures and diversity. This book made us think about how our actions affect others. When one person dies, it hurts hundreds of other people… their brothers, sisters, moms, dads, kids, grandparents, other relatives and friends. We may not have been alive during 9/11, but now we feel we can begin to understand how this event changed the world. This book will also help make readers understand the importance of friendship, being yourself, and accepting other people’s differences. “Towers Falling” reminds us that we are all different on the outside, but the same on the inside.
We agreed that this book is for Grade 5 to Grade 7, because if you’re too little then you may either get scared or won’t take the material seriously enough, or if you’re too old then you may find the language too simple. Unfortunately, we wish the story had kept going, or that there was a sequel on the way. Some of us felt the book ended abruptly, and left many questions unanswered, but we all agreed that we enjoyed how the story kept you guessing until the very last page. We also felt that while there was a lot of supporting detail about Déja’s father, we wish there had been more information about her mother, and her teacher Ms. Garcia. All in all, the book was very deep and emotional, but with happy and cheerful parts to celebrate too.
- Grade 6 at Brooksbank Elementary
In “Towers Falling”, Jewell Parker Rhodes explains the horrific events of 9/11 in a way that children today can understand. The author has beautifully described the life of Déja, a young girl who lives in a homeless shelter with her sick father, overworked mother, and two young siblings. Secrets unravel as Déja learns about 9/11, and her world is changed forever in a hurricane of emotion. Her journey to uncover the truth about that horrible day also helps her learn about other cultures and diversity. This book made us think about how our actions affect others. When one person dies, it hurts hundreds of other people… their brothers, sisters, moms, dads, kids, grandparents, other relatives and friends. We may not have been alive during 9/11, but now we feel we can begin to understand how this event changed the world. This book will also help make readers understand the importance of friendship, being yourself, and accepting other people’s differences. “Towers Falling” reminds us that we are all different on the outside, but the same on the inside.
We agreed that this book is for Grade 5 to Grade 7, because if you’re too little then you may either get scared or won’t take the material seriously enough, or if you’re too old then you may find the language too simple. Unfortunately, we wish the story had kept going, or that there was a sequel on the way. Some of us felt the book ended abruptly, and left many questions unanswered, but we all agreed that we enjoyed how the story kept you guessing until the very last page. We also felt that while there was a lot of supporting detail about Déja’s father, we wish there had been more information about her mother, and her teacher Ms. Garcia. All in all, the book was very deep and emotional, but with happy and cheerful parts to celebrate too.
- Grade 6 at Brooksbank Elementary
Joel Parker Rhodes read the audiobook version. I would recommend reading the book and skipping the audio book version. The way she reads the main character makes her sound extremely whiny and annoying. It really took away from the story.