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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
It is possible that part of this book is historical fiction – but is 20 years ago historical? If you are a child who wasn’t born in 2001, it might be! I really liked the stories of the two kids living in completely different parts of the world and the way their stories aligned and intertwined. I listened to the audio of this book and it was a quick listen. While 9/11 stories are sad and difficult, I think this one is an important read.
adventurous
emotional
tense
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:
No
Thai book is one I just couldn’t stop. I found time throughout the day to pick it back up and continue just to see what was going to happen next!! It will have you in the edge of your seat and some tears throughout the reading!
Good YA historical fiction. Alternates between chapters of a young boy in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and a young Afghan girl. All ties together in the end.
adventurous
informative
reflective
Only read if you’re ready for the perspective of everyone. Extremely well-written for everyone to understand. Heavy topics dealt with compassion and realism.
Alan Gratz is a skillful storyteller, and now I know why he gets reluctant readers excited to read. I couldn’t put this book down. He managed to show the complexity of our world before, and since, 9/11/01, both for the United States and Afghanistan. Two brave and resourceful protagonists (a 9-year-old Latino-American witnessing the horror of the Twin Towers coming down firsthand, and an 11-year-old Afghani girl whose village is in a war zone between the Taliban and US soldiers in 2019) lead us through the narrative in alternating chapters. So good!
Alan Gratz’s books always hit where it hurts, in the best possible way, but Ground Zero might just be the one to have the most impact for me. I remember 9/11 like it was yesterday so the fact we are coming up on the 20th anniversary is mind blowing. This MG book will be a hit with my students & generate a bunch of conversations between them & their parents.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
Reading 2021
Book 171: Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
Going to start with I don't think that anything by Alan Gratz will ever compare to Refugee. Like nothing by Jason Reynolds will compare to Long Way Down. The se are my opinions of course and I am sure could be debated by those of you that will read this review.
Ground Zero is told in alternating view points by Brandon during the terror attacks on 9/11/2001, and by Reshmina in present day Afghanistan. Brandon is in one of the Towers when the planes hit, and he must figure out how to escape. Reshmina's family is dealing with the fallout from the 9/11 attacks in their small village outside Kabul.
In typical Gratz fashion, the book is filled with drama and intensity. This book was very good, I enjoyed both main characters very much, and how the story ties together in the end. The book is reviewed for ages 9 and up. My rating 4 ⭐.
Book 171: Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
Going to start with I don't think that anything by Alan Gratz will ever compare to Refugee. Like nothing by Jason Reynolds will compare to Long Way Down. The se are my opinions of course and I am sure could be debated by those of you that will read this review.
Ground Zero is told in alternating view points by Brandon during the terror attacks on 9/11/2001, and by Reshmina in present day Afghanistan. Brandon is in one of the Towers when the planes hit, and he must figure out how to escape. Reshmina's family is dealing with the fallout from the 9/11 attacks in their small village outside Kabul.
In typical Gratz fashion, the book is filled with drama and intensity. This book was very good, I enjoyed both main characters very much, and how the story ties together in the end. The book is reviewed for ages 9 and up. My rating 4 ⭐.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Wow. That was such a well crafted, emotional, difficult book to read. I think it impacted me different than the target child audience because I am old enough to remember and understand 9/11 as well as the Warren Afghanistan, etc. This book is very valuable in introducing these very tough subjects and horrible events as well as taking a look at what revenge really means and who are those impacted. The alternating plot lines, and similarities between the two stories, and how they intersect was incredibly well written. A very hard but very important read.