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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is about two characters Brandon and Reshima. Brandon is in the world trade center tower as it vet hits by airplanes and he loses his dad in the process. Reshima is in Afghanistan in her local village and her village is a war zone for the Americans vs the Taliban. Both characters lose someone in a war of the world. This shows war is not good and ruins lives.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a hard book to read, but an important book to read. I'm not sure if middle schoolers and high schoolers will have as hard a time with it as I did since they didn't live through the events of 9/11.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book gave me chills the entire way. Even though I was in southern Illinois during the 9/11 attacks, this was a huge part of my growing up and it changed the way we did things. The idea that anyone could attack at anytime was very scary and it continues to threaten many today. I highly recommend this and will get it for the library and recommend it to my students.
hopeful
sad
tense
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the fast paced adventurous theme. The way that the two stories connect is surprising. I recommend this to anyone who likes to read about what is truly scary and how people deal with this kind of stress.
My 5th grade students are currently obsessed with this book after it lost to Keeper of the Lost Cities in elementary book March Madness bracket. While I love to see readers pick up historical fiction (eek, that something during my teen years counts as historical fiction, need to unpack my feelings there later), this book is not for everyone. It may be marketed or shelved as middle grade, but early YA (13-15) might be the most receptive audience.
Like Gratz's other 5th grade favorite, Refugee, this is an unflinching realistic portrayal of two kids' lives at significant points in time. I think he does an excellent job explaining the nuances and effects of the wars in Afghanistan, though those details may go over the heads of many upper elementary readers. The same goes for 9 year old Brandon (who acts and talks more like a 12 year old, tomato tamata) escaping the falling North Tower. I Survived survival adventure this is not! It is a more dramatic, more detailed, more intense portrayal of those events - and rightly so.
It's not enjoyable or easy to read by any means. As you frantically turn the pages between his cliff-hanger alternating chapters, there is still a leaden feeling in your stomach - there are no tied up endings or satisfying conclusions to be had here.
Like Gratz's other 5th grade favorite, Refugee, this is an unflinching realistic portrayal of two kids' lives at significant points in time. I think he does an excellent job explaining the nuances and effects of the wars in Afghanistan, though those details may go over the heads of many upper elementary readers. The same goes for 9 year old Brandon (who acts and talks more like a 12 year old, tomato tamata) escaping the falling North Tower. I Survived survival adventure this is not! It is a more dramatic, more detailed, more intense portrayal of those events - and rightly so.
It's not enjoyable or easy to read by any means. As you frantically turn the pages between his cliff-hanger alternating chapters, there is still a leaden feeling in your stomach - there are no tied up endings or satisfying conclusions to be had here.
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No