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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This is Alan Gratz at his best. I read this for a book awards committee, and it’s a definite contender. I can’t keep Gratz books on the shelf in my library because my freshmen adore his books. He’s the best middle grades historical fiction writer in the game today. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about the connections between 9/11 and our longest war in Afghanistan. This book is enjoyable for upper elementary through adult. It’s suspenseful and nuanced and heartbreaking. It deserves every single star.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
What I liked:
I liked how this book didn't shy away from the horrible ways people died in the towers.
What I didn't like:
I didn't enjoy Reshmina's parts as much as Brandon's. Honestly I would have been content with a book more focus on the events of 9/11 and yet its also nice to see the aftermath of said events years later.
The ending of the book felt too simplistic in its "CLEARLY this is what we should do to fix all of our problems" type of explanation.
The ending of the book felt too simplistic in its "CLEARLY this is what we should do to fix all of our problems" type of explanation.
Overall:
I really did enjoy this book and if it weren't for Reshmina's parts I would have given this a 5 stars. This book should be in every schools reading curriculum it's a great introduction for kids to learn about 9/11.
Quote:
"Look! All that shooting, all that fighting, and for what? Neither side won anything, and neither side lost anything - except lives."
- page 159
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy of Ground Zero. This is another outstanding book by Alan Gratz! I can’t wait to share it with my 5th and 6th grade readers! It’s a very important book about a difficult topic. Highly recommend!
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
9/11 is super fascinating to me... this book is not. i know now how both POVs connect, but i still would've been much happier with just a story focused on 2001's 9/11, not 2019's.