Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
Gratz knocked it put of the park with this one. 9/11 books are few and far between when it comes nonfiction and my students always ask for them especially after I do my picture book lessons with them. I thought this covered the actual events that took place that day in a way that young readers can handle & that can lead to further discussions. I personally won’t hesitate to include this book in my elementary library for my 5th graders to check out & would even consider using it as a lesson with them.
dark
emotional
emotional
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
As someone born after 9/11 and protected from the horrors of the war between Afghanistan and America, this book is vital to understanding the world in which I live. A heartbreaking story of life, death, and unity - this novel is an absolute must read!
Ground Zero, like we have come to expect from all of Alan Gratz's novels, grips readers from the very first page and doesn't let go until the last. Seamlessly weaving in two masterful storylines from both the U.S. on 9/11, and Afghanistan years later, the characters in this story grow in remarkable ways while a non-stop plot keeps readers hooked. Gratz, as always, informs readers of the history they don't know about major events, and crafts a twist that only the cunning can see coming. While examining the causes and effects of the War on Terror, Gratz leads readers to analyze the root causes of war and the social discourses that grow and fuel them. Another masterpiece!
When I taught Social Studies, I found one of the best ways to approach historic events was from both fictional and factual angles. If the historic fiction is done well, with considerable thought and empathy, it can be used to invoke students' empathy and critical thinking about otherwise polarizing events.
Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz, is one such piece of historic fiction. It's written from dual POVs, one a young boy, Brandon, who gets suspended from school and has to accompany his father, who works in the restaurant at the top of one of the towers, to work on 9/11. It's a harrowing account of his escape from the building moments before it collapses, of the people who help him along the way, of the horrors he witnesses, and of the other tower collapsing moments after he emerges on the street, seemingly to safety.
The other POV is a young girl, Reshmina, who lives in Afghanistan some 20 years after 9/11. It's the tale of how she loses her twin brother, Pashoon, to the Taliban after she rescues an American soldier injured in a Taliban surprise attack. Her POV will stretch how readers think about the years after 9/11, and how the United States has handled its presence in Afghanistan.
I won't spoil how these two characters' lives come together, just know the tale is gut-wrenching, but totally appropriate for middle school readers in either an English Language Arts or Social Studies class.
I could only find pay-for-teaching-resources on TpT for this book. The publisher, Scholastic, offers nothing for free -- no teaching guide, no discussion questions -- which is par for the course for Gratz's other recent books, as well. I do wish publishers would provide more free educational/teaching guides for books like these, that are perfect for a classroom but can be a challenge to teach from scratch.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz, is one such piece of historic fiction. It's written from dual POVs, one a young boy, Brandon, who gets suspended from school and has to accompany his father, who works in the restaurant at the top of one of the towers, to work on 9/11. It's a harrowing account of his escape from the building moments before it collapses, of the people who help him along the way, of the horrors he witnesses, and of the other tower collapsing moments after he emerges on the street, seemingly to safety.
The other POV is a young girl, Reshmina, who lives in Afghanistan some 20 years after 9/11. It's the tale of how she loses her twin brother, Pashoon, to the Taliban after she rescues an American soldier injured in a Taliban surprise attack. Her POV will stretch how readers think about the years after 9/11, and how the United States has handled its presence in Afghanistan.
I won't spoil how these two characters' lives come together, just know the tale is gut-wrenching, but totally appropriate for middle school readers in either an English Language Arts or Social Studies class.
I could only find pay-for-teaching-resources on TpT for this book. The publisher, Scholastic, offers nothing for free -- no teaching guide, no discussion questions -- which is par for the course for Gratz's other recent books, as well. I do wish publishers would provide more free educational/teaching guides for books like these, that are perfect for a classroom but can be a challenge to teach from scratch.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
After reading SLJ’s starred review, I requested this for my 11-y-o who has been interested in 9/11 for years. Outside our public library is a 9/11 Memorial that led him to ask many questions as a young child. We had conversations and read children’s non-fiction books so he could learn more, and being familiar with Gratz’s works I recognized he would doubtlessly humanize the atrocities of that day in a way my son would understand.
While my son was not quite ready for the parallel story of Reshmina’s life, he devoured Brandon’s story and asked questions about the day’s horrors and the people directly impacted.
Gratz deftly, respectfully, and truthfully told the story of Ground Zero for young readers.
While my son was not quite ready for the parallel story of Reshmina’s life, he devoured Brandon’s story and asked questions about the day’s horrors and the people directly impacted.
Gratz deftly, respectfully, and truthfully told the story of Ground Zero for young readers.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
VRC #4! This was a hard read, the content was way more intense than I expected it to be. But I really liked the view it gave from both perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail