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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While I do not think that Ground Zero marks Gratz' best outing, I did think that he did a good job with the treatment of the subject. Told in dual perspectives, Braden on September 11, 2001 and Reshmina on September 11, 2019, Gratz brings up the ramifications of the, at the time, forever war through Reshmina's perspective and how it has affected her, her family, and especially her twin brother Pasoon. Ultimately though, I think that Gratz left the question that Reshmina raised in her discussion with Taz, the American soldier she saves, unanswered which leaves the whole book a little unsatisfying although a decent read.
challenging
emotional
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
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
I'm not really a huge fan of war novels, but I liked this book since it was talking about a really devastating event. I really like it's pov on two different characters, on Reshmina and Brandon. It gives us an insight on how the people of Afghanistan is dealing with the war. And it shows us how most people were feeling when the towers hit and how they were trying to escape. I would give this book a 4/5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Grief, War
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Xenophobia
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Death of parent
I absolutely love Gratz’s writing style with multiple perspectives. This perspective for kids to be able to experience these historical events through the eyes of their peers is so powerful! I would love to be back in the older elementary/middle school classroom and use these historical fiction novels to support so many literature and historical standards and themes!
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
Yes
It wasnt as interesting as I hoped it would be, the ending was good though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Islamophobia
I read this for the August Young at Heart book discussion that my co-worker and I will be leading.
First, I want to say that there is nothing "Anti-American" about this book. I'm seeing (a few) people stating this in other reviews. The author challenges the reader to be empathetic for all people who were impacted by the on going war after 9/11. By reading a dual perspective (a young boy in the towers on 9/11 and a young girl in Afghanistan in 2019), readers see what revenge does short and long term.
I found Ground Zero to be a book that is full of emotions, which is what made it hard for me to read. It took me a couple of days to read it, but otherwise, it is a fast read that can be finished in a day.
Reading from Brandon's and Reshmina's perspectives was great. I looked forward to each chapter and found myself on the edge of my seat.
I recommend parents buddy read this book with their children, as today's kids were not born 9/11 happened. To them, it is a historical event. I struggled to wrap my head around that because I was sitting in school the day of 9/11, struggling to understand what was happening.
I also think it is beneficial for parents and kids to read the author's note when they are finished with the book.
First, I want to say that there is nothing "Anti-American" about this book. I'm seeing (a few) people stating this in other reviews. The author challenges the reader to be empathetic for all people who were impacted by the on going war after 9/11. By reading a dual perspective (a young boy in the towers on 9/11 and a young girl in Afghanistan in 2019), readers see what revenge does short and long term.
I found Ground Zero to be a book that is full of emotions, which is what made it hard for me to read. It took me a couple of days to read it, but otherwise, it is a fast read that can be finished in a day.
Reading from Brandon's and Reshmina's perspectives was great. I looked forward to each chapter and found myself on the edge of my seat.
I recommend parents buddy read this book with their children, as today's kids were not born 9/11 happened. To them, it is a historical event. I struggled to wrap my head around that because I was sitting in school the day of 9/11, struggling to understand what was happening.
I also think it is beneficial for parents and kids to read the author's note when they are finished with the book.
I love Alan, but I am not sure this is his best. I think part of my dislike for this one was that 9/11 feels so recent and too soon to talk about but I also was not engaged in Reshmina's story at all. Overall though I think this is a great YA read for kids that don't know about 9/11 and would be an opening for deeper meaningful convos.