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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
Bailing 9/8/21 - I do not like the way the Afghanistan POV is portrayed and I find the young American boy annoying. I'm bored with the book overall and don't want to subject myself to the last hour and a half of the audiobook.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to Edelweiss and Scholastic Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I heard that Alan Gratz was writing a new book, this time about the events of 9/11, suffice it to say, I was excited. And this novel did not disappoint. Ground Zero is told in dual, third-person perspective, and weaves two stories together in an intricate and resounding way.
Brandon's dad works at the World Trade Center in New York City, and on the morning of September 11, 2001, Brandon's life is changed forever, as he witnesses an event that will change the course of history itself. Over the course of his parts in the book, he and the other survivors must find a way to work together and make it out of this nightmare alive.
Reshmina lives in present-day Afghanistan, in village torn apart by war, but still holding fast to her peaceful ideals. Her life is turned upside-down when she decides to help an American soldier and learns that her brother wishes to join the Taliban. It's up to her to help make amends of the mess she's made, and learn a thing or two along the way about this war.
The book is written in an interesting way that captivates you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. The characters are likeable but also believable, and you'll find yourself rooting for them in their individual positions as the story goes on. That being said, the character growth isn't very present, but made up for by all the action.
This book is one that touches on important and relevant topics. I can definitely see this book as something that can be enjoyed by younger readers and more mature ones alike, and it definitely has the capacity to spark important conversations as well.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who's trying to get more into historical fiction, or is looking for two compelling stories that are slowly tied together.
~~~~~~~~~
will read literally anything by this author.
When I heard that Alan Gratz was writing a new book, this time about the events of 9/11, suffice it to say, I was excited. And this novel did not disappoint. Ground Zero is told in dual, third-person perspective, and weaves two stories together in an intricate and resounding way.
Brandon's dad works at the World Trade Center in New York City, and on the morning of September 11, 2001, Brandon's life is changed forever, as he witnesses an event that will change the course of history itself. Over the course of his parts in the book, he and the other survivors must find a way to work together and make it out of this nightmare alive.
Reshmina lives in present-day Afghanistan, in village torn apart by war, but still holding fast to her peaceful ideals. Her life is turned upside-down when she decides to help an American soldier and learns that her brother wishes to join the Taliban. It's up to her to help make amends of the mess she's made, and learn a thing or two along the way about this war.
The book is written in an interesting way that captivates you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. The characters are likeable but also believable, and you'll find yourself rooting for them in their individual positions as the story goes on. That being said, the character growth isn't very present, but made up for by all the action.
This book is one that touches on important and relevant topics. I can definitely see this book as something that can be enjoyed by younger readers and more mature ones alike, and it definitely has the capacity to spark important conversations as well.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who's trying to get more into historical fiction, or is looking for two compelling stories that are slowly tied together.
~~~~~~~~~
will read literally anything by this author.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
No
Just read while the US is actively withdrawing from Kabul airport after the Taliban returned to power in the country. Timely, powerful, emotional, and fast-paced. Worth reading or listening to audiobook, as the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 is days away and a twenty year war is ending for some, but not for all. Much to ponder and to reevaluate.
I usually see Alan Gratz books as something that appeals to my middle school kids with good reason. The plots are action-packed and the pacing is perfect for kids who don't want too much description of setting or anything that takes too much time to develop. I don't love them, but I like them enough to keep reading so that I can connect with the kids who read them. Not for me, I'd say, but definitely necessary for my library.
This one is different. As an adult, even, the story captivated me and opened my eyes to the mess of Afghanistan in a way that was more real to me than the nonfiction texts I've read about it (post-9/11). I sobbed too much, and I'm sure that the subject matter being something I actually lived through and recognized to be based on real horrors played a role in why I experienced this book differently than the others. I loved it, felt it, and walk away more knowledgeable and heavy-hearted.
This book is full of terror, violence, tragedy, and highlights the beauty of relationships and acts of kindness. I can't recommend this enough to middle school readers.
P.S. The protagonist is 9, but he feels 13. I don't think I'd be reading this with a 9-year-old.
This one is different. As an adult, even, the story captivated me and opened my eyes to the mess of Afghanistan in a way that was more real to me than the nonfiction texts I've read about it (post-9/11). I sobbed too much, and I'm sure that the subject matter being something I actually lived through and recognized to be based on real horrors played a role in why I experienced this book differently than the others. I loved it, felt it, and walk away more knowledgeable and heavy-hearted.
This book is full of terror, violence, tragedy, and highlights the beauty of relationships and acts of kindness. I can't recommend this enough to middle school readers.
P.S. The protagonist is 9, but he feels 13. I don't think I'd be reading this with a 9-year-old.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
reflective
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:
No
Listened to the audiobook
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars. Once again, Gratz was able to intertwine two POVs from two different times/areas of the world seamlessly. This one was a hard read compared to the other novels of Alan's Gratz, mostly because I have all my memories from 9/11, and I was the same age as one of the MCs in the novel in 2001. I had to stop multiple times to just take a breath. The book does not shy away from the tragedies that happened on 9/11, with some particularly graphic scenes. It also does not shy away from the effects of the War on Terror on the Afghan population, and makes a very good critique on American involvement in Afghanistan 20 years later. Overall a very good edition to the series.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced