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shighley 's review for:
Towers Falling
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
How can a book about 9/11 not be about 9/11? For much of this book, the narrative is about the characters and their backstories before focusing much more on the Twin Towers toward the end. There were a few story points that were a bit frustrating to me, but I understand that Rhodes is gearing the story toward upper elementary/middle school students.
There are some great lines in the book; some of my favorites are
Sabeen, "who doesn't have an off switch for happy" (which changed)
"No matter how sassy I am, Ben and Sabeen don't mind."
I've seen many other reviews mention the possibility of students not knowing about 9/11, although I believe Rhodes explains that somewhat in her Author's Note. I appreciate that she consulted the staff at the Brooklyn New School.
As an educator, one of my most lasting impressions from this book will be wondering about students like Deja who are homeless, even temporarily. What happens to the ones who do not have the supports that she ultimately had? How many homeless students end up at schools like the fictional Brooklyn Collective? And, I certainly hope that there are not others who were working at the World Trade Center on 9/11 who still did not have needed support fifteen years later.
There are some great lines in the book; some of my favorites are
Sabeen, "who doesn't have an off switch for happy" (which changed)
"No matter how sassy I am, Ben and Sabeen don't mind."
I've seen many other reviews mention the possibility of students not knowing about 9/11, although I believe Rhodes explains that somewhat in her Author's Note. I appreciate that she consulted the staff at the Brooklyn New School.
As an educator, one of my most lasting impressions from this book will be wondering about students like Deja who are homeless, even temporarily. What happens to the ones who do not have the supports that she ultimately had? How many homeless students end up at schools like the fictional Brooklyn Collective? And, I certainly hope that there are not others who were working at the World Trade Center on 9/11 who still did not have needed support fifteen years later.