mrjess_bhs 's review for:

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

3.5

---

This is a middle grade novel about three 5th graders  learning about 9/11 as the 15th anniversary approaches. I like Jewell Parker Rhodes, and this has endearing young characters, but there was just a few things that didn’t make this a top recommendation for middle grade youth for me. I appreciated the introductions to houselessness, Islamophobia, and seeing a parent deal with PTSD. I like how each of the three main young characters are all tied to 9/11 in different ways, but in the message to come together as Americans, it lacks nuance and feeds to much into propagandist patriotism for my tastes. I might use this as a catalyst for a conversation, but as a stand-alone it would leave students with some problematic views about “why do they hate us?” Because… freedom. This seemed to be reinforced by the hella problematic history teacher in the book and by the protagonists own father. We can do better in presenting a full picture and honor those who were lost. Not bad, but not great.