Book: Ground Zero | Author: Alan Gratz | Genre: Historical Fiction | Age: 10+
9/11 was a crazy and most terrible day for the United States. With a series of hijacked plane attacks and many casualties, 9/11 was a stunning day and put many into depression and danger. Alan Gratz has written about this in his book “Ground Zero”, which teaches how to deal with change, shows the unpredicted dangers of life, and informs readers about 9/11 from two children’s perspectives.
If I’d be asked to recommend this book for an age group, I would recommend it for ages 10-12, even though the publishers have said it should be for 9+. This is because of all the hazardous things mentioned in the book, kids 9 and under would get a bit afraid. Also, there are some concepts in the book that only 10+ can understand, such as what the Taliban is, and what the World Trade Center is/was. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, meaning that this book is good, and is extremely informative of what happened on 9/11, through two children’s perspectives, but could be a bit boring, or disconnected for some.
In this book, there are 2 main characters (an amazing work and writing style Gratz does), who are suffering from war and the destruction of their homes. They are Brandon, who is a boy that was inside the World Trade Center at the time of the 9/11 attacks and is separated from his father trying to save himself from the attacks, and Reshmina, who is in a state of war in which the United States is trying to demolish the Taliban for the 9/11 attacks, and her family having many problems due to the war going on around them. They both are fighting for peace, have lost some of their loved ones, and are trying to seek refuge and get away from war and troubles. Brandon, having been stuck in the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks, tries to get out of the building and save his life, and Reshmina, who is inside a war zone tries to help her family and tries to save her own life from the war and Taliban. They both are facing war, seeking peace and refuge, and are ready to fight against what awaits them. What happens next? Do they find home, peace, and refuge? Or are they stuck, and have to face the end? Read “Ground Zero” to find out! (NOTE: The characters aren’t all traveling in the same year/time, they are traveling in different time periods, but they all have a relationship despite the difference in their time periods in the end.)
The thing I like about this book is the imagery, realisticness, information, emotions of the characters, and how everything comes together in the end. But what I love the most about “Ground Zero”, is the morals it teaches. Here are some I have been able to find :
- Life is unpredictable – Anything can happen!
- Don’t deny your dreams, live up to them
- Recover from the past
- Just because someones background, or relations are bad, doesn’t mean that the person is dirty
- Don’t runaway from things that you fear, face them
- Always hope for the best
- Think twice before acting
- Use your mind in difficult situations, and you could be saved
- Don’t judge a person by their looks
- If you are given refuge, take it
- Whatever happens is for the future’s greater good
- Sometimes, you just have to control your emotions
- Helping people in need is a good deed
- Don’t panick
- Stay calm
- Think about others by stepping into their shoes, not judging them by what you think should be right
- Give refuge to those who need it
- War is a bloody thing, and you shouldn’t get a bit too involved in it
- If you want to make a change in the world, you’d better start off, and not stay dreaming
- Life has its ups and downs, nobody’s life is perfect
- Adore the beautiful things around you
- Animals can be man’s best freinds
- Love is a power that can make you do anything
Important Links!
If you are interested to read this detailed, action-filled, historical fiction book buy it at: Amazon.com – Ground Zero
Extra Info!
More about the Afghanistan War
That was it for my book review for “Ground Zero”, written by Alan Gratz. Comment below on what you think of this book, and your learnings from this book, and please do write some feedback. For more, subscribe to my blog! Thanks!
-Kartik Lakhwani
The Kartik-Sphere 