The message passed by the author resonates well with young readers. RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021. 2021 Chicago Public Librarys Best of the Best ListBest Fiction for Older Readers A must-have. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - YouTube A Tear jerking story of survival that I won't forget anytime soon. Hes a fantastic writer, Im looking forward to this one. The first event occurs on September 11, 2001. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz. Brandon is heading to the underground mall when a plane piloted by al-Qaida hits the tower, and his father is among those killed. Ground Zero Middle Grade Book Alan Gratz - bookroo.com Nine year old Brandon goes to work with his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Reshmina saves the life of an American Soldier and puts her whole village in danger. x100 Only with a million times the drama. Get it Jan 19 - 24. It seems written for kids, but my child is not quite ready for a book with this content. Should she help himand put herself and her family in mortal danger? Ground Zero Characters | GradeSaver Can he survive - and escape? With two action-packed perspectives, Gratz powerfully explores the ways in which the past shapes the present. Apart from Lise's offstage death, there is little violence here; like Annemarie, the reader is protected from the full implications of eventsbut will be caught up in the suspense and menace of several encounters with soldiers and in Annemarie's courageous run as courier on the night of the escape. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Categories: Lois Lowry If I hadn't been forced to read it for school I wouldn't of. With his signature accessibility and insight, Gratz tackles events on both U.S. soil and abroad inGround Zero.. will appeal to middle-grade readers, who were born after the events of 9/11, and to those adults who lived through it and will never forget. In time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Ground Zero delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fearand the stunning links between the past and present. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. An editor Brandon finds himself going to work with his dad in the Twin Towers because he has been suspended from school. Oscar, Elizabeth. The novel was published in early 2021 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. He accompanies his father to the restaurant where his father works, The Windows of the World, on the 107th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex. Brandon Chavez is suspended from school for punching a bully who stole expensive Wolverine gloves from another student. Gratz moves back and forth between the two narratives in short, nail-biting chapters that create a vivid picture of each setting and make readers feel invested in each characters relationships and choices, and in the high-stakes global forces that affect the intimate details of their lives. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. The Story of Brandon and Reshmina. This may be just be my new Gratz favorite. While performing his duty, a fire erupts in the kitchen and the young boy sneaks out to purchase the Wolverine gloves to hand over to his friend once he gets back to school. When the two finally make their up and out, through the smoke and falling debris they see the South Tower is gone. The entire book was oh I'm going to live!, oh wait no I'm not!, oh I'm going to live! And not just for young people. But, I should've known better and trusted Gratz. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Similarly, in 2019, the revenge against Afghan people results in more deaths. It was raw and emotional. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. 2022 New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award Winner Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The two young characters are directly affected by the war they know nothing about. I liked this book until the last chapter when the author felt the need to put his political opinion in rather than stick to the historical background he used in the rest of the book. Scholastic Press, 2021. All opinions expressed are my own. This is my first Gratz book. 2022 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles,Junior Level Their lives are threatened, when Reshmina rescues an American soldier seriously injured in a surprise attack. When they get up to the restaurant, Brandon, bored helping his father arrange table settings, decides to slip out, head down the elevator to the underground mall, and replace the kids lost Wolverine (read more from the Pages 1 - 73 Summary). A must-have. Glory cant believe it the Hanging Moss Community Pool is closing right before her July Fourth birthday. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION, by GradeSaver, 17 February 2022 Web. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION, by Her family and village become targets when they decide to extend sanctuary according to Muslim tradition when he enters their home. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Ground Zero study guide contains a biography of Alan Gratz, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Not affiliated with Harvard College. War leads to a lose-lose situation. Richard and Brandon begin the descent. 2023 Sakura Medal Nominee RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1989. The novel covers in alternating chapters the stories of two characters, Brandon Chavez, a nine-year-old boy living in New York City in 2001, and Reshmina, an 11-year-old Afghan girl living near Asadabad in 2019. As a girl, Reshmina worked from the moment she woke up until she went to sleep at night. The two storylines develop in parallel through alternating chapters. However, this nuance doesnt extend to the Afghan characters; Reshmina and Pasoon feel one-dimensional. Talking to his father, Brandon is stunned to see a plane fly deliberately into the South Tower. The alternating narration explores two events that occur almost two decades apart. Although Reshminas story takes place almost two decades later, her story proves to have many connections to Brandons. When her brother finds out, he is livid and heads up to the mountains to tell the Taliban who hide out in caves. I spent a week reading all of the Goodreads Choice Awards finalists in the Middle Grade category, complete with my entire thoughts on each book, and which books I think should have won and in what order. Kirkus, This tautly paced novel explores the events of that tragedy and the subsequent American response through two parallel story lines. He does not get far before he smells smoke and sees large cracks in the stairwell sheetrock walls. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. It was a great book, and interesting to read just after finishing I Am Malala, in my opinion! Descriptions of the Talibans Afghan victims and Reshmina's gentle father notwithstanding, references to all young men eventually joining the Taliban and Pasoon's zeal for their cause counteract this messaging. Leo works as a kitchen manager in one of the hotels set in North Tower. Reshmina and Pasoon thus becomes engaged in a face-off over the fate of the soldier with the strange doll attached to his uniform. I love this author their work is great. His father tells him he must get out of the building. Ground Zero Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to I was worried it was going to be an "us against them" approach. Brandon and Richard continue to work their way downward until they get to the underground mall. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz | Goodreads More books than SparkNotes. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear - and the stunning links between the past and present. Code of Honor Alan Gratz No preview available - 2018. Can Reshmina live her dream of being more than a wife and will this adventure open her eyes to the problems Afghanistan faces. The Ground Zero Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. He is stopped at the 89th floor landingthe stairwell is just huge broken pieces of sheetrock and exposed electrical wires opening out to the sky. In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear -- and the stunning links between the past and present. You have successfully joined Alan's newsletter list! If Pasoon goes through with his plan to join the Taliban and they find out his family has been concealing Taz, it will mean death for everyone. Hell breaks loose when the complex building is attacked by terrorists leading to many deaths of innocent people including Brandons father. I also felt like this book would be much too intense for my 11 year old. Though ever cautious and fearful of the ubiquitous soldiers, she is largely unaware of the extent of the danger around her; the Resistance kept even its participants safer by telling them as little as possible, and Annemarie has never been told that her older sister Lise died in its service. It is a harder read even for me a 52 year old. Both events occur due to war conflict between America and middle east countries. Though occasionally heavy-handed, this debut offers a vivid glimpse of the 1960s South through the eyes of a spirited girl by influencers in the know since 1933. Brandon is the 9-year old son of a chef at Windows on the World, the restaurant atop the North Tower at the World Trade Center. Required fields are marked *. Ships from and sold by Zenieth. 2022-2023 Tennessee State Book Award Nominee In present-day Afghanistan, Reshmina is an 11-year-old girl who is used to growing up in the shadow of war, but she has dreams of peace and unity. Alan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. She begs him not to tell the Taliban about the American soldier, that they will kill his entire family for harboring the American. His 2017 novel. Gratzs deeply moving writing paints vivid images of the loss and fear of those who lived through the trauma of 9/11. This tautly paced novel explores the events of that tragedy and the subsequent American response through two parallel story lines. Lois Lowry In the case of any war, there is no winner. Taz tells her he understands loss, that as a child he lost his father in the 9-11 attacks in New York, that afterwards he was adopted by a man he met in the Towers that day. Ground Zero is a perfect combination of two different genreshistorical fiction and realistic fictionthat will teach you more about 9/11 and how much the Taliban has affected Reshmina and her village. My ten year old loves this book. Meanwhile, Reshmina is just now hearing about the stimulating event for that American military presence in her country from Taz who, she learns, was actually in the towers the day of the attack and lost his father who worked there. Luckily, my grandmother and great-aunt were fine and had left NYC the night before and were on the road back. The fierce fighting between the Afghan National Army, supported by the Americans, and the Taliban insurgents who seek to return the country to a rigid Muslim theocracy has raged for close to 20 years. Two years earlier, Reshminas older sister had been killed when her wedding had been strafed by American drones dispatched under the mistaken assumption that wedding guests firing off rifles to celebrate were in fact a Taliban sniper nest. He and Richard make their way to the exit, using the Warner Brothers Store to guide them out. "Ground Zero Characters". She decides to help him although her compassion may put her family and her entire village at risk. thissection. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - Book Review | lit-lessons.com It was really good and had a great climax. bestseller.In time for. The occurrence of the new events scares everyone. When his father isnt looking, Brandon sneaks out to buy a toy in the mall. This is like the Stone Age. Alan Gratz did it again. There are rulesYou punch somebody, you get suspended, no matter why you did it (5). Fights and revenge lead to more troubles rather than resolving the issues. September 11, 2019. The main characters are Brandon Chavez and Reshmina. September 11, 2020, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. by ALAN GRATZ Paperback . thissection. I really liked the book and the broken under ground mall part was great and the building falling over I do recommend it. The instant #1 New York Times bestseller.In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear - and the stunning links between the past and present.September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Alan Gratzs books always hit where it hurts, in the best possible way, but Ground Zero might just be the one to have the most impact for me. Pasoon angrily reminds his sister that the Taliban not the Americans, are her people. Ground Zero Book Review | Common Sense Media 2022-2023 Ohio Buckeye Book Award Nominee Retrieve credentials. Get help and learn more about the design. Richard tells Brandon he can home with him. The novel explores the consequences of war on innocent civilians who have no comprehension of the happenings leading up to the confrontation. Book was ok until near the end where the author called Americans bullies and inserted his political views. A must-have. Ground Zero Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary She wants to teach. The young boy is left only with his father. Eleven year old Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. 11- year-old Reshmina has never not known war. Ground Zero: ALAN GRATZ: 9789390590124: Amazon.com: Books Augusta Scattergood. Alan Gratz. More books than SparkNotes. Barnes & Noble Best Young Reader Books of 2021 2022 SIBA Southern Book Prize Finalist September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. In the confusion, Reshmina watches helplessly as an American missile destroys her familys home. Ground Zero study guide contains a biography of Alan Gratz, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Trying to fix the damage done due to standing up to a bully, Brandon sneaks away from his father, who is a chef at Windows on the World. Reshmina is a witty girl and advises Taz to stop what they are doing because they (American soldiers) cannot help build the nation and at the same time destroy what they are building. Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2022, Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022. You can check out my vlog here: It is interesting as a teacher, to sit down with groups of elementary aged students and attempt to teach them about this day in our country's history. The plot starts at a heart-pounding pace and never relents A contemporary history lesson with the uplifting message that humanitys survival depends on us working for, not against, one another. CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES, by 2022-2023 South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee Ground Zero - Pages 1 - 73 Summary & Analysis - www.BookRags.com This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. The telling of the two narratives are separate, but intricately intertwined with imagery, political philosophical, and even characters. What is it they should know? Mr. Gatzs books can fill a much needed gap in literature for young people, and can help them develop a love for reading. Reshmina tells him no money can restore their life. I'm the author of a number of books for young readers, including Refugee, Allies, Grenade, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, and Ban This Book. The chapters detailing Brandons experiences surviving the attack and collapse of the Twin Towers alternate with those of an equally young Afghanistan girl named Reshmina. ; . When shes not saving the world, reading Nancy Drew or eating Dreamsicles, Glory shares the heartache of being the kid sister of a preoccupied teenager, friendship gone awry and the terrible cost of blabbing peoples secrets mostly in a humorously sassy first-person voice. 2021 Amazon.com Best of the Month February at the World Trade Center in New York City. She is keen to improve her English while her twin brother, Pasoon, is inspired by the Taliban and wants to avenge their older sister, killed by an American bomb on her wedding day. . More books than SparkNotes. Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2022. Pasoon is Reshminas brother. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. The alternating event occurs in the countryside region of Afghanistan in 2019. The closing of her favorite swimming pool opens 11-year-old Gloriana Hemphills eyes to the ugliness of racism in a small Mississippi town in 1964. In 2001, Brandon Chavez is spending the day with his father, who works at the World Trade Centers Windows on the World restaurant. She lives in a remote village where the Taliban lurk, and her twin brother is trying to find his own way. CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. His new book is "Ground Zero." Alan Gratz is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for young readers, including "Allies," "Grenade," "Projekt 1065," "Prisoner B-3087," and "Code . She leads the helpless soldier back to her home. And that perfectly logical coincidental series of events is how any number of conspiracy theories are born. "Ground Zero Summary". Captain America: The Ghost Army (Original Graphic Novel), Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Scholastic; 1st edition (February 4, 2021). This Study Guide consists of approximately 62pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Indeed, the conflict results in the destruction of properties and loss of lives from both ends. In the contemporary timeline, Reshmina is an Afghan girl living in foothills near the Pakistan border that are a battleground between the Taliban and U.S. armed forces. Not sure about reading more. Ground Zero - Pages 1 - 73 Summary & Analysis Alan Gratz This Study Guide consists of approximately 62 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Ground Zero. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Alan Gratz. Truthfully, I'd give this one 3.5 stars -- yet another great read from Gratz, who the author's note reveals was a junior high school teacher before he was a successful writer. On September 11, 2001, Brandon accompanies his father, Leo Chavez, to the World Trade Center. There were lots of plot twists that were really pushed. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Augusta Scattergood Between 1 and 2 stars. On the 20th floor, they stop long enough to call Brandons father. Finally, she decides to help the soldier from being killed by the Taliban. 2023 Mississippi Magnolia Award Nominee Gratzs deeply moving writing paints vivid images of the loss and fear of those who lived through the trauma of 9/11. Its still brilliant! The authors note tied everything up well - the history and his connection to this horrific day. What a read! Publishing in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, this tautly paced novel by Gratz ( Resist) explores the events . In his characteristic style, he ends each chapter with a cliff-hanger, then picks up the narrative of the other character. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Afghanistan. Pros: Alan Gratz has produced another historical fiction novel filled with compelling characters and heart-pounding action. Jonathan Stroh, by The main characters are Brandon Chavez and Reshmina. Brandon, unsure what has happened, decides to take the stairs up, to return to his father. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Reshmina returns to her village. Ground Zero Summary & Study Guide - www.BookRags.com Can they survive when their army is after him? Oscar, Elizabeth. Alan Gratz. In the contemporary timeline, Reshmina is an Afghan girl living in foothills near the Pakistan border that are a battleground between the Taliban and U.S. armed forces. The Question and Answer section for Ground Zero is a great Ground Zero study guide contains a biography of Alan Gratz, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It was also quite jarring to keep switching perspectives, especially when every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. The other person in this story is Reshmina, a young Afghan girl whose family is caught between the fighting between the Americans and Afghan soldiers and the Taliban. As someone who will never forget the sequence of that day, reading this pulled me back 20 years and definitely stirred up a lot of emotion. With his signature accessibility and insight, Gratz tackles events on both U.S. soil and abroad inGround Zero.. help you understand the book. A soldier gets hurt and Reshmina gets her family to help him but at what cost. Gratz has done an amazing job of capturing the heart of 9/11 and making it appropriate for this particular age group. Before he departs, he gifts her a worn stuffed animal of the cartoon character the Tasmanian Devil that he says has always brought him luck. #1 New York Times Bestseller! When she ends up harboring a wounded young American soldier, she and her entire family are put in mortal danger. Wow. The Question and Answer section for Ground Zero is a great Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Library 2035 S. Naper Blvd., Naperville, IL 60565 . Brandon and Reshmina cannot discern the purpose served by the attacks. Follow me on Twitter: @alangratz, The plot starts at a heart-pounding pace and never relents A contemporary history lesson with the uplifting message that humanitys survival depends on us working for, not against, one another. Suddenly, an airplane hits the building, forever changing Brandon's life, his father's life, the thousands of lives of the people working in the skyscraper, and the world. From Richards office, Brandon calls his father who reassures him they are all waiting for helicopters to rescue them. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Ice. The story of Reshmina is a hard one especially since we pulled out of Afghanistan recently. . When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. As with all Gratz books, students will be submitting holds because no matter how many copies I purchase for my library I wont have enough. I used small sticky notes to separate the two stories. During this time the building starts tremoring convulsively. A tough read, due to the rawness of the subject matter. School Library Journal. His father talks to Richard. Suspended from school for standing up to a bully, he goes to work with his father on 9/11. 2021-2022 Junior Tome Society It List illustrated by The young girl is torn between saving the life of the soldier and informing the Taliban about him. Ground Zero. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number). Gratz examines each event carefully to pass the message and encourage people to work together for common good. Parallel storylines take readers through the lives of two young people on Sept. 11 in 2001 and 2019. Brandon accompanies his father to the World Trade Center on that fateful day. The Ground Zero Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz February 15, 2021 ~ Janet Dawson Published by Scholastic Summary: Brandon has been suspended from school and is spending the day of September 11, 2001 with his dad, who works at the Windows of the World restaurant in the World Trade Center. Reshmina dreams of being more than the dutiful wife and mother that her Muslim culture demands her to be. The alternating narration explores two events that occur almost two decades apart. The following edition was used for this study guide: Gratz, Alan. 2023 Oklahoma Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award Nominee TeachingBooks | Ground Zero He runs off into the hills. Should we leave? ABA Indie Bestseller List "Ground Zero" A 9/11 Novel By Alan Gratz | WAMC by Alan Gratz Ground Zero Summary These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. This book was real - I had both tears and chills. Ground Zero Alan Gratz Activities Teaching Resources | TPT Brandon seems haunted by what happened in the school leading to his suspension. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Explosions from overhead rock the caves. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. He is not nearly as happy about the changes wrought by the American influence on his country and is making plans to join the Taliban.