Those of us who were adults on September 11, 2001 and remember it like it was yesterday may be surprised to learn that there are novels written for young readers about 9/11 that are considered "historical fiction." Whether it's a day you'll never forget or a day you weren't yet born on, here are some books for all ages to learn about or reflect upon the events of 9/11/01.
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Enduring freedom
by Jawad Arash A dual-narrative tale finds a young American army private and an Afghan youth living under the horrors of the Taliban caught on opposing sides during the tumultuous events leading up to and following September 11, 2001. |
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Nine, ten : a September 11 story
by Nora Raleigh Baskin Relates how the lives of four children living in different parts of the country intersect and are affected by the events of September 11, 2001. |
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Big Apple diaries
by Alyssa Bermudez In Big Apple Diaries, a heartfelt diary-style graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez, a young New Yorker doodles her way through middle school--until the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack leaves her wondering if she can ever be a kid again. It's the year 2000 in New York City. For 12-year old Alyssa, this means splitting time between her Puerto Rican dad's apartment in Manhattan and her white mom's new place in Queens, navigating the trials and tribulations of middle school, and an epic crush on a new classmate. The only way to make sense of it all is to capture the highs and lows in doodles and hilarious comics in a diary. Then life abruptly changes on September 11, 2001. After the Twin Towers fall and so many lives are lost, worries about gossip and boys feel distant and insignificant. Alyssa must find a new sense of self and purpose amidst all of the chaos, and find the strength to move forward with hope. |
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Hope and other punchlines
by Julie Buxbaum The tragic 9/11 event in NYC that changed the world, altered the life of Abbi Hope Goldstein as well as that of Noah Stern. They did not know each other back then, but they know each other now, and while Abbi is trying to move forward with her life, Noah still has unanswered questions that he believes Abbi can help answer. |
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14 cows for America
by Carmen Agra Deedy Maasai tribal members, after hearing the story of the September 11 attacks from a young Maasai, who was in New York on that day, decide to present the American people with 14 sacred cows as a healing gift. |
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Ground Zero
by Alan Gratz A dual tale published to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks finds a young boy struggling to find his father and escape the World Trade Center in 2001, before a girl in battle-torn 2020 Afghanistan risks her life to help a wounded soldier. |
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Fireboat : the heroic adventures of the John J. Harvey
by Maira Kalman Offers the true story of this historic fireboat that was pulled from its retirement on the day of the attacks on the World Trade Center in order to assist firefighters tending to the massive blaze and, with a few adjustments, succeeded in completing its mission. |
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Towers falling
by Jewell Parker Rhodes Three dynamic fifth-graders who were born after September 11 work together on a project about how communities grow together, discovering how the attacks still powerfully affect their families and their neighborhood. By the Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of Ninth Ward. |
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Eleven
by Tom Rogers Always wanting to be a hero, Alex Douglas finally gets his chance on his eleventh birthday, September 11, 2001. |
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I survived the attacks of September 11, 2001
by Lauren Tarshis Looking forward to spending his 11th birthday with his brave New York City firefighter dad, Noah is shocked when the outing is interrupted by the September 11 attacks, to which his father must respond at the risk of his life. |