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America Is Under Attac...
America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2011: The Day the Towers Fell (Actual Times)
by
Don Brown
One of School Library Journal’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011
One of Horn Book’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011
On the ten year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, a straightforward and sensitive book for a generation of readers too young to remember that terrible day.
The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In the fourth installment of the A
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published August 16th 2011)
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Community Reviews
(showing
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554)
Mar 06, 2013
David Perilo
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-lit-2013
Audience-This book would be good for 3rd-6th grade students. The reason i conclude this age group is due to the events on this day being so catastrophic and horrifying younger students may not be able to understand what happened or may become fearful.
Appeal- The appeal this book would bring is the beautiful watercolor artwork and the detail it brings to each scene. Students will definitely be drawn into this book due to the fact that it had made such an impact on the country in which they live....more
Appeal- The appeal this book would bring is the beautiful watercolor artwork and the detail it brings to each scene. Students will definitely be drawn into this book due to the fact that it had made such an impact on the country in which they live....more
Oct 21, 2012
Alexa Mazur
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mazuralexabookreviews
Many people remember that awful day. The day America changed forever. September 11, 2001 was a day that many people that were alive to witness, will never forget. September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell, is a book that takes us all back to that dreadful day. This book addresses things that parents may have a difficult time discussing with their children. The topics of death and heroism are two topics that this book mainly focuses on. The beautiful exuberant pictures in this book, make it eas...more
This is an excellent book about 9/11, written for kids ages 8-12 but appropriate for a wider range. The writing is clear and concise, with a straightforward feel. For the most part, the text is factual, rather than emotional. (Example: "With knives, pepper spray, and threats of bombs, they stormed the four airliner cockpits and wrested control away from the pilots. The jets were no longer just ordinary airplanes; they were weapons. The planes banked away from their planned flight paths and heade...more
This book can be for anyone and for grades third through fifth. The audience is really for anyone. This book is a story about the world trade centers and the pentagon on 9/11. It was very factual but also had somewhat of a story. For example, it introduced a few characters (real people) and what happened to them but mostly the book was about what happened that day and why it is important. I thought this book was very factual on what happened and I actually learned a few things in the process! I...more
Jun 06, 2012
Margaret Janavicius
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature
“A bright morning sun lit a cloudless blue sky. America started its day … airports roared with jetliners. Among the hundreds of planes rising into that flawless blue sky were two from Boston, one from Newark, New Jersey, and one from Washington D.C. Among their ordinary passengers were nineteen deadly men.” On the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States, Don Brown, author of several children’s non-fiction books, presents readers with a straightforward and touching ac...more
This is nonfiction for children, but I have a hard time deciding upon an age for it. I think it might be meant for primary to intermediate children. Needless to say this book is about 9/11/01 and the events that happened on that day. It’s really a great book. I read it on my Kindle so I was a bit disappointed that I could not see the pictures in color, but even in black and white the pictures were amazing. I think I saw in the description that the pictures were water color, I can’t find that inf...more
This is a good book for educating children (ages 9 through 13) about what happened on 9/11. Its strengths are telling the stories of specific individuals, including many of the rescuers, and the lovely watercolor paintings.
Some background is definitely given, so some of the big picture does come across. But, I’d say this book should not be the only book used to learn about the events that took place on 9/11. There are a lot of statistics given though, lots of numbers.
Alternately heartbreaking a...more
Some background is definitely given, so some of the big picture does come across. But, I’d say this book should not be the only book used to learn about the events that took place on 9/11. There are a lot of statistics given though, lots of numbers.
Alternately heartbreaking a...more
PB 12: I enjoyed this non-fiction work because it presented a very devastating, and complex event in terms that were both easy for children to understand and respectful of the victims of the attack. I was most drawn into this book when it began emphasizing the courage from firefighters and everyday people that were involved in the attacks, rather than focusing on the bombers. I think it is very important to emphasize to children the courageous, selfless stories of people trapped in the towers wh...more
Even though 9/11 happened more than 10 years ago, and even though I was not personally affected by the tragic events of that day, this book brought up a lot of emotions for me. Just like most everyone, I know exactly where I was when I first heard about what was happening; I still remember sitting in my Foundations classroom (like homeroom) watching the second plane hit, and the stations flashing images of what the skyline of NY used to be, and what it now was.
That said, this is a well-written...more
That said, this is a well-written...more
From the jacket, "On a beautiful September morning four planes crossed the sky on a deadly mission. Two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City; one crashed into the Pentagon building in Washington, D. C.; and the fourth plane crashed in a field of Pennsylvania. The impact of the events on September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In America is Under Attack, the narration moves chronologically through the morning: from the plane hijackings to the crashes at the World Trade Cente...more
At the tenth anniversary of September 11, the question arises, how do we talk to children about what happened that day. The children I work with weren't even born when it happened. How do we help students understand the event without giving more detail than is appropriate. Don Brown has answered that question beautifully. He gives the basic string of events, but he also humanizes the story by quoting and telling the experiences of some of those who were there that day. The illustrations provide...more
Brown does an excellent job of summarizing the events of 9/11 for young readers. Brown takes the reader through the events of that horrible day. While it tells a terrible story, the book is not morbid. He adds interest by talking about specific people and their experiences either as rescue workers or those trying to get out of the burning
buildings. There are many elements of hope as people work to help each other escape, some sacrificing their lives in the process. Service and self-sacrifice wer...more
buildings. There are many elements of hope as people work to help each other escape, some sacrificing their lives in the process. Service and self-sacrifice wer...more
Audience-This book would be good for 3 graders up to 5th or 6th graders. Some younger students may not truly understand the nature of that historical event and how awful it was.
Appeal- The watercolor of this book is amazing and will definitely draw the students in to each page and scene. As teachers we do our best to teach our students about history, especially American history. This is easily one of the most catastrophic events in U.S. history, which is an event that will be taught to all stude...more
Appeal- The watercolor of this book is amazing and will definitely draw the students in to each page and scene. As teachers we do our best to teach our students about history, especially American history. This is easily one of the most catastrophic events in U.S. history, which is an event that will be taught to all stude...more
I intended to avoid this book. Rave reviews kept appearing on several children's lit blogs that I follow. But I wasn't convinced. A picture book. About September 11. I just couldn't get behind that. Today it was just sitting on the new bookshelf at my branch. Okay fine, book, I'll read you.
There really are no words to describe what an incredible job Don Brown has done with this book. It somehow manages to convey all the horror of that day without being at all horrifying. It chooses to focus on h...more
There really are no words to describe what an incredible job Don Brown has done with this book. It somehow manages to convey all the horror of that day without being at all horrifying. It chooses to focus on h...more
Illustrated by the author. A truly remarkable book. With illustrations that provide the perfect balance of detail for understand and lack of detail for personal interpretation, I think that this is the perfect 9/11 book for children. For those of us who can remember it it brings back those memories strongly and with respect while not being too overwhelming and without criticism. For the kids who were too young or not born yet, I think it would present a very accurate progression of emotions as w...more
This was remarkable. Of course, for adults at least, it is a review of events none of us will forget. But this is written for children who are too young to remember 9/11. Without any sensationalism, remarkable in itself, it simply but not simplistically tells what happened that day. The pictures are dramatic, but again, not sensational. The two, text and illustration, work together perfectly. This got lots of talk when first published and was by far the best of the 9/11 books I found for childre...more
Jun 17, 2012
Laura Osborn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature
Audience: This book would be best for kids who are around 4-6th grade. Due to the content of the book, it may not be approriate for younger students (unless, perhaps, it is teacher led).
Appeal: The story itself would be appeal enough. The kids who would read this would have been around 1 year old or not born at all when the events occured, but nearly all children have heard about the events of 9/11. The story is in chronological order which is good for kids who like things in a progressive orde...more
Appeal: The story itself would be appeal enough. The kids who would read this would have been around 1 year old or not born at all when the events occured, but nearly all children have heard about the events of 9/11. The story is in chronological order which is good for kids who like things in a progressive orde...more
This book is excellent. It tells the story of the day the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists using commercial airliners as weapons. The account is based on first person reports, federal investigations, and news reports. The addition of individual stories makes this a personalized accounting of the events of Sept 11, 2001.
Authors Notes documents the statistics of the day, for all three crash sites. Quotes are source cited on the final page.
This is a wonderful book for use by pre-teens,...more
Authors Notes documents the statistics of the day, for all three crash sites. Quotes are source cited on the final page.
This is a wonderful book for use by pre-teens,...more
Apr 15, 2012
Brandi Smith
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-literature
This nonfiction picturebook was recognized as one of The School Library Journal's Best Nonfiction Books of 2011. It chronicles the events that took plae on the morning of September 11,2001. The target audience for this book is children 8-12 years old(I).
I gave this book 4 stars. The author recounts the events of 9/11 in a way that is serious but not intimidating. He gives just the right amount of detail to inform the young reader without making him fearful. The color palette used in the illustra...more
I gave this book 4 stars. The author recounts the events of 9/11 in a way that is serious but not intimidating. He gives just the right amount of detail to inform the young reader without making him fearful. The color palette used in the illustra...more
Apr 07, 2013
Eddy Allen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arts-and-historical
On the ten year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, a straightforward and sensitive book for a generation of readers too young to remember that terrible day.
The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In the fourth installment of the Actual Times series, Don Brown narrates the events of the day in a way that is both accessible and understandable for young readers. Straightforward and honest, this account moves chronologically through the morning, from the plane hijackings to...more
The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In the fourth installment of the Actual Times series, Don Brown narrates the events of the day in a way that is both accessible and understandable for young readers. Straightforward and honest, this account moves chronologically through the morning, from the plane hijackings to...more
I read this book with my 8 year old daughter and found that it helped her understand the events and tragedy of 911. Ironically enough, some of the firefighters mentioned in the book have the same last name as my maiden name (Pfeifer), which helped her to relate to the book on a whole different level, thinking they might be relatives of her Grandpa Rich. I believe this book deals with the horror of that day in a very gentle way that can help a child understand those events and bring them to a "pe...more
I read this book to my boys, ages 6 and 8 who are naturally curious about historical events. This book is interesting and held their attention through illustrations that are tastefully and beautifully done. It's not very long so it doesn't give a lot of background and it can't possibly cover all the information about the day, but it does cover the main facts and makes it personal through the stories of several people who were there that day. This is a difficult subject, but I felt that the autho...more
Oct 09, 2011
Matthew
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade-narrative-nonfiction
This was among the more difficult books I've ever read, primarily because it brought back up every feeling that I will always connect with this event. I can't think back on that day without reliving my own experience as a baffled teenager watching the world go crazy without any good explanation. None of it made any sense to me then, and now ten years and a thousand explanations later it seems every bit as senseless as it was on that day. This was a thorough book, telling the story as well as any...more
This book does not inform children about the whole political issues around the violence between United States and the Middle East. What is more, it portrays Al Qaeda agents as "deadly" hijackers who are madly hateful for no special reason. To me, the most shocking phrase in the book is this one: "among their ordinary passengers were nineteen deadly men. They were followers of Osama Bin Laden, leader of an organization known as Al-Qaeda. The group hated America's power and influence." Hopefully s...more
http://nonfictiondetectives.blogspot....
How does a country deal with tragedy? How do parents and teachers explain unfathomable events to children? Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, many adults attempted to shield children from seeing the images of the planes flying into the towers. We turned off the news when footage was broadcast, and we avoided discussing the events in the presence of our kids. The country was on edge, and we didn't want to scare our children.
Literature is an ef...more
How does a country deal with tragedy? How do parents and teachers explain unfathomable events to children? Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, many adults attempted to shield children from seeing the images of the planes flying into the towers. We turned off the news when footage was broadcast, and we avoided discussing the events in the presence of our kids. The country was on edge, and we didn't want to scare our children.
Literature is an ef...more
An impossible subject handled with care and sensitivity, without glossing over the tragedy. Brown made a wise decision to focus on the stories of a few victims and survivors, excluding any discussion of politics or religion and making only enough mention of al-Qaeda to explain to readers that the plane crashes were intentional acts of hatred. An excellent work that opens the door to family and class discussions, as this is a subject better taught in person rather than via the one-way street of p...more
Jul 25, 2012
Mrs. Tongate
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-book-for-older-readers
A picture book read-aloud for older students on September 11.
*2749 civilians, emergency workers, airline crew, and passengers died.
*343 New York firefighters died.
*37 Port Authority police died.
*32 New York Police Department died.
*The FDNY Chief and Port Authority Superintendent died.
**2016 civilians killed in the World Trade Center towers.
*184 people at the Pentagon died.
*40 people died in the Shanksville crash.
****3000 children lost a parent on September 11, 2001.
*2749 civilians, emergency workers, airline crew, and passengers died.
*343 New York firefighters died.
*37 Port Authority police died.
*32 New York Police Department died.
*The FDNY Chief and Port Authority Superintendent died.
**2016 civilians killed in the World Trade Center towers.
*184 people at the Pentagon died.
*40 people died in the Shanksville crash.
****3000 children lost a parent on September 11, 2001.
May 07, 2013
Judy Desetti
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
gr 3-7
Recommended to Judy by:
WAW nominee list 2014
Very informational about the events leading up to the attack and the events as they unfolded in the building coming down. Told from the perspective of people who were actual eyewitnesses.
I think the text will have wide appeal to students ages 8-13. For them it is a historical event rather than a recount of things. It gives a good first dip into the information leaving older students to delve deeper into the facts in other research or books.
Recommend.
I think the text will have wide appeal to students ages 8-13. For them it is a historical event rather than a recount of things. It gives a good first dip into the information leaving older students to delve deeper into the facts in other research or books.
Recommend.
This is the first children's book I read about a detailed description of what happened on September 11, 2001 at the twin World Trade Towers in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennysylvania. Heroic firemen, civilians, and police officiers are the backbones of the country. Miraculous survival stories are the best hopes in time of such catastrophies. The tremendous loss of that day remains an indelible scar in the hearts amd minds of all of us.
up until this book came out, The Man Who Walked between the Towers was the book I used to talk with students about 9/11 but Don Brown's book, a straightforward account that becomes personalized with the tale of 2 brothers and small details about a squiggie that helped pry open an elevator door, all add to the sense of immediacy and loss without being maudlin. A great introduction to a dark topic that young readers are only getting bits and pieces of.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Don Brown is the award-winning author and illustrator of many picture book biographies. He has been widely praised for his resonant storytelling and his delicate watercolor paintings that evoke the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. School Library Journal has called him "a current pac...more
More about Don Brown...
Don Brown is the award-winning author and illustrator of many picture book biographies. He has been widely praised for his resonant storytelling and his delicate watercolor paintings that evoke the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. School Library Journal has called him "a current pac...more
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