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Steps to Courage

Sandra K. Stiles (Goodreads Author)

4.37 · Rating details · 19 ratings · 12 reviews

Trina Lacy knew all about survival. Since her accident, she has been determined never to feel like a victim, but live life as a survivor. Her classmate, Mark Jacobs did not think he deserved to be a survivor. Plagued by guilt for his role in his parent's death, he felt life was not so great. Trina's ex-boyfriend Lucas James felt guilty for the accident he caused that left ...more

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Paperback, 172 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

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· 19 ratings · 12 reviews

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Jul 26, 2011 Ruth Hill rated it really liked it

This is the first time I have dared to read any book--fiction or nonfiction--about 9/11, and I have to say that I was impressed and touched.

The first half of this book is absolutely stellar. I was pleased to discover how much research the author had done concerning 9/11 and New York. The descriptions of the terror attack and just afterwards were heart-wrenching and brought a tear to my eye. I will say that I do not normally cry when reading a book, and had it not been for the well-written text, This is the first time I have dared to read any book--fiction or nonfiction--about 9/11, and I have to say that I was impressed and touched.

The first half of this book is absolutely stellar. I was pleased to discover how much research the author had done concerning 9/11 and New York. The descriptions of the terror attack and just afterwards were heart-wrenching and brought a tear to my eye. I will say that I do not normally cry when reading a book, and had it not been for the well-written text, I would have dreaded picking it up each night to read. I found myself so drawn into the story, and I cared about the three main characters--Lucas, Mark, and Trina.

My only criticism concerns the second half of the book. Following the events of 9/11, I feel that the author tried to rush too fast through the rest of the story. I realize this is a young adult book, and I understand that keeping the book short is important in this case. I also realize that the reader cares about these teens and wants to know how 9/11 ultimately affected the rest of their lives. But I would have preferred either spending more time on the event of 9/11 and only following the characters through the end of their school year or writing a sequel to detail how 9/11 affected the characters' lives so that we could learn more about the characters' journey to healing. Because the second half of the book was rushed, I felt that much of the story became disjointed and too easy to predict. Granted, I was glad to discover what happened to the characters, but I would have preferred having more time for the stories to develop.

I was quite impressed with the writing style of this author. It is her debut book, and it is neat to note that she wrote it in response to a challenge from the students she teaches. I felt like the first half of the book was written by a seasoned professional, and the author accomplished her ultimate purpose. I learned a lot about the events of 9/11, and it is important to be reminded of that horrific day as the 10-year anniversary looms near. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. ...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Vicki rated it really liked it

I didn't know how I would feel reading this book because there was so much death
and destruction on that day, but it actually made me feel better about 9/11. Whenever I've thought about it in the years since, I've only thought of the lives lost and the people they left behind. I felt nothing but a horrible sadness. Thanks to the author, I now have seen what that day may have been like for those that miraculously survived. Yes, they went through a living hell that day, but they made it through. Th ...more

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Sep 03, 2012 S.W. rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned

This is the first book that I have read that is based on events around September 11. I think we all remember where we were when the news came, and how we felt as we watched it unfold on TV before our eyes. Having such vivid pictures in my mind of that day, it was so easy to visualize what was happening in this book. I thought that the author did a wonderful job in presenting a teen's point of view. Can you imagine how many stories could be told from that day?

This book is more than a 9/11 story, ...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Maureen rated it it was amazing

http://www.goodreads.com/assets/layou... ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Mike rated it it was amazing

A lot of information has become available since September 11, 2001. We now know that the three World Trade Center buildings that collapsed that day - buildings 1, 3 and 7 - were not brought down by jet fuel. And we now know who the real perpetrators were. That aside, this is a riveting book about the experiences of three young characters on that fateful day; characters that were in one of the buildings at the time.

The characters are complex and well drawn. The action, though horrific, is describ ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Spencer Brokaw rated it really liked it

I recently read an amazing book, it was Steps to Courage by Sandra Stiles. It has to do with 9/11. This book astounded me in many ways. It is a real eye opener. It follows three characters, Trina, Mark, and Lucas. In the beginning, each chapter focuses on a different character and their point of view. I enjoyed the way the book was written. The way the author describes and tells the story makes me feel better about what happened on that terrible day. I always thought of death and suicide when fa ...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Linda rated it liked it

I was reading the book this week and realized it was Sept 11, the 11th year since the Twin Tower attacks. The story brought the horror home.

Then near the end of the book Lucas is injured by an IED in Afghanistan. The description of his coming out of coma and the recovery phase were almost identical to what we witnessed our son go through in May to August of 2012 in Tokyo following a severe pedestrian car accident.
This was uncanny. It was like it was our story!

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Jul 18, 2015 Norma Budden rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian, drama, indie-authors, relationships, suspense

I enjoyed this story so much; it felt like I was reading about actual events which may have taken place, though we could never know for sure.

It was hard to put the book down and there were times I feared the towers would collapse before the teens and so many others would get out. Suspense was definitely part of the reading experience but it was also an uplifting story in that it shows how such a terrible tragedy helped shape the lives of others in a positive way.

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Jul 11, 2015 Sally Gould rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the moving story of three teenagers who have faced tragedy and later find themselves fleeing the World Trade Center on 9/11. The actual attack on the Twin Towers, from the viewpoints of Trina, Mark and Lucas, is very well written. The storyline is well developed, however more showing and less telling would've made it a stronger novel. Nevertheless, I recommend reading Steps to Courage because it's a very good story with great heart. ...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Kathy Hinchee Purdy rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this book. Sandra made me feel as though I was experiencing September 11th all over again but from the perspective of the victims. I recommend this book!

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