Title: I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001
Author: Lauren Tarshis
Published in 2012
Topic: History
Grade Level: 5th-8th
TEKS: §113.16. Social Studies, Grade 5, (B) (5)
The student understands important issues, events, and individuals in the United States during the 20th and 21st centuries. The student is expected to: (B) analyze various issues and events of the 21st century such as the War on Terror and the 2008 presidential election
I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 is the sixth in a series called, I Survived, which also include, I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake and I Survived Hurricane Katrina. This book is about a young man, named Lucas, who loves football more than anything else. When Lucas suffers from a concussion and is unable to play football anymore, he wishes to seek comfort from a family friend, Uncle Benny. The next morning, Lucas could not wait any longer to talk to the man who taught him everything he knew about football. So, instead of waiting until the weekend, Lucas skips school and catches the subway to visit Uncle Benny at the fire station in the heart of New York City, where he and his father work. However, this Tuesday was not like any Tuesday. This Tuesday morning would change Lucas and America forever.
The author, Lauren Tarshis, gives a chilling account of the attacks of 9/11 through the eyes of a young man. This account is relatable and understandable to children who did not experience the attacks. Although the book is extremely descriptive and provides the audience with sharp vocabulary to really place them in New York, it is appropriate read for junior aged students. This chapter books is about courage, history and understanding of what happened that Tuesday in September of 2001.
Here is a small snippet of I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001:
“Something was wrong. And everyone knew it. People up and down the side walk were stopped in their tracks, hypnotized by the sight of a jet ripping across the sky. The plane turned slightly, one wing dipped down. The engine’s roar turned to a screech. It was moving faster now, and going lower and lower. It barely missed the tops of some buildings as it careened through the air. But just ahead, two buildings stood taller than the rest: the Twin Towers.” (pg. 37)
Man oh man… I’m speechless.
What a powerful account of what happened on that terrible day through the eyes of a little boy. Thank you for incorporating such a detailed description of what happens in this novel. I agree that this book can be a great asset in the classroom when discussing the war on terror. My one fear is that this book may be too graphic and troubling for the younger students. You mentioned that the book would be appropriate for junior aged students, however, your TEKS are for 5th-8th grade students. I’m curious how this book could be used in the younger grades. Thank you for sharing.