I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001

I cried. This is the first time Tarshis made me cry. Maybe because I remember it all too well or maybe it was just better than her other books, but this book is tarnished only by the obnoxious last minute save of a character you were led to believe was dead. I'm starting to realize that there are never any "real" stakes in Tarshis's books. Yeah, hundreds and thousands of people die in the events she writes about, but the main character(s) always come out unscathed.

This was another tearjerker. It is an incredible story of a tragic day told from a young boy's perspective. I loved the way that it was written for younger kids to understand what happened.

{My thoughts} – This book was a difficult one for me to read. I remember this day so well. The day the attack happened I was a senior in high school. I’d woken up from a late start at school. I logged onto my computer and I was flooded with messages from friends telling me to turn on the tv, any channel would do. I did and that’s when I’d seen the reply of the first tower being hit. About ten minutes into watching the broadcast I’d seen the second tower getting hit. I didn’t even know what to think or what it had all meant at the time. When I’d been able to finally take my eyes off the screen I’d gotten my son ready for daycare and myself ready for school. It was a long day at school. Every classroom had the footage show more playing on the in class televisions. It’s a day that I remember clearly and vividly, one I don’t think I could ever forget.

Lucas is a young boy that loves to play football. He gets hurt during a game and his mom and dad take him to see a specialist. That specialist tells him that he doesn’t think he should continue to play and his parents side with the doctor. Lucas doesn’t like that so the next morning he goes to find his Uncle Benny the guy that got him involved with football to begin with. While he and Uncle Benny are talking the first tower is hit right in front of their eyes. I’d have to say that’s a lot to take in for anyone to see. I completely get all the thoughts that raced through Lucas mind as it was happening and after.

The firefighters all headed to to the scene and left Lucas behind at the firehouse. He needed to keep busy so he started cleaning up the dishes and stuff. A means to be helpful. As he was doing that the second tower was hit. At that point he didn’t want to be alone at the firehouse anymore and he started out to go look for the firefighters at the scene. He was hoping to find his dad and Uncle Benny there. His dad actually finds him and then they go on a sort of adventure to try and stay alive throughout the rest of the events that unfolded that day.

It’s a lot to have to take in and a lot to have to accept. So many people had died on that day, so many people had witnessed what had happened that day. I’m not sure how I would have been able to cope had I actually been there in New York when all the events unfolded. It was hard enough being states away watching it all on the news.

This is a really well written book and one that I think many children can benefit from reading. I especially like all the information that is listed towards the end of the book. All the factual information that helps to better explain the situation and things that had happened on that day. Why what happened that day had happened in a sense.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series very soon! show less

Eleven-year-old Lucas loves football and adores his firefighter uncle—but on September 11, 2001, everything changes. As he arrives at his uncle’s firehouse, tragedy strikes, and Lucas must find a way through smoke, dust, and fear to save himself and others. Blending emotional authenticity with age-appropriate suspense, I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 offers young readers a moving perspective on sudden disaster, bravery, and the power of hope. At Lexile level ~570L and ATOS 4.5 (2 AR points), it’s accessible yet impactful for early middle-grade readers.

My first "I Survived" book. The series is extremely popular with the middle grades set. Short chapter book of historical fiction, this one was difficult, but handled in a sensitive manner. The book not only gives us an up-close slice of what happened on 9-11 as it affected one particular child, Lucas, whose father and uncle are NYC firefighters, it also gives some insight on a totally separate topic: football concussions.

The reader is immediately plunged into the action and the book's completely plot-oriented. It's fast paced with almost all of the book happening on the morning of September 11 between the first plane hitting and the first tower collapsing. Author Lauren Tarshis manages to squeeze an impressive number of facts into the book without being completely didactic. An author's note is included, explaining why she chose to write about September 11 in her series*. A timeline of events and a question-and-answer section provide additional information about the 9/11 attacks.

This would be a great high-interest title to hand to kids who are in upper elementary or even middle school and reading at a lower reading level. Because the books are based on show more true events and contain information about these events, they may appeal to kids who like learning about history. The story is definitely high-drama.

Readalikes: AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK by Don Brown

Maybe other books dealing with tragic disasters like The Titanic, etc.

*Um, personally I found Tarshis's story of being ON A PLANE TO NEW YORK when the attacks happened maybe more compelling than the actual book, but that's very much an adult perspective - Tarshis's point of view is not one I've heard before. show less

My son just turned 8 and does not enjoy fictitious books. He prefers facts about true events. I happened to see this book displayed at the library on Sept. 11th and grabbed it.

When we started reading it together, he was leary. By the end, he was wanting to research more on the internet.

Lauren Tarshis wove a fictional story about a boy named Lucas, whose father was a firefighter at the time of the 9/11 attacks around the actual events of 9/11. She totally hit the mark.

I found the book very age appropriate. It was written in such a way that it did not create nightmares, but allowed him to grasp the enormity of the tragedy that occured.

I recommend this book to any parent having trouble getting their children to read fictitious "chapter" show more books. This book met my son's need for information! I will certainly be looking for the rest of this series! show less