It didn't seem that long ago when I walked home after school to find my mom in a frenzy - her mother and aunt had left for New York the week before on a bus tour and shopping trip around New York City. RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1989. Childrens author Alan Gratz is known and revered for his historical fiction middle grade novels like his newest, Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11. As he has done in other novels including the award-winning Refugee, Gratz presents readers with two main characters from different backgrounds and different perspectives who share the story in alternating narratives. Not long after they arrived, Pasoon said he had to leave and ran away. Reshmina followed him, trying to get him to come back. It might be challenging for parents and teachers to read this book with kids because of the memories associated with that September day. Scholastic, 2021. She couldn't believe that Pasoon had pointed out her own home to the Taliban, knowing that they were going to fire a missle and blow it up, killing his whole family. Reshmina and her family and other people from the village including Taz were hiding in a cave to stay away the afghan soldiers. Brandon decides to go down to the lobby and replace Cedrics toy that he broke by accident. CMS Book Club- Ground Zero Flashcards | Quizlet We have two time periods with two children the focus: 9-year-old Brandon on September 11, 2019 and 11-year-old Reshmina on September 11, 2019. 336 Pages, Reviewed By: Jessica After reading a particularly heavy chapter from Brandons perspective, as he attempts to escape the North Tower, Reshmina provides a different perspective, when she tells Taz, an American soldier, Lost your house and everything in it? The drone let go of the bomb and it exploded and killed Hila. They fired rifles to celebrate, but that triggered an American missle. How unique is the name Rashmina? She was holding onto the cliff, and Pasoon was trying to pull her up. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz. She started to look for him, under every rock and tree. Taking turns, chapter by chapter was annoying. When she heard the news that the Twin Towers were attacked, she desperately tried to get ahold of my grandma, great-aunt, and their tour guide/agency. While Reshmina was out looking for her brother, an Avalanche happened and it almost crushed Reshmina and her brother. His nameBrandon Chavezwas printed beneath the picture, along with the date: September 11, 2001., Nope! She goes up to the mountain to practice her reading and English. Revenge vs Refuge; can you help someone you hate? Brandon watches bodies fall from skyscrapers. You know your child- if this is too much, you may hold off. Book was ok until near the end where the author called Americans bullies and inserted his political views. They were all extremely confused and worried. Studentprep Teacher. They would give it to the babies because they were hungry and it would take the pain away. She looked for awhile when she noticed some faint footsteps in the sand. None of them had jobs outside the homeand especially not important jobs like translator, where they worked and talked with men outside their families. All the Afghan women Reshmina knew were mothers, wives, and daughters. How did Reshmina find Taz. Thats what weve always said. The same day 18 years apart that end up being connected together. But while Gratz opens our eyes about the wrongness of foreign intervention in other countries like Afghanistan, he also softens the unspoken accusation. It may be more harmful, placing the lives of the Afghanistan villagers in danger. illustrated by It is possible that Pasoon is responsible for Hilas death. Then the narrative jumps forward exactly eighteen years to Reshmina, who lives in Afghanistan amid the conflicts between the Taliban, the American military, and the Afghan National Army. Her brother, Pasoon, Will be joining the Taliban when he becomes old enough. Because she has been allowed to learn English as a result of the American presence in her country, they are actually able to speak and understand each other whenever massive cultural differences do not obstruct things. Brandon goes to work with his Dad on 9/11 who works on the 107 floor of the World Trade Center. The soldier will not let Reshmina leave, so she comes up with a plan where she will slowly walk to her home and practice her English on the way so that the Soldier could follow her. Published: February 2, 2021 The authors note tied everything up well - the history and his connection to this horrific day. At one point, we learn what the anti-Soviet textbooks provided by the United States and smuggled into Afghanistan taught the children along with their ABCs. Can Reshmina live her dream of being more than a wife and will this adventure open her eyes to the problems Afghanistan faces. Now Reshmina has no hope. The end is a bit abrupt, but its still an inspiring and sweet look at how baseball helped them through hardship. There would be no conflict and no build up. Afghanistan. While Pasoon had been lying in wait for her, Reshmina had been hauling water up from the river. It was like a whole new path had appeared before her that she hadn't known was there before. Richard tried to comfort Brandon by reminding him that his father would be alright, because the fire was on the floor below him. All she could do was stare wide-eyed at the translator. War leads to a lose-lose situation. 4) What happened to Reshmina's sister, Hila, at her wedding? The experience with Reshmina, however, changes all that, and Brandon in the end emerges as the novels moral center as he learns to question the moral rightness of the American occupation of Afghanistan. This book has a 3.57/5 star review on Goodreads and a 5/5 star review on Amazon. That strategy worked well, but then the Taliban, as they were called, decided to repel the Americans also. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. As with all Gratz books, students will be submitting holds because no matter how many copies I purchase for my library I wont have enough. This is like the Stone Age. Explanations for the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan in the authors note and in characters conversations too simplistically present the U.S. presence. Ground zero by alan gratz Of note, clearly this book contains violence and harrowing images. Reshminas village is built in the side of a mountain. In the contemporary timeline, Reshmina is an Afghan girl living in foothills near the Pakistan border that are a battleground between the Taliban and U.S. armed forces. The novel records the long-term impact on 9/11. It's September 11, 2001. Jessicas Rating: 5stars. I was a bit worried going into this one. Trouble signing in? The woman smiled. It was a helicopter, with a minigun larger than Reshmina herself pointed directly at her. Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Scholastic Press, the publisher, for review purposes. There is Brandon in 2001 and then Brandon, in the army Special Ops stationed in war-torn Afghanistan, some 19 years later. This novel was published earlier this year, in time for the 20th anniversary and I think it came at the perfect time. Featured Review: Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - YA Books Central The plane crashed into the floor above him. He was wondering what he was doing, or if he was even alive. Do you understand? Mr. Gatzs books can fill a much needed gap in literature for young people, and can help them develop a love for reading. Ill admit, this is the first historical fiction book Ive read of which the event took place when I was an adult. Pasoon thinks Americans are like bullies. Alan Gratzs books always hit where it hurts, in the best possible way, but Ground Zero might just be the one to have the most impact for me. I voluntarily reviewed this book. Can you believe it's already been (nearly) 20 years since 9/11? Reshmina wouldnt be able to save the soldier on her own to do that she would need the help of her family and the whole village. This activity is a great way to review Reshmina's character in the book Ground Zero. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . Maybe they would spend their time doing something else instead, like building factories and schools and hospitals., explosions. Someone told the American Soldiers that they had weapons in the village to lure them into the village so they could harm them on their way out. Reshmina was going to leave him but then he heard her step on a stick or some think so he pleaded for her to help him (this part kind of made me feel bad for him :c) and due to some rule in what they believed in she had to help him even though she could have brought vengeance if she hadn't let him know she was there. Perhaps the most important lesson from this book isnt the in-depth history lesson on 9/11 it provides for elementary and middle grade readers, but the soul-searching and heart-wrenching day spent with Reshmina.As she processes the end of childhood with her twin brother (Alan Gratz, I see what you did theretwin towers in NYC, twin kids in Afghanistan) and provides an American soldier with an inside look into her world, the reader is left questioning Americas role in Afghanistan (or any country, for that matter). Go and check out all the styles for more fun! Your profession was librarian, priest, and keeper of tribal relics. Brandon says that it has been about an hour, so the ST should be falling soon. Reshminas older sister was killed on her wedding day by an American missile. Reshminas father had told the ANA that Taz was in there. For the name Rashmina, the heart's desire number is 11, Finally, the personality number of the name Rashmina is 9. Where Dad works is Windows on the World- a restaurant on the 107, Gratz mentioned he tried to write a novel about 9/11 but it was never right for him. Taz stood to warn them, but as soon as he said something another bomb fell onto the cave and the whole ceiling fell in. Our foreign policy has not always been benign, and may have even been selfish as we sought to preserve our own interests over those of a foreign population. Alan Gratz did it again. An elevator had fallen, and the people in it died. While Brandon and Richard were on the 44th floor, something big crashed into the building. This book was very hard to read and upsetting, due to the nature of the subject matter. I found myself rolling my eyes quite often at some of the not-at-all subtle hints of what was to come later in the book (it wasn't really foreshadowing - more like a wink to the older readers?) A slightly upturned nose and blue eyes, like his mom. Reshmina realized that Pasoon wasn't going to call the Taliban with a phone, but with a rifle. Refresh and try again. Though ever cautious and fearful of the ubiquitous soldiers, she is largely unaware of the extent of the danger around her; the Resistance kept even its participants safer by telling them as little as possible, and Annemarie has never been told that her older sister Lise died in its service. illustrated by This is how we survive, right? Ground Zero Character Descriptions. But little does nine-year-old Brandon know that when he sneaks away from the restaurant to try to make things right at school, the repercussions will change his life. If I were still teaching 6th or 7th grade reading, this author would be one I could recommend to certain students. All Rights Reserved. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . They didn't know that they got hijacked, and they were making jokes about it. Her mother was right, Hope is dangerous. After they write down two character traits, they will write down evidence from the book that proves why they think Reshmina has each character trait. It had fallen and they were sure anyone who was in there died. 2023 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved. CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | He was climbing some stairs but then he fell down and so he used some prior knowledge and used skateboard tricks to help him climb the stairs. CMS Book Club- Ground Zero. Not now! Taz agreed, letting them hurry him along., What would happen, Reshmina wondered, if the big countries stopped selling weapons to the little countries?. then went back and read all of Reshmina's story. Find good teacher, spend a part of your time and energy on his wisdom. Save this name to your Favorites List Suspended from school for standing up to a bully, he goes to work with his father on 9/11. Below, you will learn how to pronunce Rashmina and discover interesting details such as name popularity, numerology reading and more specific to the name Rashmina. . Brandon realized that if both of his parents were gone, then he was an orphan. It is 2001, a beautiful September Tuesday in Manhattan. As they were running, Reshmina tripped. Brandon met a few people in the tower. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. illustrated by His father realized that this wasn't an accident, and they were actually under attack. Gratz has done an amazing job of capturing the heart of 9/11 and making it appropriate for this particular age group. I would have preferred to have read Brandon's novella first and then Reshmina's with the author bringing them together at the end. All she wants is to protect you from hope.". Brandon started to worry about his father. For punching a bully because he took a kid named Cedricks Wolverine gloves. Reshmina prayed for another pathway for her brother, Pasoon. The book concludes with the Jews' return, after the war, to homes well kept for them by their neighbors. The Story of Brandon and Reshmina. However, it is clear Gratz is not writing this book for guts and glory and I didnt find the story lines to contain extra violence to hook the reader. She lead to a cave. September 11, 2021 will mark the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, and Alan Gratz's book Ground Zero is here to bring that history to middle grade readers.Told in alternating perspectives between Brandon Chavez, a nine-year-old living in New York City in 2001, and Reshmina, an eleven-year-old girl living in Afghanistan in 2019, the two tales run parallel to one another but ultimately intersect . Descriptions of the Talibans Afghan victims and Reshmina's gentle father notwithstanding, references to all young men eventually joining the Taliban and Pasoon's zeal for their cause counteract this messaging. February 6, 2021 Wow. Between 1 and 2 stars. See all formats and editions . Shamshina is also the 1,257,960 th most frequently held . Who are you? Reshmina whispered to the translator. AnthonyMcFarlane2 . Based on the true experiences of Japanese Canadians and the Vancouver Asahi team, this graphic novel is a glimpse of how their lives were affected by WWII. The woman smiled. Though Ground Zero is written for the middle grades age group, everyone must read this book. The story of Reshmina is a hard one especially since we pulled out of Afghanistan recently. She has never known a better Afghanistan as I do. We follow Brandon as he is in an elevator on the way down to the shopping mall under the plaza and the first plane strikes the building. Pasoon is not a very good person. Reshmina wanted to tell the Americans about the plan, but it was too late. Ground Zero Book Review | Common Sense Media There was a man leading a group of people down the stairwell, and his phone light caught the attention of the group. Reshmina is a witty girl and advises Taz to stop what they are doing because they (American soldiers) cannot help build the nation and at the same time destroy what they are building. Eleven year old Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. The front showing the destruction of the towers with a boy standing there and the back showing a picture of the twin towers before 9/11. Ground Zero. Brandon was in the elevator when the plane hit and the whole thing began to tilt. Brandon decides to go down to the lobby and replace Cedrics toy that he broke by accident. She wants revenge, or. Parents need to know that Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz ( Refugee ), is told in alternating chapters by 9-year-old American Brandon Cruz and 11-year-old Reshmina, who lives in rural Afghanistan. This is a riveting story told from two points of view that finally converge. Ground Zero Essay Questions | GradeSaver There is a 14-page authors note that must be read as well. It was like a whole new path had appeared before her that she hadnt known was there before. Steam was filling the elevator, and they were trying to create a hole in the wall. Share this page with #MeaningOfMyName hashtag and challenge your friends to share their Name Meaning. Brown skin and high cheekbones, like his dad. It was also quite jarring to keep switching perspectives, especially when every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel. Sometimes you took the wrong path. Brandon talked to him for a little more time and then his father stopped responding. Pasoon. But when they lose in the 1941 semifinals, Sandys dad calls it a bad omen. We have two time periods with two children the focus: 9-year-old Brandon on September 11, 2019 and 11-year-old Reshmina on September 11, 2019. Please select from the list of all origins below: Do you know the meaning of the name Rashmina? If I hadn't been forced to read it for school I wouldn't of. In Gratzs extensive Authors Note, he shared he was an 8th grade teacher on 9/11 and he was just recently able to process the event well enough to be able to write about it. A submission from Nepal says the name Rashmina means "Sunrays". The illustrations are all in a sepia tone, giving it an antique look and conveying the emotions and struggles. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number). Her village is poor, and they are battered between the Afghan National Army and the Americans on one side and the Taliban on the other. . September 11, 2019. When Brandon and the others were being escorted through the mall to "safety" by the Port Authority, something terrible happened that caused the electricity to go out, as well as wood and metal to cover many of the individuals who were down there. Dark, messy hair. J. Torres 85 terms. . ; Wow. Wed love your help. This book captivated me and I read it in a day. So Reshmina and Pasoon hide behind a big rock I think and luckily when they were found when Reshmina was hanging half off the cliff nearby the helicopter didn't shoot which would maybe show Pasoon Americans aren't as bad. In the lobby, there were injured people and paramedics helping them. Chavendar says that the safest way to get out was to go up to the roof so that helicopters could pick them up from there, but they don't know that the whole building is going to collapse. No matter where it led though, it was certainly a better place than in the elevator that was slowly filling with steam and gas, making it hard to breath properly. Lose a daughter? Ground Zero by Alan Gratz is a book every middle schooler must read. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION | Productive Struggle: What It Is and Why Your Child Needs It, What To Do When When Your Child Is Skipping Words While Reading, The Cost of Classroom Libraries: A Teachers Dowry (and How You Can Help). x100 Only with a million times the drama. Many of the details are gruesome and difficult to read. Reshmina threw a rock to distract the boy guarding the field and ran through the poppy field. The Ground Zero Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
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