Ground Zero by Alan Gratz 9781338245752 (Hardback, 2021). Reading the raw account of events from that day brought back so many memories and emotions. Fin Brandon accompanies his father to the World Trade Center on that fateful day. Alan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. The two protagonists stories intersect at the end of the book, and each one gains a new perspective from meeting the other. Gratz moves back and forth between the two narratives in short, nail-biting chapters that create a vivid picture of each setting and make readers feel invested in each characters relationships and choices, and in the high-stakes global forces that affect the intimate details of their lives. The two young characters are directly affected by the war they know nothing about. read more. Alan Gratz. Alan Gratz. Not only that, she finds out the closures not for the claimed repairs needed, but so Negroes cant swim there. It is September, 2019, in a west Afghan mountain town near Asadabad along the Pakistan border. The novel explores the consequences of war on innocent civilians who have no comprehension of the happenings leading up to the confrontation. Ground Zero Metaphors and Similes | GradeSaver Please try again. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Ground Zero. This MG book will be a hit with my students & generate a bunch of conversations between them & their parents. Eleven year old Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. Augusta Scattergood. She leads the helpless soldier back to her home. A soldier gets hurt and Reshmina gets her family to help him but at what cost. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1 . Before they hang up, his father tells Brandon to do something worth living for. I voluntarily reviewed this book. But, I should've known better and trusted Gratz. Code of Honor Alan Gratz No preview available - 2018. Should she help Taz - and put herself and her family in mortal danger? Cons: I found Brandons story much more compelling and suspenseful than Reshminas, which had to provide a lot of context about Afghanistan that took away from the action. This may be just be my new Gratz favorite. Augusta Scattergood Please choose a different delivery location. Study Guide: Ground Zero by Alan Gratz (SuperSummary) [SuperSummary] on Amazon.com. The author through the characters stresses the importance of working together and avoiding the situations that lead to wars. She is in fact teaching herself English. You can check out my vlog here: It is interesting as a teacher, to sit down with groups of elementary aged students and attempt to teach them about this day in our country's history. 2023 Oklahoma Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award Nominee However, this nuance doesnt extend to the Afghan characters; Reshmina and Pasoon feel one-dimensional. His only chore was to take the goats up into the mountains to graze for a few hours. By bestselling author Alan Gratz. The Ground Zero Novel Study is a comprehensive novel study for teaching Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. 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. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz Share Item #101764 in Online-Only Grades: 5 - 8 Ages: 10 - 13 Format: Paperback Book Write a review Short Summary In this work of historical fiction, the anniversary of 9/11 reminds two young people of the tragic events that changed their lives forever. As it turns out, Taz and the rest of his platoon have been lured int a trap by the Taliban and he is badly wounded. School Library Journal Richard and Brandon begin the descent. Ground Zero Study Guide: Analysis | GradeSaver Can Reshmina live her dream of being more than a wife and will this adventure open her eyes to the problems Afghanistan faces. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION, by A tough read, due to the rawness of the subject matter. It also got political at the end. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. An editor GROUND ZERO -Interview and Giveaway with Author Alan Gratz Gratz examines each event carefully to pass the message and encourage people to work together for common good. Before he departs, he gifts her a worn stuffed animal of the cartoon character the Tasmanian Devil that he says has always brought him luck. Innocent victims are caught up in wars that are beyond their comprehension. Ground Zero Middle Grade Book Alan Gratz - bookroo.com With two action-packed perspectives, Gratz powerfully explores the ways in which the past shapes the present. The Question and Answer section for Ground Zero is a great In Stock. 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?) All opinions expressed are my own. by ALAN GRATZ Paperback . CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION | The alternating narration explores two events that occur almost two decades apart. The telling of the two narratives are separate, but intricately intertwined with imagery, political philosophical, and even characters. Jonathan Stroh, by The author of the Anastasia books as well as more serious fiction (Rabble Starkey, 1987) offers her first historical fictiona story about the escape of the Jews from Denmark in 1943. 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. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Categories: Brandon finds himself going to work with his dad in the Twin Towers because he has been suspended from school. If Pasoon goes through with his plan to join the Taliban and they find out his family has been concealing Taz, it will mean death for everyone. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - YouTube It was really good and had a great climax. GROUND ZERO | Kirkus Reviews In the caves, there is an angry confrontation about the prolonged American occupation between Taz and the villagers. USA Today Bestseller List, 2022 Hampshire (UK) Book Award Winner Ground Zero - Pages 1 - 73 Summary & Analysis - www.BookRags.com And Brandon is in the middle of it all. From Richards office, Brandon calls his father who reassures him they are all waiting for helicopters to rescue them. Get news and updates about the stuff Alan writes! Affiliate link to purchase this book: https://amzn.to/3r482sN Check out my list of AWESOME 2021 books:. I loved this book. There was a problem loading your book clubs. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating A must-have. 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. Ground Zero study guide contains a biography of Alan Gratz, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and . School Library Journal - STARRED REVIEW Anyone of any age can learn from this book and others by this author. Book was ok until near the end where the author called Americans bullies and inserted his political views. Ground Zero: ALAN GRATZ: 9789390590124: Amazon.com: Books Brandon should be in school, but he has been suspended for punching a bully who took another kids toy Wolverine gloves. The description of the Afghani mountains is vivid. Ice. The novel covers in alternating chapters the stories of two characters, Brandon Chavez, a nine-year-old boy living in New York City in 2001, and Reshmina, an 11-year-old Afghan girl living near Asadabad in 2019. 2022-2023 Tennessee State Book Award Nominee As a girl, Reshmina worked from the moment she woke up until she went to sleep at night. 2022-2023 Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Nominee Two years earlier, Reshminas older sister had been killed when her wedding had been strafed by American drones dispatched under the mistaken assumption that wedding guests firing off rifles to celebrate were in fact a Taliban sniper nest. Brandon would not normally be available to spend an early September day at his fathers place of employment, of course, but it just so happens that he was recently suspended. Reshmina dreams of being more than the dutiful wife and mother that her Muslim culture demands her to be. ; During this time the building starts tremoring convulsively. The alternating narration explores two events that occur almost two decades apart. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Ground Zero. This item: Ground Zero. I'm the author of a number of books for young readers, including Refugee, Allies, Grenade, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, and Ban This Book. Many others weren't as lucky though, and this story was definitely an important one to be told and to remember the lives that were lost and the brave souls who sacrificed their lives helping others. help you understand the book. As you follow Brandon and his fight for survival realizing that he can make it out but his Dad won't, you pray that he and a man who helps him does get out alive. He showed us the whole picture and the true complexity of the world and wars which I'm sure was hard to do with such a still recent event. The author is referring to the bombing of the World Trade Center in 2001 by terrorists. He chose to do a book report project on this book. He offers Reshmina help getting her into a program that would train her to be a UN interpreter. Fire. I used small sticky notes to separate the two stories. Pros: Alan Gratz has produced another historical fiction novel filled with compelling characters and heart-pounding action. The starring characters in the story are Brandon Chavez and Reshmina. I didn't learn until the book was almost finished what the connection was between the two main characters. This book was real - I had both tears and chills. Print Word PDF Take our free Ground Zero quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. The plot starts at a heart-pounding pace and never relents A contemporary history lesson with the uplifting message that humanitys survival depends on us working for, not against, one another. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. I was worried it was going to be an "us against them" approach. On September 11, 2001, Brandon joins his father at his job in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Alan Gratz illustrated by It was a great book, and interesting to read just after finishing I Am Malala, in my opinion! He is not nearly as happy about the changes wrought by the American influence on his country and is making plans to join the Taliban. Horn Book, Gratzs deeply moving writing paints vivid images of the loss and fear of those who lived through the trauma of 9/11. Mr. Gatzs books can fill a much needed gap in literature for young people, and can help them develop a love for reading. Meanwhile, Reshmina is just now hearing about the stimulating event for that American military presence in her country from Taz who, she learns, was actually in the towers the day of the attack and lost his father who worked there. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. The following edition was used for this study guide: Gratz, Alan. Oscar, Elizabeth. Fights and revenge lead to more troubles rather than resolving the issues. This Study Guide consists of approximately 62pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. As fate would have it, his father also dies prematurely after attacks. It is a crisp September Tuesday in 2001. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Gratz has done an amazing job of capturing the heart of 9/11 and making it appropriate for this particular age group. Wow. Without warning, Afghan and American troops swarm the village going door to door looking for a Taliban weapons cache. Tazs nickname is earned as a result of the stuffed Tasmanian Devil figure that never leaves his side, working as a powerful talisman of good fortune in the face of overwhelmingly bad odds of survival. This is like the Stone Age. With his signature accessibility and insight, Gratz tackles events on both U.S. soil and abroad inGround Zero.. will appeal to middle-grade readers, who were born after the events of 9/11, and to those adults who lived through it and will never forget. Then you follow Reshmina who lives in Afghanistan. 11- year-old Reshmina has never not known war. 2021 Amazon.com Best of the Month February Ground Zero Literary Elements | GradeSaver School Library Journal. A must-have. Gratzs deeply moving writing paints vivid images of the loss and fear of those who lived through the trauma of 9/11. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - Books on Google Play The story focuses on the question should we be there in the first place? The other person in this story is Reshmina, a young Afghan girl whose family is caught between the fighting between the Americans and Afghan soldiers and the Taliban. The alternating event occurs in the countryside region of Afghanistan in 2019. Captain America: The Ghost Army (Original Graphic Novel), Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Scholastic; 1st edition (February 4, 2021). I also felt like this book would be much too intense for my 11 year old. This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home. It was also quite jarring to keep switching perspectives, especially when every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. A must-have. While his father opens the restaurant, Brandon decides to take the elevator down to the underground mall and buy replacement Wolverine gloves to give the kid. This tautly paced novel explores the events of that tragedy and the subsequent American response through two parallel story lines. New York City. It is during this time the first plane is flown into the twin towers. Ground Zero Summary & Study Guide - www.BookRags.com 2023 Sakura Medal Nominee Especially toward the middle. His new book is "Ground Zero." Alan Gratz is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for young readers, including "Allies," "Grenade," "Projekt 1065," "Prisoner B-3087," and "Code . Retrieve credentials. Can you believe it's already been (nearly) 20 years since 9/11? Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz (Paperback) | Scholastic *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Though occasionally heavy-handed, this debut offers a vivid glimpse of the 1960s South through the eyes of a spirited girl by 2022 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles,Junior Level Brandons mother died recently after a long battle with cancer. It was raw and emotional. Oscar, Elizabeth. Alan Gratz, Ground Zero 0 likes Like "As a boy, Pasoon had time for games and practical jokes. 2021 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2023 Wisconsin Golden Archer Middle Grade Book Award Nominee Talking to his father, Brandon is stunned to see a plane fly deliberately into the South Tower. When they get up to the restaurant, Brandon, bored helping his father arrange table settings, decides to slip out, head down the elevator to the underground mall, and replace the kids lost Wolverine (read more from the Pages 1 - 73 Summary). On the way into the Tower lobby, Brandon helps a Black man trying to get on the escalator and juggling three cups of coffee and his briefcase. It was boring and slow. Not affiliated with Harvard College. #1 New York Times Bestseller! More books than SparkNotes. 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. I spent a week reading all of the Goodreads Choice Awards finalists in the Middle Grade category, complete with my entire thoughts on each book, and which books I think should have won and in what order. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating His father tells him he must get out of the building. 2021-2022 Junior Tome Society It List It is an important book for our family. More books than SparkNotes. When Taz is found wounded by Reshmina, he recalls the events that occurred eighteen years ago and understands the importance of working together. September 11, 2001. The Question and Answer section for Ground Zero is a great Get it as soon as Monday, Jan 16. Your email address will not be published. influencers in the know since 1933. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. Gratz moves back and forth between the two narratives in short, nail-biting chapters that create a vivid picture of each setting and make readers feel invested in each characters relationships and choices, and in the high-stakes global forces that affect the intimate details of their lives. This Study Guide consists of approximately 62pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He and Richard make their way to the exit, using the Warner Brothers Store to guide them out. Author Alan Gratz delivers a haunting and powerful page-turner of a novel, this time focusing on terrorism and the costs of a long-fought war. thissection. It was raw and emotional. The Question and Answer section for Ground Zero is a great Between 1 and 2 stars. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz - publishersweekly.com Both events occur due to war conflict between America and middle east countries. But Reshmina also learns something surprising about the roots of this endless war. She decides to help him although her compassion may put her family and her entire village at risk. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . After the fierce gunfight, Reshmina finds an American soldier wounded and left behind. With his signature accessibility and insight, Gratz tackles events on both U.S. soil and abroad inGround Zero.. On the 20th floor, they stop long enough to call Brandons father. Then Brandon feels the ground shudder overhead and then everything goes dark. He says his name is Taz. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Ground Zero is a novel authored by Alan Gratz imparting the effects of war. This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. It is 2001, a beautiful September Tuesday in Manhattan. Two Degrees. CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SCIENCES | Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The two storylines develop in parallel through alternating chapters. Can Brandon surviveand escape? Kenard Pak. The novel explores the consequences of war on innocent civilians who have no comprehension of the happenings leading up to the confrontation. However, Gratz does not sugar coat the events of that day or its lasting effects for young readers. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz | A Kids Book A Day When his father isnt looking, Brandon sneaks out to buy a toy in the mall. thissection. It's September 11, 2001. ground zero alan gratz summary - orcasmandala.com With over 100+ Common Core aligned materials, students will develop their literacy skills while deeply engaging with the novel through this 6-WEEK unit.