book report on i survived 911

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Book Review

I survived the attacks of september 11, 2001 — “i survived” series.

• Lauren Tarshis
• Historical , Suspense/Thriller

Readability Age Range

• Scholastic Inc.

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the sixth book in the “I Survived” series.

Plot Summary

Eleven-year-old Lucas Calley has loved playing football ever since Dad’s friend Uncle Benny introduced him to the sport. Lucas’ parents support their son’s athletic endeavors until he sustains concussions. When his parents learn about the many deaths caused by repeated concussions, they decide Lucas should quit the team. Lucas is upset, but he’s sure Uncle Benny can convince Mom and Dad to change their minds. Lucas skips school one day in September and takes the train to New York City to enlist Uncle Benny’s help.

Like Dad, Benny is a firefighter. After Dad was badly burned in a fire, Benny helped looked after the family. Dad’s skin still bears the scars from his injuries, but Lucas is most concerned about Dad’s emotional wounds. He and his father were once very close. Now Dad seems distant, as if he’s caught in the past.

When Lucas arrives at Benny’s fire station in New York City, Benny is surprised to see him. To Lucas’ dismay, Benny agrees with Mom and Dad that Lucas should stop playing football before it kills him. As they’re talking, Lucas and Benny see a jet flying much too low. Moments later, it crashes into one of the World Trade Center towers.

Benny and his crew spring into action. Benny orders Lucas to wait at the fire station, because Lucas’ dad is on the way with his firefighting team. Lucas tries to call his parents while watching the smoke, dust and chaos in the streets. When he can’t reach them, he tries to make himself useful by cleaning the firehouse kitchen. From a news report, he learns that the other tower of the World Trade Center has been hit as well. He tries to process the reporter’s suggestion that someone may have purposely crashed these planes as an attack on the United States.

Lucas walks through the smoky streets, which remind him of pictures he’s seen of World War II. Stunned, horrified people are exiting buildings or being treated by medical professionals. He heads for the place where the firefighters were supposed to meet and manages to find Dad. He and Dad help injured and stranded people on the ground as the towers begin to collapse. Lucas and Dad get out of the main area of danger, and Lucas realizes that things will never be the same.

A few months later, Lucas helps coach a football team of little kids. Two of the players lost their dads in the September 11 attacks. Even though Lucas no longer plays football, some of his old teammates have come to support him as a coach. Uncle Benny, still nursing injuries he sustained while rescuing victims, arrives to watch the game. Lucas still feels the pain of the things he saw on September 11 but realizes that time will help him once again have good days like this.

Christian Beliefs

Lucas prays as he waits in the firehouse for his dad.

Other Belief Systems

Authority roles.

Lucas’ dad is a firefighter. Father and son were very close until Dad was badly burned and emotionally scarred in a horrible fire. After September 11, they begin to rebuild their relationship. Lucas’ loving mother is active in his life. Dad’s best friend, Uncle Benny, helped Lucas develop a love of football. He is a supportive family friend, particularly after Dad’s accident. He’s also a brave firefighter.

Profanity & Violence

Someone shouts the Lord’s name in vain after seeing a plane crash into one of the towers. Many people on the streets of New York City are injured and dust-covered after planes crash into the towers. The scene reminds Lucas of pictures he’s seen of World War II. Police, paramedics and firefighters tend to numerous harmed and disoriented citizens. While the images are disturbing, the descriptions are not gory or graphic.

Sexual Content

Discussion topics.

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Disobedience: Without telling his parents, Lucas skips school to go to New York City and see Uncle Benny.

The author includes historical information about the 9/11 attacks. She shares that she personally learned about the attacks while flying on a plane from London to New York that day. Her plane was rerouted back to London.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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Book Review: I Survived the Attacks of September 11 2001 Graphic Novel

Almost 20 years after the events of 9/11, Lauren Tarshis’  I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001  is being released in graphic novel form. Graphic novels are incredibly popular with tweens and this story in graphic novel form is a great way to introduce a new generation the 9/11 events. It’s key for kids to learn of what eventually sets off the United States being involved in a 20-year war. Read on for a full review of the graphic novel  I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001.

This post contains affiliate links.  We earn a small commission for items purchased.

Review and Summary of I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001

I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001  begins with a boy named Lucas who loves football. After a particularly brutal hit, his family discovers he has CTE and must give up playing. Devastated Lucas turns to his Uncle Benny who is a firefighter like his Dad. Angry at the turn of events, Lucas sneaks off and takes the train to New York City to get Benny’s advice but arrives just when the planes hit the World Trade Towers.

While Uncle Benny attempts to help people who are fleeing the dust and devastation, Lucas realizes that his own father might also be responding to the terrible scene.

Author Lauren Tarshis is a master at portraying panic and confusion during different disasters and this book is a great example. Readers will learn about the dangers of CTE and concussions, and they will also see a sliver of what firefighters experienced during that tragic day.

One can’t know truly what the first responders were feeling but Tarshis does a good job of creating the feeling of urgency and danger throughout the day.

In summary, I thought the illustrations really complimented the story and the choice of colors were on point. Like many of her other books  I  Survived the Attacks of September 11th , 2001  has a section at the end of the novel that shares some real-life information and facts regarding September 11 including information on Osama Bin Laden’s role and his capture years later.

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I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001

I SURVIVED THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

By Lauren Tarshis

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

A bright blue sky stretched over New York City.

It was the morning rush.  Men and women hurried to work.  Taxis, cars, and buses zoomed through the streets.

And then there was the plane.

Many people in Lower Manhattan heard it before they saw it - the screaming roar of jet engines.

The massive aircraft streaked through the sky, barely skimming over rooftops.

Up and down the sidewalks, people froze.

Eleven-year-old Lucas Calley wasn't supposed to be in Manhattan that day.  His parents had no idea that he'd caught a train into the city, that he was there, on a crowded sidewalk, looking up as it all began.

Lucas watched, almost hypnotized , as the plane careened through the sky.

He'd never seen a plane flying so low.

It was so close he could read the letters on the tail. AA.

American Airlines.

Panicked questions swirled through his mind.

Was there something wrong with the plane?

Was the pilot sick? Lost? Confused?

Pull up! Lucas wanted to shout.  Go higher!

But the plane kept getting lower.

And faster.

And now Lucas's heart stopped as he saw what was in the plane's path: the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.  The silver-and-glass buildings, each a quarter of a mile tall, rose high above the New York City skyline.

The plane sped up.

With one last  ferocious roar, the jet  plunged into the side of one of the towers.

There was a thundering explosion.

People all around Lucas screamed.

And then the bright blue sky filled with black smoke and fire .

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

Port Jackson, New York

As usual, football practice was brutal.

It was ninety-five degrees.  Lucas was soaked in sweat.  Three guys had already puked up their Gatorades.  Lucas's body felt like one big bruise.

A football came sailing through the air.  It looked like an impossible catch - Lucas's favorite kind.  He took off, legs pumping, eyes on the ball.  At exactly the right split second, he leaped up as high as he could, plucked the ball from the air, and grabbed it to his chest as he crashed to the ground.

All around him, guys hooted and cheered and high-fived.

A familiar happy feeling rushed over Lucas.  Sure, his entire body ached.  Yeah, Coach B. was always screaming at them.  But this is where Lucas was happiest, where he belonged: on this broiling hot turf field with his football team, the Port Jackson Jaguars.

It had been Uncle Benny's idea that Lucas could be a football player.  Benny was Dad's best friend from Ladder 177, the New York City firehouse where they both worked.  Lucas had always liked Uncle Benny - everyone did.  Dad once said that Benny was like the firehouse cheerleader.

A six-foot-two-inch cheerleader with a shamrock tattoo.

But it wasn't until Lucas was in third grade that he really got close to Uncle Benny.  That year, Lucas's dad was badly hurt in a warehouse fire in Brooklyn. He was in the hostpital burn center for almost two months. Uncle Benny practically moved in with Mom and Lucas until Dad was better.  Lucas would wake up some mornings and find Uncle Benny reading the sports pages at the kitchen table.  Before Lucas could say, "Where's Mom?" Uncle Benny would grab him by the arm and sit him down.  "You gotta see this," he'd say, holding up a picture of some football player Lucas had never heard of.

Lucas would sit there, pretending to be interested.  He'd never been a sports kid.  He and Dad were always so busy working on their projects.  Before Dad got hurt, they'd  been spending every weekend in their basement workshop, building a model of the Ladder 177 truck, the Seagrave 75.

But Uncle Benny wasn't interested in truck models.  What Uncle Benny loved was football.

And soon enough he had Lucas glued to Monday Night Football , cheering for Uncle Benny's teams, watching ESPN, and booing players Uncle Benny hated. Uncle Benny bought Lucas a football, and then spent hours with him in the backyard, teaching him how to throw and catch.

And then came the day when Uncle Benny appeared with the form to sign up for the Jaguars.

"I can't really play football," Lucas said.

Back then Lucas had been pudgy, shorter even than some of the girls in his grade.

But Uncle Benny got his mom and dad to sign the form.  And the next thing Lucas knew, Uncle Benny was driving him to his first practice.

Lucas had to smile as he thought back to that day - he was a little butterball stuffed into his pads and brand-new cleats.

"I think we should go home," he said to Uncle Benny, choking back tears.

"No, you don't," Uncle Benny said.  "You want to get out there and show what you can do!"

And Uncle Benny's eyes were so big and sparkling, like bright lights spelling out the words You can do it!

So Lucas did it.

And from that first day, Lucas felt like he'd found his place.

It wasn't really the game he loved.  It was being on the team, being surrounded by the guys.  They watched each other's backs.  Winners or losers, they stuck together.

Uncle Benny had also taught him the secret of catching a football: that you had to believe you were going to catch it.

"You have to feel it in your heart," Uncle Benny said.

It worked every time.

Toward the end of practice, someone threw another impossible pass.

"Go get it, Lucas!" the guys screamed.

And off Lucas went, his eyes glued to the ball, his arms stretched out so long he felt like he could grab the sun.  But something went wrong. His heart knew he would catch it.  But his ankle didn't.

It wobbled and Lucas lost his balance.  Suddenly he was flying through the air, a missile out of control.  He crashed headfirst into the hard turf.

He could practically feel his brain smacking against the inside of his skull.

A white light of pain exploded inside Lucas's head.

He saw stars - a whole galaxy behind his eyes.

And then he blacked out .

The next few hours were a blur.  The guys swarming around him, Coach B. helping him off the field, the long wait at the emergency room, Mom's and Dad's worried faces.

But in the end, Lucas was fine.

He just had a concussion .

Sure, it was worse than the concussion he'd gotten during play-offs last season, and the one before that, during the summer after fourth grade.  But he knew he would get better if he took it easy, just like the other times.

That night, Dad came into Lucas's room to check on him.

"Feeling okay?" he asked.

"I'm good, Dad," Lucas said.

He really was feeling much better.

What killed him was knowing he'd be off the field for twelve days.

He already missed the guys.

Looking up at Dad, Lucas saw a face almost exactly like his own- they even had the same specks of green in their brown eyes.

"You need anything?" Dad asked.

"I'm good," Lucas said again.

Lucas stayed very still, hoping Dad would stick around and talk.

But Dad stood up.  He leaned over and kissed Lucas on the forehead.

And he was gone.

Lucas's heart sank a little.

There had been a time when Dad would have plopped himself down on Lucas's bed and announced his plan for their next adventure.  Some nights back then, they'd wait for Mom to fall asleep so they could sneak down to the basement to work on the Seagrave.

Dad and Lucas had been a team - a team of two.

But then came the warehouse fire.

Two years had passed since it happened, but the memories were still sharp - the doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, the Chief and Uncle Benny standing in the doorway, still stinking of smoke.  Mom's tears.  And later, the sight of Dad wrapped in bandages, his face white with pain.

Lucas had always known that his dad's job was dangerous.  Sometimes Dad would bring Lucas to the firehouse on his days off.  Lucas would help with the chores - washing the truck, cooking lunch, checking the hoses.  But what he loved most was sitting around the big, round kitchen table, listening to the guys talk about the fires they'd fought.

 To Lucas, they were superheroes.

They ran into buildings filled with blazing orange flames and choking black smoke.   They used metal spears to smash windows, rip out walls, and bash through doors.  They carried people down oven-hot stairwells and dangled from ropes hundreds of feet in the air.  The fires they tamed were more evil and ferocious than any video-game villain or movie monster.

But it wasn't until the warehouse fire that Lucas understood what a fire could do to a real man, a man like his dad.

Dad never talked about what happened to him inside that warehouse.  All Lucas knew was that four firemen died, and Dad was badly burned in the explosion.  Even after all this time, the scars on Dad's arms were bright red and lumpy, like raw hamburger.

But the burns weren't the worst of what that fire did to Dad.

It took away his easy smile and booming laugh.  It turned him quiet.  Some days Dad barely talked at all.  He'd get this look in his eyes, like his mind was somewhere else - probably sifting through the ashes in the warehouse.

Lucas stopped asking when they'd get back to that model of the Seagrave, which was half-finished and covered with dust in the basement.  And when the memories of that came back, or he started worrying that Dad would never be himself again, he'd close his eyes and imagine himself on the football field, surrounded by the guys, their voices calling out his name as he made one of his famous catches.

Monday, September 10, 2001

Monday came, the last day before Lucas would be allowed back on the field.  He'd been crossing out the days on his calendar, counting down.  Mom picked him up early from school for a doctor's appointment - she wanted him checked out before he was cleared to play.

"I'm fine," Lucas said.  "Can't you tell?"

Lucas lifted his arm and flexed his bicep.

Mom laughed.  "You look incredible."

Mom had decided to take him to a new doctor.  "I hear he's the best," she said.  "We were lucky he could fit you in."

His name was Dr. Barrett.  With his blond crew cut and huge shoulders, he looked more like a linebacker than a doctor.

Dr. Barrett brought Lucas into an exam room and checked him over - looking in his eyes, listening to his heart and lungs.  He asked him to walk across the room with one foot in front of the other.  Lucas was sure he passed all the tests.

After the exam, Dr. Barrett waved Mom and Lucas back into his office.  The wall was covered with framed  diplomas and pictures of football players.  Lucas looked at a photo of a rough-looking man in a Denver Broncos uniform.

"That's Dan Brock," Dr. Barrett said.  "Have you heard of him?"

The name was familiar, but Lucas didn't know why.

"He was All-American at the University of Wisconsin, then a third-round pick for the NFL."

Dr. Barrett pointed to the next photo in the row, a big smiling man with a busted-up nose and chubby baby cheeks.

"That's Tyrus Vallone," he said.  "He was a star tackle at Florida State, and then he played ten years for Green Bay."

There were three other pictures on the wall.  It was only the last one that Lucas recognized.

"Is that Stan Walsh?" Didn't he . . . isn't he . . ."

He was dead.

He had died just a few months ago.  Uncle Benny had been upset about it - he'd played against Stan Walsh when he was a college player.

Dr. Barrett nodded, seeing that Lucas knew about Stan Walsh.  "He had just turned forty," the doctor said.  "He had the same kind of brain disease you see in men in their eighties."

Dr. Barrett pointed up at the wall, at all of the players.

"All of those men are dead," he said.  "They donated their brains to our lab, so we can study them.  They all died because of concussions."

A chill ran up and down Lucas's spine.

He looked at Mom.  Her eyes were wide with shock.

"We used to think concussions were like sprained ankles," Dr. Barrett said.  "You get dinged , you let it heal, and you're good to go.  But now we know that too many concussions can actually change the brain."

"How many concussions is too many?" Mom asked.

Lucas held his breath.

"I would say that in an eleven-year-old boy, three concussions in two years is too many."

The room was suddenly quiet.  Lucas could feel the eyes of those football players looking down on him.

"I can stay out another week," Lucas said.  It would be torture.  But he'd be back in time for the first game.

"I'm sorry, Lucas," Dr. Barrett said.  "But what I'm suggesting is that you never play football again."

All night Lucas argued and begged.  He had a million reasons why that doctor was wrong, and he told Mom and Dad practically every single one.

When that didn't work, he offered to sit out for two more weeks - then three.

"Just please don't make me quit!"

Finally Dad put his hands on Lucas's shoulders.

"Lucas," Dad said in a soft voice. "Football is a game.  I know you love it.  But it is just a game."

Of course Lucas knew that.

But that game was the most important thing in his life.

What would he do without his team?

That night he lay awake in bed for hours, thinking.

It was past midnight when he realized what he needed to do.

He had to see Uncle Benny.

Before Mom and Dad talked to Coach.  Before it was too late.

Dad left early the next morning.  He was teaching a class at The Rock, the firefighter training school, across a bridge from Manhattan, on Randall's Island.  Mom dropped Lucas off at the bus stop on her way to work.

The minute her car disappeared, Lucas sprinted back home.  He grabbed his bike and pedaled as fast as he could to the trian station.

He caught the 7:17 with one minute to spare.

Lucas knew how wrong this was - to skip school, to sneak into the city without Mom and Dad knowing.

But right then, none of that mattered.

Somehow, Uncle Benny would make this right.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001

New York City, New York

Lucas had made this trip so many times with Dad he knew it by heart - the train to Penn Station, the subway to Canal Street.

When he got out of the subway, he looked up and found his landmark:  the two silver buildings  jutting into the sky.

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

The World Trade Center was nine blocks south of the fire station.  So he just followed his view of the towers until he hit the right street.

As Lucas walked, he thought of the last time he and Dad visited the Trade Center.  They'd gotten there early, before the observation deck was open.  But the guard noticed Dad's FDNY hat and let them go up.

They had the place to themselves.

The view from the 110th floor was like looking down on Manhattan from a cloud.  The whole island stretched out in front of them.  The buildings below looked like toys, the rivers like trickling streams, the cars and trucks looked smaller than the models Lucas and Dad built in the basement.

They stood there, just Dad and Lucas, alone on top of the world.

That was right before the warehouse fire - only two years before now.

It seemed like a very long time ago.

When Lucas got to the firehouse, the garage door was open.

And there, right next to the Seagrave, was Uncle Benny.

He glanced up and gave an offhand smile, obviously thinking that Lucas was just a neighborhood kid hoping to get a peek at the truck.

But then Uncle Benny looked at Lucas again.

"Hey, you!" he said with a surprised grin, striding over.

He pulled Lucas into the garage.

Lucas breathed in the familiar smell of diesal fuel and sweat.  He'd always loved the sight of all the guys' black bunker coats hanging on the walls, the pants already tucked into the big black boots.

The firehouse was crowded.  The guys from the last shift were saying their good-byes and the morning men were just getting settled.

Guys came from all over the firehouse to say hi to Lucas, wrapping him in bear hugs, rubbing his head, and telling him he was growing like a weed.

"I've missed my assistant," said Georgie, who drove the truck and also did most of the cooking.  On Lucas's visits with Dad, his favorite job was helping Georgie cook his famous tomato sauce.

Chief Douglas came over, his smile flashing from under his bushy gray mustache, followed by Mark, one of the younger guys.  He and his family lived not far from Lucas.  His eight-year-old twin boys were football fanatics, and Mark coached their team.  Last season they came to one of Lucas's games.  Afterward, the twins had asked Lucas for his autograph.

Suddenly Uncle Benny looked around.

"Where's your pops?" he said.  "He's already done at The Rock?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Your mom brought you?" Uncle Benny said.

Lucas shook his head again.

Uncle Benny eyed Lucas, and his smile faded.

"You okay?" he said softly.

Lucas didn't answer.

Uncle Benny looked at Georgie, who gave him a nod.

"Cover me, will you guys?" Uncle Benny asked.  "I'll be back in a few."

Uncle Benny led Lucas outside and they started walking.

"This is some kind of day, isn't it?" he said, squinting up at the bright blue sky.

Neither of them said anything more, until finally Lucas came out with it.

"Mom and Dad are making me quit football," he said.  "Because of my concussions."

Lucas watched Uncle Benny's face, waiting for his eyebrows to mash together in anger, for his cheeks to burn furious red.

But Uncle Benny just nodded.

Then he looked at Lucas.  "I've been worried about you, kiddo," he said. "You've got yourself a darned good brain.  I don't want you ending up like poor Stan Walsh."

And then it suddenly hit Lucas - it was Uncle Benny who got Mom to bring him to see Dr. Barrett!  He must have known he'd been Stan Walsh's doctor.

Lucas had come all this way because he thought Uncle Benny would help him.  And Uncle Benny was the reason he had to quit!

Uncle Benny stopped and put his hands on Lucas's shoulders.  It seemed like he was trying to keep Lucas pinned to the ground, like otherwise he'd fly away.  He stared at Lucas with those brigh-light eyes of his.

"You'll find something else," he said.

What else do I have? Lucas wanted to ask.

But before he could, something over Lucas's shoulder caught Uncle Benny's attention.  Lucas turned, and then he saw it too: a  glint of silver against the bright blue.

Out of nowhere, a huge jet airplane zoomed into view.

It was flying very low.

"What the - " Uncle Benny said.

He and Lucas stood and watched as the plane tore through the sky, its engine screaming.

Everyone else on the sidewalk stopped and looked up.

Lucas had never seen an airplane flying so low, except taking off or landing.

He could see the plane so clearly - the engines tucked under the wings, the sun glinting off the windows.  He could even read the letters on the tail: AA.

The engines roared.

That plane had to be in trouble.  It was going to crash!

Questions raced through Lucas's mind.

Had the plane's instruments broken?  Was the pilot confused?  Was he sick?  Once Lucas heard about a pilot who had a heart attack in the middle of a flight.

But that didn't make sense.  There would be a copilot there to take over.

Or maybe airplanes flew like this all the time in New York City, and Lucas just hadn't noticed before?  Or no, it had to be a movie.  That was it!  Some action movie was being filmed over New York City.

But where were the cameras?  How were they filming the plane?

Something was wrong.  And everyone knew it.  People up and down the sidewalk were stopped in their tracks, hypnotized by the site of a jet ripping across the sky.

The plane turned slightly, one wing dipping 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.

The plane was heading right for one of the towers.

Turn!   Lucas wanted to scream.  Pull up!

But it didn't turn.  And suddenly, the plane plunged like a knife into the side of one of the buildings.

For a split second, Lucas waited for the plane to reappear on the other side, to keep flying as though nothing had happened.

A gigantic fireball - orange and black - exploded out of the side of the building.

Lucas jumped back in horror.

All around him, people screamed.

Black, fiery smoke gushed out of a huge  gash in the building's side,  billowing into the sky.

Lucas turned away.  He couldn't look anymore.

He looked at Uncle Benny instead.

Uncle Benny was already shouting into his phone.

"Call dispatch . . . a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center!  This is a 10-60 . . . yes, a 10-60!"

10-60 was the worst kind of alarm.

And that's when it hit Lucas:  There had to be hundreds of people trapped in that tower.  And no matter how dangerous it was, firefighters like Dad and Uncle Benny were going to try to save them.

"It looks like Tower One," Uncle Benny was saying, his phone pressed to his ear as he and Lucas ran back to the firehouse.  "The North tower . . . no, not a small plane.  It was a jet.  A big jet.  Yes, I'm sure." Uncle Benny was shouting now.  "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Lucas kept glancing back, each time hoping that the tower would be magically healed.

But each time he looked, there was more and more black smoke.

The sound of sirens filled the air.

"Get ready," Uncle Benny was saying.  "We're going to need everything we have.  There has to be at least ten floors of fire."

Ten floors of fire.

Dad had told Lucas that every floor of the Twin Towers was about the size of a football field.  Lucas tried to imagine what ten football fields would look like - each one on fire.

How many firefighters would it take to put those fires out?

And what if each of those fires was almost a quarter mile in the air?

That's how high the towers were.

Lucas knew how much firefighters hated highrises.  Elevators were usually too dangerous to use in a fire.  They could stop working suddenly and fill up with smoke.  But the only other choice was to lug heavy hoses and fifty pounds of gear up endless flights of stairs.

Georgie once told Lucas that it could take two minutes for a firefighter to walk up just one flight of stairs.  Lucas looked back at the tower.  That fire was near the top - maybe eightieth or nintieth floor.  That meant it could be two hours before firefighters could get there.

Could the people on those floors wait that long for help?

The Seagrave was already out of the garage when Lucas and Uncle Benny got back to the firehouse.  Georgie was at the wheel.  Men from both shifts were piled on.

Benny ran over to grab his turnout clothes and helmet.  Lucas followed after him.

"Uncle Benny?" he said.  "What will you do?"

Uncle Benny stepped into his bunker pants and boots.

"We'll do what we always do," he said.

He put his hand on Lucas's head for a moment, then ran to the truck.

Chief Douglas called out to Lucas from the truck.

"Your dad is heading to the scene," he said.  "You sit tight!"

"Take care of things for us, buddy," Uncle Benny said.

The truck pulled away, its siren wailing.  The garage door shut.

And Lucas stood there, in shock.  Alone.

He ran to the phone and called Mom.

She didn't answer.

He left a message, struggling to keep his voice from cracking - that he was at the firehouse, that he was fine.  That she should call him.

He hung up and stood there, his mind spinning.

Uncle Benny's words whispered in his head.

We'll do what we always do.

What they always did.

Fight fires.  Save people's lives.

Yes, that's what they'd do now.

The FDNY was the biggest fire department in the world.

They were the best.

And they would do what they always did.

Dad once told Lucas that what he liked most about fighting fires was that everyone had a job to do.

"If you don't work together, you don't put out the fire."

Now, Lucas looked around the firehouse.  He needed a job, he realized.  Something he could do to help.

He went into the kitchen.

The table was covered with plates of half-eaten bacon and eggs.  The sink was overflowing with dirty pots.

He got to work, clearing the dishes and glasses from the table.

Every few minutes the alarm box squawked , and the dispatcher came on with a new alarm.

"All units meet at Vesey and West streets . . ."

The TV was on the counter, the sound turned down. The picture on the screen showed the burning tower.  Lucas reached out and turned the volume up so he could hear it over the voice of the dispatcher.

"If you're just joining us, ladies and gentlemen," the TV man's voice said, "you're looking at an extraordinary sight.  Just a few minutes ago, a plane crashed into Tower One at New York's  famed World Trade Center.  We have no official information about what kind of plane it was, but witnesses report it was a commerical jet.

Lucas picked up Georgie's huge cast-iron skillet and started scrubbing.

"The towers were built in 1970," the man continued. "At 110 floors each, they were once the tallest buildings in the world.  There are hundreds of firefighters on the scene.  We have reports that firefighters have been entering the building and heading up the stairs to reach people who might need assistance.  It's an amazing sight."

The smoke was thicker now, painting the blue sky a dirty brown.  There were white dots floating in the smoke - almost like confetti.

Paper, Lucas realized.  Millions of pieces of paper, swept out through the hole in the building. 

The man kept talking about the towers - that they took four years to build, that they could withstand winds of 140 miles per hour, that 50,000 people worked there.

His voice was calm, almost like a teacher giving a history lesson.

Lucas was reaching up to hang the heavy skillet on the hook over the sink.

Suddenly the man on TV gasped.

"Oh, my God!  What was that?  Another explosion!  Ladies and gentlemen - it looks like a second plane . . . yes, another jet.  It has just crashed into the second tower."

The heavy skillet slipped out of Lucas's hand and into the sink, shattering plates and glasses.  Lucas barely noticed.  His eyes did not move from the TV screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the man said again, his voice shaking.  "We're going to replay the video of what we just saw. . ."

The screen flipped.  It showed the North Tower burning.  And then suddenly, on the left side of the screen, another plane appeared.  Just like the first, it was a big jet.  And quick as a blink, it slammed into the other tower, exploding into a fireball.

Fire erupted out of all sides of the building, a ring of flaming blackness.  Now there were two clouds of churning black smoke.

Lucas's heart pounded.  It was hard to breathe.

There were more people talking on the TV now, not just the man.

"Oh, my . . . oh my . . .that looked . . ." one woman said.

"What did we just see?  said another.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the man said.  "We have just witnessed the horrific sight of a second plane hitting the other tower - the South Tower . . . There was a massive explosion."

"There must be a computer problem, a complete failure of air traffic control system," said the first woman.

What the man said next made Lucas's entire body start to shake.

"That did not look like an accident," he said.  "It looks like that plane flew into that tower on purpose.  I think this is some kind of attack."

Lucas tried calling Mom again.  Now when he called he got a fast busy signal and a recording.

"All circuits are busy."

He tried Dad's phone.  Same thing.  He dialed over and over - Mom, Dad, Mom, Dad. He just kept getting the busy signal.

The department radio crackled.

"Recall, recall," the dispatcher said.  "All personnel, on duty and off, are to report.  I repeat.  This is a recall of all emergency personnel."

There were 11,000 firefighters in the department .

They needed every single one.

Before Lucas knew what he was doing, he had run out into the street.

He couldn't be alone, watching the world fall apart on TV.

He needed to find Dad, and Uncle Benny, and the rest of the men.

He wanted to be with them.

He knew he wasn't thinking clearly.

He didn't know if he'd even be able to get close to where they were, if it was even safe to try.

But he went anyway.

Some kind of attack.

Was that man on TV right?

What did that even mean?

Who was attacking?

DId he mean that those planes had hit the towers on purpose ?

The thought hadn't even come into Lucas's mind when he saw the first plane hit.  But thinking about it now, of course that was the only thing that made sense.

The day was so perfectly clear.  There was no way that two airplanes could have hit the towers unless they had been aiming right for them.

But who could be insane enough, evil enough, to fly planes into buildings?

Lucas wiped away the tears running down his face.

He wove through the crowds of people on the sidewalk.  Some were running north.  But most seemed like they were in shock, standing there dazed, staring at the fires above them.

The only noise was sirens - hundreds of them - honking and screaming, wailing and shrieking and blaring.  The sounds all crashed together into one terrible song.

A crowd of people huddled around something in the middle of the street.  Lucas slowed down and looked - it was a big tire attached to a tangle  of metal.

It didn't look like the tire of a car or a truck.

"What is that?" a woman said.

"It's part of a plane," said a man.  "It's landing gear."

Lucas looked away.

He pushed through the crowd, heading south.

Vesey and West streets .

That's where the staging area was, where the firefighters were gathering.

If Dad had made it here from Randall's Island, that's where Lucas could find him.  He would look for the Seagrave.  He would wait there for Dad.

Lucas inched through the crowd.  Most people were standing still, watching.  But now there were more people coming from the direction of the towers.  Some of them were soaked in sweat, their clothes tattered.  But it was the looks on their faces - stunned and horrified - that told Lucas where they had come from: inside the towers.

There were dozens and dozens of them, some walking alone, others holding hands.  Some of the women were barefoot.  He imagined their high-heeled shoes kicked into the corners of the stairwells.  Nobody was carrying a purse or a briefcase.  And Lucas understood why; he'd heard many stories about people who had survived fires and explosions and collapses.  So many times they'd escaped with not a second to spare. If they had stopped for anything - to grab a purse or tie a shoe -  they wouldn't have made it.

A policeman up ahead was trying to stop people from moving south.

"Everyone please leave this area!" he shouted.  "It's not safe. Please leave this area and head north!"

But Lucas kept walking, and nobody tried to stop him.  He felt invisible.

Ladder 177 had to be one of the first units to get to the towers.  That meant they'd be the closest.  Lucas was still three blocks away when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey," a young policeman said.  "Where are you going?  Are you lost?"

"I need to find . . ."

And before he could get the words out, he heard someone calling his name.

His name rose up over all of the sirens.

And there was his dad, pushing through the crowd.

He grabbed Lucas and held him tight.

For a few seconds, Lucas couldn't hear the sirens.

All he could hear was the beating of Dad's heart.

Dad told Lucas that he'd driven to Manhattan from Randall's Island as soon as the first plane hit.

"I was going to head right to the scene," Dad said.  "But I got the message that you were at the firehouse.  So I went there first.  Chief said you'd be waiting for me."

"I'm sorry," Lucas said.  "I just couldn't  stay . . .I . . ."

Dad held up his hand.

There was no time to talk.  And Lucas got the idea that nothing that had happened before this morning mattered anymore - not now, maybe not ever again.

"We need to find the guys," Dad said.  "I need to get my gear from the truck.  And then I'm going to find someone to take you back to the firehouse."

Lucas didn't want to go back there.  But he didn't argue.

"They're not going to be able to put the fires out," Dad said.  "This is a rescue operation now. We just want to get all of the people out of there."

Dad's walkie-talkie crackled.   Muffled voices mixed with static came through.

Dad kept switching channels, trying to hear.  He swore under his breath.

"Nobody can talk to anyone," he said.  "These radios have never worked,  And now people are totally shut off.  Nobody can get through to the men in the towers."

They passed a pickup truck.  The back was completely smashed, and a jet engine, still smoking, sat on the ground just behind it.  The driver's door was open - someone had been in the car when it was hit and had gotten away.

"Lucky," Dad said as he pulled Lucas along, past the truck.  One mile per hour slower and the entire cab would have been crushed.

There were people sitting on the sidewalks being treated by paramedics.  Some were in bad shape.  Lucas tried to keep his eyes straight ahead.

A woman staggered  up to Dad.  Her gray hair was soaked with sweat.  Her face was bright red with streaks of black under her eyes.  She was breathing very hard, her hand on her chest.

"Can you help me?" she gasped.  "My heart.  I came down the stairs . . . My friends . . . I don't know where they are. . . There was so much smoke. . ."

Lucas knew Dad didn't want to stop - he wanted to find his crew.

"Okay," Dad said in a low and gentle voice.  "Don't worry.  We're going to get you what you need."

He turned to Lucas, pointing to an ambulance a few yards away.  "Tell one of the paramedics we need help here."

Lucas ran over and told one of the paramedics, then hurried back to sit with Dad and the woman.  Dad kept talking to her while they waited.  He introduced himself and asked for her name, and about her family.  The woman was gripping Dad's arm so tightly that her fingernails were digging into his skin.  Dad didn't budge .  He kept talking to her, trying to calm this person he'd never met and would probably never see again.

Finally the paramedics came.  A minute later they had the woman on a stretcher and into the ambulance.

Dad and Lucas continued their search for Ladder 177. 

But suddenly there was a deep roaring noise.  The ground trembled.

Dad stopped short.  He looked around.

His eyes flew up.

He grabbed Lucas by the arm and shouted.

Lucas had no idea what was happening.  But suddenly there was the loudest noise he'd ever heard.  Louder than a hundred freight trains.  Louder than all those sirens.

"What is it?" Lucas cried, his voice cracking with terror.

Dad pulled Lucas along, shouting, "Run! Run!" to the people all around.

Dad kept looking over his shoulder, pulling Lucas harder, urging him to move faster.

They came to a convenience store and Dad pushed the door open.

He threw Lucas inside and then called to people just behind them.

"In here!" he called.  "Hurry!  Hurry!"

Just a few people followed.  Then Dad slammed the door shut.

"Everyone get down!  Cover your heads!"

Lucas dove to the ground and then - Whoosh!

There was the sound of shattering glass and a powerful blast of hot wind.

Minutes passed.  Lucas squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears.  His mouth and nose filled with gritty dust.  It was hard to breathe.

If he hadn't known better, he would have been sure that he was in the middle of a tornado - a boiling hot tornado.

And suddenly the noise and wind stopped.

There was silence.

Lucas opened his eyes, but he couldn't see anything.

All around was pure darkness.

For a long moment he was pretty sure the world had ended.

And that he was the only person left on Earth.

It was Dad's voice that broke the silence.

"Lucas!" he shouted.

"Dad," Lucas rasped , spitting dust from his mouth.

"Is anyone hurt?" Dad called.

People coughed and hacked  and sniffed.  But nobody seemed to be badly hurt.

Dust was everywhere.  It coated Lucas, every inch of him.  It was in his nose, between his teeth, stuck to his tongue and to the back of his throat.  It wasn't like regular dust.  Some of the grains were jagged  - bits of ground glass.  When Lucas tried to brush himself off, the dust cut into his skin.

"I have a light,"  Dad said in a calm and quiet voice.  "I'm going to turn it on.  Follow the light and come to me.  We're going to stay together.  We're going to be all right."

There was a click, and then the glow of a small yellow circle.  It looked like the moon on a foggy night.  The air was filled with white floating dust - to Lucas it seemed like they were trapped inside a snow globe.

There were four other people in the store with him and Dad, two women and two men. The younger of the men came from behind the counter of the store.  He worked there.

Dad asked everyone their names.

"I want everyone to put a piece of clothing in front of your mouth," he told them.  "It's not good to breathe this dust."

Lee, the store worker, got big bottles of water for everyone, and rolls of paper towels.  Everyone rinsed their mouths.  Dad soaked a paper towel and carefully washed Lucas's eyes and face, then he helped the others.  Catherine, the younger of the two women, was crying.  The other people comforted her.

"What was that?" Catherine sobbed.  "Was there another plane?  Someone said there was another plane."

"No," Dad said.  "That was not a plane.  I think the top part of the building must have come down."

The door was stuck.  Dad kicked out the jagged glass that clung to the door frame.

He stepped out first, then turned to help everyone through, out of the store.

Dad had told them he wanted to move quickly.

The four strangers started walking, holding hands.

But Dad stopped just outside the store, his hand clamped to Lucas's shoulder, staring at the scene of destruction all around them.   It seemed to be much worse south of them, where even through the fog of dust, Lucas could see that twisted steel beams and big chunks of concrete filled the streets.

Cars were on fire.  Fire trucks and ambulances were smashed.  A few weak sirens squawked.  It sounded like the trucks were crying for help. 

All around them, people climbed out of windows and doorways.  Everyone was coated with the white dust.

Lucas thought of a book he'd read on World War II last year.  There were pictures of cities that had been bombed and burned to the ground.

That's what this scene reminded him of - war.

Dad was looking  intently south, like he was searching for something.

"It's gone," he said in a soft voice that only Lucas could hear.

"What's gone?"  Lucas said.

"One of the towers," Dad said.  "The entire building collapsed."

Nothing around them looked like the wreckage of a collapsed 110-story building.  Where were the big hunks of glass and steel, the smashed office furniture and computers, the miles of wires and pipes?

"Where is it?" Lucas said.

There was nothing but dust.

"It's all around us," Dad said.

The dust, Lucas realized, was the tower.  It was practically all that was left.

Lucas tried not to think about how many people might still be in the buildings - the men and women working there, the hundreds of firefighters and polic and paramedics who were on the scene.

Georgie and Mark.

Uncle Benny.

Lucas tried not to think about the people who might have been in that building when it came down.

Dad would have been - if he hadn't come looking for Lucas in the firehouse.

Dad took Lucas's hand and held it tight.

"We have to move fast," he said.

The other tower, Lucas realized.  If the first one could fall, the second one could, too.

And so they began their march north, Dad and Lucas together.

The dust cleared as they reached Chambers Street.

All of a sudden the world was bright again.

But it didn't matter, Lucas realized.

It didn't matter how far they walked, or how much time went by.

Nothing would ever be the same again.

Sunday, November 4, 2001

The air was crisp and chilly.  Lucas stood at the edge of the field. 

The sounds of football filled the air - the cheers of the crowd, the trill of the ref's whistle, the laughs of little kids playing tag in front of the snack bar.

Mom and Dad were up in the bleachers.  They waved at him.

He waved back.

A player ran off the field for a drink of water.

"Hey, Lucas!" he said.

It was James, one of Mark's twins - Lucas had finally learned to tell them apart.

"Hey, buddy," Lucas said.  "Great game."

The little boy smiled up through his face mask.

Lucas held out his hand to high-five and the kid gave it a good whack.

James ran back out on the field.

Lucas turned, hoping James didn't see the tears in his eyes.

He just needed a few seconds to pull himself together.

He was getting better at it. And besides, he'd known this would be a tough day.

This was the first game since Mark's funeral.

The stands were filled with Ladder 177 guys and their families, all cheering for Mark's boys.

Lucas was helping out the new coach.

Some guys kept calling to Lucas from the stands.

Half the Jaguars had come, too.  Lucas wasn't on the team anymore.

But he hadn't lost football.  Or the guys.

He took a deep breath.

Yes, this would be a tough day - but a good one.

Dad had told Lucas it would get easier, as time passed.

He didn't mean easy .  It meant that there would be minutes - like these - when he wasn't buried by sadness, when he wasn't stuck in the terror of that day in September.  When he didn't think about the planes, or the thousands of people who'd died in the towers, or the faces of the men who'd planned the attacks.

The worst memories were from after he and Dad had escaped the dust, when they finally made it to the firehouse.  Each hour had brought a new horror: the second tower collapsing, news that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon, outside Washington, D.C., and that another plane had been heading for the Capitol or the White House, but had crashed in Pennsylvania.

There was the moment when they found out about Mark.

Then Georgie.

Then Chief.

The other men had made it back one by one.  Covered in dust and ash.  Some dripping with blood.

By that afternoon, there was only one man missing:

The guys had seen him running into Tower 1, determined to get to the burning floors, to get as many people out as he could.

Lucas could see the doom in the eyes of the other men as they talked about Uncle Benny.  But he'd sat on the floor of the firehouse, his eyes glued to the door.

Dad had been right there with him.

That was one good thing that had come out of that day - Lucas and Dad.

They'd marched out of the dust holding hands and just kept on marching, together.

Last week Dad even brought the Seagrave model up from the basement.

The real rig was wrecked.

So Dad figured they should finish this one, and bring it to the firehouse.  They worked on it some nights when neither of them could sleep.  Sometimes Mom would sit with them.  All they had to do now was paint it.

The score was tied in the fourth quarter.  The other team called a time-out.

The kids all ran to the sidelines, surrounding their coach.

He stood there with his cane, his left arm in a sling, his shamrock tattoo peeping out from the top of the cast.

"We have some champions here!" he boomed, turning to wink at Lucas.

Yes, Uncle Benny had made it out.  He'd come down the stairs of the North Tower a minute before it collapsed, carrying a wounded man on his back.  He got himself and the man under an engine truck and saved both of their lives.

He was in bad shape when he crawled out - shattered ankle, busted arm, collapsed lung.  He was rushed to the hospital.

Word didn't reach the firehouse until early in the evening.

That is one memory that Lucas kept in his heart - the moment he heard that Uncle Benny was safe.

Lucas walked over as the kids ran back onto the field.

Uncle Benny had dropped his cane.  So he leaned on Lucas as they stood and watched the kids play.

Their quarterback took the ball and then hurled it.

It was a terrible pass.

Impossible to catch.

But James took off after it.

The crowd stood and cheered.

Uncle Benny and Lucas laughed as they watched James go, go, go.

Mark's little boy ran with all of his might, his legs pumping, his arms reaching up, his face turned fearlessly toward the bright blue sky.

In the back of your book PLEASE READ:

Timeline for the morning of September 11, 2001

Questions and Answers about 9/11.

 Choose a project from below:

~Create a poster showing ways that America has changed since the attacks of 9/11.  Present to the class.

~Interview someone you know (a relative, teacher, friend, neighbor, etc.) about what happened to him/her on September 11, 2001.  Create questions to ask, write the answers and present to the class.

~Explain what Patriotism is and how it was shown before and after 9/11 in a Powerpoint. Present to class.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001

One of the most pivotal events to occur in my lifetime was September 11th. Even though I was only six years old–just a little girl in first grade–I still remember pieces of that day. The attacks on the World Trade Center not only horrified the country in 2001, but it has shaped who we are as a country to this day.

Since I was so young, I don’t really remember how I felt that day. Confused, nervous, maybe a little scared? I don’t remember. What I do remember was all of the adults in my life feeling confused, nervous, and scared. I remember my incredible first grade teacher weeping during the moment of silence at school that morning. I remember seeing the buildings on fire on the television. I also remember asking my parents what movie they were watching, because surely that wasn’t real.

One of the most popular historical fiction series for kids is the  I Survived  series by Lauren Tarshis. Tarshis travels back in time to important events in history, and tells us a fictional tale of what the event might have been like.

Characters are fictional, but the events that they live through are true. I’ve decided to go on a journey through these events, then research the events to learn more. This time I read about an event that happened when I was just a young little girl, but I still see the effects of it today.

The World Trade Centers

The history.

The two “twin towers” in New York City originally opened in 1973 and went on to become a major part of the NYC skyline. The original plan was for one 70-story building, and the design was approved in 1958. Residents were not happy with the idea of demolishing several buildings and neighborhoods to make way for the new building, and protests filled the streets.

The two towers stood at 1,368 and 1,362 and had 110 stories each–making it taller than the Empire State Building and taking the title of the tallest buildings in the world when it opened.

Tragedy Before Tragedy

Before the great tragedy that we will talk more about later, there was another attempt of violence on the North Tower in 1993. A group of terrorists parked a van full of explosives in a parking garage that was located under the building. The blast killed six people and wounded over a thousand others, but there was no extreme damage to the building above.

September 11th

On September 11th, 2001 at 8:45 in the morning, American Airlines flight 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The plane had crashed around the 80th floor of the skyscraper, leaving a wide hole in the side of the building.

Both the north and the south towers began to evacuate while cameras caught live footage of what seemed to have been an accident. Only 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second plane–United Airlines 175 crashed into the south tower near the 60th floor.

A third plane–American Airlines flight 77–crashed into the southwest side of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. at 9:37. When passengers onboard of the fourth plane–United Airlines flight 93–got word of what was happening, they attempted to overpower the hijackers. The plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

At 9:59, the south tower collapsed with the north tower following 29 minutes later. Buildings nearby were badly damaged, caught fire, and some even collapsed with the twin towers. The fires were eventually put out, but the ashes smoked for three months.

The Masterminds

The four planes were hijacked by members of the terrorist group al Qaeda, who was led by Osama Bin Laden . Some of the terrorists lived in the United States for over a year, taking piloting lessons at commercial flight schools. Some of the other terrorists involved came the United States later to act as “muscle” to help in the mission.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the main plotter behind the attacks of September 11th. Mohammed joined the Muslim Brotherhood at 16, but studied at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He plotted out blowing up planes in Asia in the 1990s, but the plan failed.

In 1996, Mohammed met with Bin Laden to discuss a plan he had to hijack planes to fly into buildings in the United States. Bin Laden took the idea and wove it into a more elaborate plan that ended in the disastrous attacks we remember every year on September 11th.

Almost 3,000 people lost their lives from the attacks of 9/11. About 2,750 people died in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and 40 people died in Pennsylvania. Almost 400 first responders–police officers and firefighters–died trying to help that day.

President Bush was in Florida visiting a second grade classroom when he found out about the planes crashing into the World Trade Centers. He addressed the country from the Oval Office that evening, and visited what became known as “Ground Zero” on September 14th.

Bush said one of his most memorable quotes from his presidency while shouting through a bullhorn on top of a burned up firetruck:

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear from all of us soon. George W. Bush

Bush’s response from the terrorist attacks drove his poll ratings from 55 percent to 90 percent–the highest any president has ever had in recorded history.

Thousands of people watched the horrific attacks first hand, recording on video cameras and taking pictures. Millions of people around the country watched the events unfold on their television. The impact–mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially–was huge. The terrorists managed to attack multiple places in the heart of their enemy, and that made it a successful attack for them.

Not long after the tragic attacks that resulted in thousands dying, President Bush declared war stating: “The United States of America will use all our resources to conquer this enemy. We will rally the world. We will be patient. We’ll be focused, and we will be steadfast in our determination. This battle will take time and resolve, but make no mistake about it, we will win.”

Almost 19 years after the war officially started, it has yet to come to an end. The fear that has been ingrained into us for almost two decades is still causing tensions in the United States. People with Muslim faith are feared and discriminated against because of a radical group who caused harm all of those years ago.

I know, I know. This is a post with facts and research, but I need to give my opinion on the event. I lived through the tragedy and the years of fear and war that followed, but researching an even that I thought I knew a lot about reminded me of some things.

One day, one moment can change so much in a country. Happiness turned to fear which then turned to hatred and anger. Being angry about what happened is acceptable and expected. Hating a whole group of people because of a few radical people is not healthy. We need to really think about how we treat people and why.

As always, I wanted to link some extra sources for you if you want to do more reading. There are several sources within the post, but here are a few more: the attacks , frequently asked questions , more on al Qaeda , and more on the war on terror . We have to always remember what happened, and think about what we can learn from it. Happy learning!

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Review: i survived: the attacks of september 11, 2001.

I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 takes young readers through the events of that tragic day keeping things rather simple but touching upon the major points.

Story (original novel): Lauren Tarshis Adapted: Georgia Ball Art: Corey Egbert Color: Chi Ngo

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

comiXology Amazon (paperback) Amazon (hardcover) Kindle Bookshop

Scholastic Graphix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

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• Sept. 30, 2021

EYEWITNESS At the peak of the pandemic, when I was short on reassurance, I advised my kids to write about what was happening. The only thing I knew for sure, I explained, was that their grandchildren would want to hear about what it was like to live through this time. Let’s just say that the pens weren’t exactly flying out of the mug in our kitchen, and no one was stealing my laptop charger to fire up Google Docs.

But the children’s series best-seller list supports my theory that the younger generation has a hearty appetite for the travails of others. How else to explain the 67-week run of Lauren Tarshis ’ I Survived books, a 21-volume juggernaut exploring the toll of natural disasters (such as Hurricane Katrina and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906), man-made tragedies (the Holocaust, 9/11) and garden-variety nightmares (attacks by sharks and grizzly bears) through the eyes of young narrators who lived to tell the tale. With the exception of three nonfiction spinoffs, the books are novels, but Tarshis does extensive research and includes reading recommendations, additional historical context and useful information (for instance, “How to Stay Safe in a Hurricane”) at the end of each paperback.

“For some children, learning about another person’s hardship is a way of navigating through our own,” Tarshis said. “I think there’s something to be said for being able to read at a remove about something, and coming to terms with your own fears.”

As an editor overseeing more than 25 classroom magazines for Scholastic, Tarshis knows that reluctant readers are drawn to articles about real people. (She used to be lukewarm about the written word too: “I did not read a book cover to cover until I was 14.”) I Survived was born out of the idea that, as Tarshis put it, “you don’t have to be the kid who’s reading ‘The Lord of the Rings’ under the covers” to be curious about what’s happening in the world.

A decade of writing about disasters will take a toll; when she visits classrooms, Tarshis jokes that her next series will be called Rainbow Cupcakeland. But hearing from fans keeps her focused on I Survived, which now includes four graphic novels: “They come up to me and they’re all grass-stained and they smell like milk and they have so many things they want to tell me,” Tarshis said. “I tell them, you should go home and talk to your parents and grandparents and caregiver, because we all have a connection in some way to history.”

Elisabeth Egan is an editor at the Book Review and the author of “A Window Opens.”

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I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001

(i survived graphic novel #4).

Written by Lauren Tashis Adapted by Georgia Ball Illustrated by Corey Egbert

Published by  Scholastic, Inc.

A gripping graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis’s bestselling  I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001,  in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad’s best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas’s parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.The next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It’s a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle’s firehouse, everything changes — and nothing will ever be the same again.Lauren Tarshis’s  New York Times  bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in bold graphic novels. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that’s sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

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History comes to life with Lauren Tarshis's newest virtual field trip!

Discover the newest book in the series.

Read the Gripping Graphic Novels

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

I Survived Attacks of 9/11 (Graphix)

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (Graphix)

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (Graphix)

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (Graphix)

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (Graphix)

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (Graphix)

Each book tells the story of one of history's most terrifying events, through the eyes of a kid who lived to tell the tale!

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018

I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies

I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire 1871

I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

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Lauren Tarshis

Lauren Tarshis is the author of the New York Times bestselling I SURVIVED series which tells stories of young people and their resilience and strength in the midst of unimaginable disasters. Lauren has brought her signature warmth and exhausive research to topics such as the September 11 attacks, the destruction of Pompeii, Hurricane Katrina, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, among others. Lauren lives in Westport, Connecticut. In addition to writing the I SURVIVED books, Lauren is the editor of Storyworks magazine.

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I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001: The Graphic Novel

• Grades: 3 - 6
• Ages: 8 - 11
• Series: I Survived
• Format: Paperback Book Paperback Book

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• Product Type: Book
• Page Count: 160 pages
• Dimensions: 6" x 9"
• Language: English
• Subject & Themes: Disasters & Stories of Survival , 21st Century America
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• ISBN 13: 978-1-338-68048-5
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The I SURVIVED Series

Each book in my series tells a terrifying and thrilling story from history, through the eyes of a kid who lived to tell the tale..

“Resilience is the theme that connects all of the I Survived books,” -Los Angeles Times

Learn more about each book by clicking on the covers. 

The story behind the i survived series, explore  scholastic’s i survived website, meet my i survived readers .

• #1: I Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic, 1912
• #2: I Survived The Shark Attacks Of 1916
• #3: I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2004
• #4: I Survived The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor, 1941
• #5: I Survived The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
• #6: I Survived The Attacks Of September 11, 2001
• #7: I Survived The Battle Of Gettysburg, 1863
• #8: I Survived The Japanese Tsunami, 2011
• #9: I Survived The Nazi Invasion, 1944
• #10: I Survived The Destruction Of Pompeii, 79AD
• #11: I Survived The Great Chicago Fire, 1871
• #12: I Survived The Joplin Tornado, 2011
• #13: I Survived The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937
• #14: I Survived The Eruption Of Mount St. Helens, 1980
• #15: I Survived The American Revolution, 1776
• #16: I Survived The Children’s Blizzard, 1888
• #17: I Survived The Attack Of The Grizzlies, 1967
• #18: I Survived The Battle Of D-Day, 1944
• #19: I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919
• #20: I Survived The California Wildfires, 2018
• #21: I Survived The Galveston Hurricane, 1900
• #22: I Survived The Wellington Avalanche, 1910
• #23: I Survived The Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964
• Sobreviví el naufragio del Titanic, 1912
• Sobreviví los ataques de tiburones de 1916
• Sobreviví el huracán Katrina, 2005
• Sobreviví el Bomdardio de Pearl Harbor, 1944
• Sobreviví el terremoto de San Francisco, 1906
• Sobreviví los ataques del 11 de septiembre de 2001
• Sobreviví los incendios forestales de California, 2018
• Sobreviví los ataques de tiburones de 1916 Novela Gráfica
• Sobreviví el ataque de los osos grizzlies, 1967 Novela Gráfica
• The Sinking Of The Titanic, 1912 Graphic Novel
• The Shark Attacks Of 1916 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Nazi Invasion, 1944 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001 Graphic Novel
• I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Attack Of The Grizzlies, 1967 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Great Chicago Fire, 1871 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The American Revolution, 1776 Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Battle Of D-Day Graphic Novel
• I Survived The Destruction Of Pompeii, AD 79 Graphic Novel
• I Survived True Stories #1: Five Epic Disasters
• I Survived True Stories #2: Nature Attacks!
• I Survived True Stories #3: Tornado Terror
• I Survived True Stories #4: Courageous Creatures
• I Survived Around the World
• Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose
• Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell In Love
• Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out Of A Tree
• Storyworks And Storyworks Jr.
• School Visits
• Book Club & Resources
• Appearances

I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001

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Exploring Historical Topics Activity Guide for Grades PK-2

This activity guide supports books on exploring historical topics for grades PK-2.

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I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001: A Graphic Novel (I Survived Graphic Novel #4) (4) (I Survived Graphix) Paperback – August 3, 2021

Purchase options and add-ons.

The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad's best friend at the firehouse where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas's parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.

The next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It's a bright, beautiful day in New York as he heads to the firehouse. But just as he arrives, everything changes -- and nothing will ever be the same again.

Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in bold graphic novels. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

• Book 4 of 9 I Survived Graphix
• Print length 160 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Lexile measure GN570L
• Dimensions 6 x 0.25 x 9 inches
• Publisher Graphix
• Publication date August 3, 2021
• ISBN-10 133868048X
• ISBN-13 978-1338680485
• See all details

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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

"The comic book format works well with intense pacing, searing images and edge-of-your-seat suspense." -- San Francisco Chronicle

Praise for I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived Graphic Novel #1) :

"The first installment of Tarshis' sprawling prose disaster oeuvre for young readers is reimagined in visually interesting full-color comic panels that support its recognizable thrilling pace and convenient twists. Many of the most exciting scenes are largely wordless, spotlighting the propulsive action amid growing tensions. A fresh and interesting adaptation, making for an easy crowd pleaser." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Dark, subdued, inky art sets a somber tone, while a parade of mostly small panels builds suspense and promises to engage readers." -- School Library Journal

Praise for I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (I Survived Graphic Novel #3):

“A crowd pleaser … Those familiar with this installment will anticipate the traumas and triumphs of the story, while newcomers to the series will also be pulled in; all will be satisfied with the mostly happy resolution … Another effective comics translation in this first-rate series.” -- School Library Journal

Praise for Lauren Tarshis's I Survived chapter books:

Praise for I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 :

"Tarshis successfully blends historical fact with an involving narrative." -- School Library Journal

Praise for I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 :

"Tarshis serves up another gripping adventure... with the light-speed pacing and death-defying maneuvering fans have come to expect." -- Booklist

Praise for I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 :

"Informative and breathlessly paced." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 :

"[Tarshis] crafts a dramatic, emotionally intense tale that takes account of 9/11's physical and emotional costs -- short- and long-term -- while ending on an upward beat." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 :

"Expressive illustrations capture the drama of the storm and its aftermath, but the book's real power comes from its exploration of what it means to be a hero." -- Booklist

Praise for I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 :

"A gripping story that will hold the interest of reluctant readers." -- School Library Journal

Praise for I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 :

"The fast pace and intrinsically fascinating disaster story will keep readers turning the pages." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Graphix (August 3, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 133868048X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338680485
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 10 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ GN570L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.25 x 9 inches
• #26 in Children's American Historical Fiction (Books)
• #76 in Graphic Novels (Books)
• #274 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)

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Review and Opinion of I Survived 9/11 Attack Book

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About the author

Lauren tarshis.

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, the Battle of Gettysburg and many more.

Lauren conducts extensive research to bring her topics to life. She has traveled to most of the locations where her books are set. Her goal is to open readers' eyes to new chapters in history and to inspire them with stories of hope and resilience.

Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, and is the editor of Storyworks Magazine.

For more information about Lauren, go to www.LaurenTarshis.com

To learn more about Storyworks, www.scholastic.com/storyworks

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

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Joy in the Journey

I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 Novel Study

This print-and-go resource is full of activities to supplement the novel I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001  by Lauren Tarshis.

This download includes EVERYTHING YOU NEED to teach the book. You simply need to print these pages and watch your students’ comprehension soar as they engage with the text in a fun and meaningful way. This download also includes a DIGITAL version for your students to complete and submit via Google classroom. Simplify your lesson planning today!

Description

I have included a two-page nonfiction article to build background knowledge about the Attacks of September 11, 2001. The article also has a ten-question comprehension quiz to assess understanding. As the students read the novel, there are many graphic organizers for them to fill in, activities for every chapter, writing prompts, and a research project.

This printable novel study includes:

• September 11, 2001 Show What You Know graphic organizer
• The Attacks of September 11, 2001 Background Information (2 pages)
• The Attacks of September 11, 2001: Reading comprehension questions/quiz
• Questions/brainstorming activity
• Reading Log
• Story Elements graphic organizer
• Beginning-Middle-End organizer
• Chapter summary template
• Character profile template
• Chapter reading comprehension quizzes (Chapter 1-2, Chapters 3-4, Chapters 5-6, Chapters 7-8, Chapters 9-10, and Chapters 11-12)
• Timeline of Events
• Journal Entry: Never Play Again?
• Journal Entry: What Just Happened?
• Letter to a Friend
• Heroes of September 11, 2001 Research Project
• Answer Keys for graphic organizers, reading comprehension quiz, and chapter activities

Google slides: This download also includes a DIGITAL version for your students to complete and submit via Google classroom. The link to the Google slides activities is included in the download.

Resource created by Jessica Lawler

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