Little Red Reads is hosting a spot on the GROUND ZERO by Alan Gratz Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Author: Alan Gratz

Pub. Date: February 2, 2021

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear — and the stunning links between the past and present. 

September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive — and escape?

September 11, 2020, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help Taz — and put herself and her family in mortal danger?

Two kids. One devastating day. Nothing will ever be the same.

Says Alan Gratz: “For all its horrors, 9/11 is also the story of people coming together to help one another in a time of crisis. And for all the death and destruction the war has brought to Afghanistan, it has also meant the end of the Taliban as the country’s official rulers, and more freedom for women and girls. GROUND ZERO explores these contradictions, highlighting how people are often at their best when the worst happens and how impossible it is to make the right decision when both outcomes are unacceptable. These are universal experiences that ignore nationality and religion and culture—challenges that unite us as human beings—and I believe that fiction helps young people understand these big, scary topics and empathize with the people enduring them.”

“The year 2021 will mark the twenty-year anniversary of 9/11. Will it also mark the twenty-year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan? Time will tell. One way or another, we still live in a world reshaped and redefined by what happened in those 102 frightful minutes on a bright blue September morning in 2001. It’s more important than ever to help new generations understand how we got from there to where we are today.”

“With his signature accessibility and insight, Gratz tackles events on both U.S. soil and abroad … Subtexts and well-developed secondary characters give readers fuller perspectives surrounding the political, religious, and sociological factors that contribute to the horrors Brandon and Reshmina are living through. The pace is quick (don’t blink or you’ll miss something!), its emotions deeply authentic, and the highly visual settings resonate with accuracy. With a moving author’s note, pertinent back matter, and a surprise twist which brings the book full circle, Gratz delivers another winning read. Ground 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.”– BOOKLIST, starred review

“Tautly paced … Conveys immediacy and depth.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“Gratz’s deeply moving writing paints vivid images of the loss and fear of those who lived through the trauma of 9/11.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS

Grab REFUGEE HERE!

Book Trailer:

Review: Ground Zero is a book that explores differing cultures and viewpoints. Told in alternate points of view and two separate cultures, it offers insight into the political and cultural dynamics in Afghanistan and the attack on America. For those of us who lived through 9/11, I am going to say this was tough! The details and the descriptions were hard to read. As an adult, there is much to re-live and remember. The experience of reading the actual story may be totally different for a teen reader. I would recommend reading with an adult. Thought provoking and raw, lots of historical aspects that are valuable to unravel. Ground Zero offers hopeful moments and human interactions to make the message one of compassion and understanding. Content: violence and trauma, older middle grade/teen read with adults to help unravel.

 

About Alan: 

ALAN GRATZ is the New York Times bestselling author of several highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Allies, Grenade, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, and Code of Honor. His

novel Refugee is often referred to as a modern classic, and has remained on The New York Times bestseller list for over two years. Alan lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter. Look for him online at alangratz.com.

 

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Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of GROUND ZERO, US Only.