The book, Ground Zero by Alan Gratz is a really great book which is historical/realistic fiction. The book also gives the reader a 3rd person perspective of 2 people on September 11th, but in different years.
The main characters in both stories are the then 9-year old Brandon Chavez and 11-year old Reshmina with the now adult Brandon, now called Taz. Both characters in their own respective stories can be described as brave because of their actions and choices, but one unique trait that Reshmina has is caring since they had hid the people and Taz in the caves from the Taliban. A last trait that can describe Brandon in his parts of the book is courageous because he went to lead another group of people and led them out from the fiery parts of their own floor.
Two different details that can describe the setting of Brandon’s story are the World Trade Center and the 9/11 terrorist attacks which led to the fiery hell that the book shows in his chapters towards the middle. Two other details that can describe the settings of Reshmina’s chapters is that it takes place within the well-known Afghanistan war and that it takes place more specifically in a rural village.
The plot of Brandon’s story is that his dad goes to work on the 107th floor but suddenly an airplane slams into the tower. Brandon now had to go through the fiery 9/11 attacks and lead other people on his way out of the towers. The plot of Reshmina’s story is that she was collecting firewood while playing with her little brother but then Taz leads a search party for the Taliban in her own village, later on she takes care of the wounded Taz. Overall, the flow of the book in general is calm at the very first pages but later on it becomes chaotic and emotional until the end in which it settles down.
In terms of critiquing the book, it could add more historical accuracy, but aside from that, Ground Zero is perfect.
I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in individual viewpoints of either story and events and anyone trying to improve their empathy skills. I also recommend it for anyone that is researching either 9/11 of the Afghan war as it provides more in detail perspectives similar to the people who experienced either events.