Are you looking for a way to talk with your students about the events of 9/11? Books are a great way to do this, and here are 4 books for 9/11 that are sure to engage your students and expose them to the events of September 11, 2001. They celebrate the resilience the United States and its citizens had to rebuild and move forward.
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin
This book is the true story of a tree that was found buried in the rubble after the Twin Towers fell. Prior to that morning, the tree was growing in a plaza in the shadow of the World Trade Center.
This book does not go into details of the towers falling or the attack. It is more focused on nurturing the tree back to life after it is rescued.
No one expected the tree to survive, but it was eventually replanted in a new plaza near the memorial in 2010, defying all odds.
This beautifully illustrated book is a story of strength and hope in the face of tragedy. The tree has been named the Survivor Tree. It gives peace to the people coming to the memorial to pay their respects.
The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
Again, this book does not go into details of the tragedy of 9/11. It is a good choice for sensitive or young readers.
This book for 9/11 tells the story of a French man named Phillippe Petit. He walked between the Twin Towers on a thin wire cable in 1974.
It took Phillippe an entire hour, to walk on a wire a quarter of a mile above the ground without a net.
Your students will leave this story believing anything is possible, and you should always follow your dreams.
Although we did not rebuild the World Trade Center buildings, as a country, we did rebuild our faith and belief that we can overcome hard things.
Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
If you have students ready to learn about the actual events of September 11, 2001, then this is a great choice.
This novel takes place 15 years after the attack on 9/11. It is told from the point of view of a fifth-grade girl, Deja. She can see where the World Trade Center towers used to stand from her classroom window.
But, when her father learns the class will be studying and learning about the events of 9/11 he gets very upset. Deja knows her father is struggling with health issues. But she is unaware that he was actually in one of the towers that fell.
As Deja and her classmates, Ben and Sabeen, learn more about the details of this day, Deja comes to realize the heroic role her father played. And, she comes to realize how he has suffered since.
This book explores how history can affect people in the future and how it impacts families and communities. Your students will walk away with a better appreciation for what happened when the towers were attacked. They will also understand why remembering and learning about history is so important.
Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
This last book for 9/11 takes place on the days before and on September 11, 2001. It is told from the point of view of four different middle school students. Each of them is dealing with their own pre-teen issues as the events of that morning unfold.
The story starts on September 9. It introduces the reader to the four narrators, their families, and the unique challenges they each face. Because they all come from different backgrounds, the events of 9/11 will impact them all differently.
These different life experiences make this book relatable to more students who may be living similar lives. It also showcases how tragedy can unite or divide us despite our differences. It is up to us to make that choice.
A Summary of Books for 9/11
- This Very Tree
- Good for young readers
- Focus on resilience and hope
- The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers
- Good for young readers
- Focus on pursuing your dreams and bravery
- Towers Falling
- Good for later elementary and older students
- Focus on how the events of history affect us now
- Nine, Ten
- Good for later elementary and older students
- Focus on how tragedy affects us differently and can still bring us together
I have literacy and novel units available for all of these books for 9/11. They were all created specifically for students in a special education setting. They come with activities that will engage and enhance your students’ learning of 9/11. Click the images below to see what is included.
