This is the 9/11 book for kids who weren't there but live in its shadow. Rhodes doesn't sugarcoat—Deja's family is homeless, her dad has PTSD, her Muslim friend faces prejudice—but she also doesn't overwhelm. The story unfolds like a mystery, with Deja piecing together what happened and why it still matters.
It's heavy, yes. Kids will read about people jumping from the towers, about the dust and the fear. But Rhodes trusts her readers to handle it, and she's right. The book has been embraced by schools and parents because it does what great middle-grade fiction should: it helps kids make sense of a world that's confusing and sometimes scary.
If your kid is asking questions about 9/11, or if you want to introduce the topic thoughtfully, this is your book. Just be ready to talk afterward—because they will have questions.
