Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

2018-2019 Maud Hart Lovelace Reading List

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 4th-6^th

Reading Level: 3.3 (4 points)

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 3rd edition (July 12, 2016)

My Rating: 4 out of 4

Readability: Easy to read, lots of white space and some pencil drawings. 

MHL Division: Division 1 or Crossover

Summary: 
While learning about September 11^th, fifth-grader Deja, who was born after the attacks, realizes how much the events still color her world.

Last year was the 15th anniversary of the 911 tragedy.  Several authors published books for middle grade students and both books are on the reading list.  I really liked Baskin’s book Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story, so reading this new title was a competition for me.  It turns out I liked both. This book seemed a little heavy with lessons at times but moved back to plot and character focus to redeem itself.

Towers Falling is a good choice for a younger group of kids and it has a lower reading level.  I also recommend watching the publisher's book trailer, posted above, which shows the pencil drawings sprinkled throughout the book. It does a good job explaining the book plot.

The main character, Deja, in this book lives in a homeless center in New York City with her family. When she goes to her new school which has a view of New York City skyline, she finds that they are going to be learning with a new curriculum which will help kids understand September 11, 2001.  She also makes some friends who are also new to the school. Together they bond and learn together.  Deja also learns about the reasons for the problems her family are experiencing which relate to this day in history.

This book would be a great read aloud!  Kids are very curious about 911 and this book would be a good choice.