Nine, Ten

I recently read Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin. This is one of three recent books about September 11th published. Towers Falling would is another great middle grade novel while The Memory of Things: A Novel is more appropriate for middle school and high school readers.

Nine, Ten takes place a few days before September 11th. We meet four kids, all at the airport. Aimee is nervous about her mom's new job and going to a new school far from home. Naheed is getting funny looks at her new school about the head scarf she wears. Will is still reeling after the unexpected death of his father, and Sergio, who lives with his grandmother, is dealing with his feelings about his own father who abandoned him long ago. These four young people live in different parts of the United States and come from different backgrounds and experiences. We get to know each of these young people in the days just before September 11th.

This is an interesting look at the events of September 11th and how that day--sunny and bright--forever changed our country. It is also the story of kids...kids adjusting to new schools and kids adjusting to challenges they should not have to face at such young ages.