In simple terms: this book was like a bulldozer of emotions. It gutted me. It made me cry. It should be required reading in high school.

If you’re going to read this, have a box of tissues ready.

Garrett Graff was able to hundreds of testimonies for this amazing tribute and his incredible work deserves to be noticed. He truly let the survivors, their families, and political staff speak for themselves and share their stories of what happened September 11,2001 and the days, months, and years following.

Particular parts that made me cry: The Author’s Note, the first section, “Aboard the International Space Station”, the section “The 9/11 Generation”, and within the epilogue when “the firefighters of Ladder 6 served as pallbearers at the funeral of Josephine Harris, who had died at 69, nearly 10 years after all of them had been trapped together in Stairwell B.”

Who needs to read this? Everyone.

I truly believe this book needs to become required reading for high school seniors. We’ve now come to the poking in time when high school seniors were not alive at the time of 9/11 and this is such an amazing compilation of everything that happened that day.

I remember where I was that day. I was 5 years old and in kindergarten. Back then it was still half day. I don’t remember how I got home that day, but I do remember her watching the news all day long. It’s one of the first memories I have of my 23 years.

Thank you Morgan at Avid Reader Press for this copy. I truly enjoyed this emotional roller coaster.