38 resources in this collection — customize any of them for your classroom.
Brandon navigates the overwhelming shock of the World Trade Center attack, trying to understand how anyone survives catastrophe.
English Language Arts, Novels & Books
Grades 6-8
Reshmina reflects on life in her Afghan village and the tensions shaping her everyday reality.
Brandon reaches the restaurant at the top of the tower just as disaster turns an ordinary moment into chaos.
Reshmina hopes for a fresh start despite the challenges her family faces.
Brandon becomes trapped in the collapsing tower and searches desperately for a way out.
Reshmina thinks about the code of Pashtunwali and what honor demands in impossible situations.
Brandon tries to remember safety procedures as smoke and confusion spread.
Reshmina encounters an American soldier and wrestles with fear and responsibility.
Brandon recalls a skateboarding trick as he gathers courage to keep moving.
Reshmina considers how extremist groups try to influence young people in her community.
Brandon discovers a gaping hole in the tower and faces the terrifying scale of destruction.
Reshmina watches U.S. helicopters overhead and fears what their arrival means.
Brandon reaches the 93rd floor, where danger and blocked paths make escape harder.
Reshmina visits a neighboring village and learns news that reshapes her understanding of the conflict.
Brandon sees flames rushing downward and realizes time is running out.
Reshmina remembers the stories and traditions that have shaped her family for generations.
Brandon confronts injuries and emotional scars while fighting to stay alive.
Reshmina deals with a hurtful insult but focuses on what truly matters.
Brandon pushes himself to keep going even when the building seems ready to fall apart.
Reshmina searches for someone missing and fears the worst.
Brandon reaches the sky lobby and sees firsthand the devastation around him.
Reshmina passes through poppy fields that reveal another layer of her country’s struggles.
Brandon makes one last attempt to contact help before the situation worsens.
Reshmina chooses a path that means stepping into danger to protect others.
Brandon encounters firefighters risking their lives and finds new hope.
Reshmina hides her identity under a burqa as she navigates increasingly dangerous terrain.
Brandon forces himself not to look back at the destruction so he can keep moving forward.
Reshmina faces a deadly threat that forces her to act quickly.
Brandon remembers small, ordinary moments for comfort amid chaos.
Reshmina sees how war repurposes everyday objects into weapons.
Brandon temporarily loses his ability to see and must rely on instinct.
Reshmina experiences a cultural gathering that reminds her of resilience.
Brandon clings to small sources of energy and strength to continue escaping.
Reshmina marches with others and feels the weight of history around her.
Brandon watches as part of the tower collapses and realizes how close danger has become.
Reshmina learns the truth about 9/11 and its impact far beyond America.
Brandon begins to understand the deeper reasons behind the attacks.
Reshmina approaches the ruins of the towers, understanding how connected their stories are.
