Understanding September 11th, Answering Questions about the Attacks on America

by Mitch Frank

On September 11th, America was attacked. But while we know what happened on that tragic day, many of us don't understand why it happened. In this important book, Time magazine reporter Mitch Frank clearly and concisely explains why and answers the following essential questions.What happened on September 11th?
-- Who were the hijackers?
-- What is terrorism?
-- What is Islam?
-- Why does the Middle East matter?
-- Why did the terrorists target the United States?
-- Why did we go after Afghanistan?
-- Who are the Taliban?
-- What are the differences between Islamism, Islamic fundamentalism, and Islam?
-- Who is Osama bin Laden?
-- How has America changed since September 11th?

Written and designed on a level that sixth graders and up can easily comprehend, and filled with pictures, maps, and straightforward explanations, this is the book that will enable young people to understand both the events of 9/11 and the history leading up to it. September 11th is a part of history that Americans should both know and never forget.

Genres: Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2002

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in 2002, less than one year after the attacks. It should be lauded that Scholastic purposefully produced a way to breakdown the event for children so quickly. It should not be judged harshly because we know more now about the surrounding context—and more about the event itself—than we did only ten short months afterward. It has its own failings, namely that it is keeps repeating facts and stories without the “understanding” piece that the title implies. It doesn’t provide discussion points, sidebars of explanation on specific aspects of the attack or its participants. To me it, it reflects of the author who—like everyone else—still didn’t know quite what to say or how to say it.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book. The subtitle is very misleading since much of the book was about the Islamic faith, al queda, and the taliban. While those are key parts to get to the leading cause of September 11th, they dove deep into the history that started to make a disconnect. If the subtitle was different I would not be so disappointed bit it very misleading.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding September 11th
Mitch Frank
Nonfiction
136 pages
Date finished was May 6th

This book was a very good and informative book. This book answered very important questions, which included What happened on September 11th. The answer to that question is on September 11th, 2001, America was attacked. Terrorists hijacked four airplanes and flew one into each of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the side of the Pentagon. Another question is Who were the hijackers. There were 19 men who were the hijackers and they killed thousands and thousands of people. America doesn't even know the real names of the men. What is Islam? The religious faith of one billion people throughout the world. Arabic for "submission( to God), Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad, who lived in Arabia in the seventh century. Who is Osama bin Laden? He is a very important terrorist. He was the leader of the men in the attack on America. What is a terrorists? Someone who uses violence to frighten others in order to achieve a political agenda is what a terrorists is. What is Taliban? The definition of that is Arabic for "students of Islam," it is also the name of the militantly Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. An individual student is called a talib. There is much more information than that but thats all for now! Read the book.

This book was very very great and informative and thats why I would rate this book a five. This book has general informative for example what happened on September 11th but also states more specific and other information that you probably did not know, for example, Why did the terrorists target the United States? This book also had great pictures with captions that was informative. This book had amazing vocabulary and you could go to the glossary at the back of the book. That was great that they had a glossary because whenever you come across a word you can go to the glossary. It also talks about what happened on September 11th 2001 and also present day. It talks about How has America Changed since September11th and that talks about right now.. We lost a lot of lives but America is staying strong. There is no reason why this book does not deserve a five! I loved this book and I would recommend this book to anybody if you are a child or and adult or of you are a boy or a girl. Anybody can learn and understand this book!

[Kayla Whitlock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I have on my own personal book shelf. I will let my class read it. This day is an important day in history and they need to know about it.