September 11, 2001: Attack on New York City

by Wilborn Hampton

The award-winning Wilborn Hampton recounts one horrifying day in history through the eyes of several people who experienced it firsthand.

A blind man and his dog struggling to escape from the burning North Tower, a company of firefighters risking their lives to help with the evacuation, an ordinary citizen turned rescue worker sifting through debris after the towers collapsed - each of these individuals endured a personal nightmare, and each carries a separate memory.

In SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: ATTACK ON NEW YORK CITY, Wilborn Hampton captures an unprecedented piece of history through interviews and accounts of survivors, heroes, and terrorists. In addition, the seasoned reporter tells his own story, thus bringing to readers the grieving, compassionate voice of a fellow New Yorker who was close to Ground Zero. Amplifying the narrative are fifty-four black-and-white photographs, indelible images of horror and heroism unfolding. The panorama of views Wilborn Hampton presents, following several individuals through September 11 and its aftermath, creates an intimate portrait of life and loss, and a deeper understanding of the events of that tragic day.
Back matter includes a bibliography, a filmography, and an index.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Read For School

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

WILBORN HAMPTON is the author of four books of nonfiction and one biography for Young Adults. In four decades as a reporter and editor for United Press International and The New York Times he helped cover some of the major news stories of the time. Now a full-time writer, he lives in New York.

Reviews

[Tamara Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter read this and was telling me about it so I read her copy before she returned it. My son picked it up and read a bunch of it as well. The three of us had a great discussion about it.

Very good description of 9/11 that helps you get different perspectives of several people involved in different ways. Touching. Sad. Moving. Inspiring. We should never forget and I'm glad my kids, who were born right before or after it happening, are leaning about it too.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a LOT from this book; having been just a freshmen in high school, I didn't fully understand the events of this day. This did an incredible job providing logistics of what literally took place as well as really impressing upon the reader the massive impact of this tragedy on New Yorkers. Super poignant and would be an extremely useful instructional tool for kids. It's VERY high interest and very accessible! I think this would go a long way in mixing up the rote 9/11 lesson every year.

[Eloy Araque · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book September 11, 2001, wroten by Wilborn Hampton is about the catastrofick attack at new york city, THe twin towers. There was two planes that crashed into the WTCNYC. (World Trade Center in New York). It talks about stories from people that were in the building and people that saw it. I recommend this book to people that like realistic fiction.

[Roberto Matias Rocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 its a really good book it puts you inside of many people perspectives, and it feels like you are in there shoes its shows the workers, cops, firefighters, and several other emergency services and details perfectly how the hijackers got to the airport and how one of them almost lost his flight and also it gives the people just walking around new york seeing a plane flying really fast and low and how the aftermath looked like a warzone with pictures and perfect detail and the book also mentions the attack on pentagon.

[Michelle Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But while never forgetting the outrage that took place on September 11, 2001, in the end we can only go forward, hoping that in another ten years, the healing powers of time will wipe away any lingering traces of the hatred and fear that those attacks generated. For hatred only begets hatred. And hatred feeds on fear. And unless we can find the courage to overcome the climate of hatred and fear that crept into our national psyche after the attacks, we will give those who carried them out, even in their deaths, a greater margin of victory than they ever imagined."

This is the ending of the postscript of the "Updated Edition," which explains how the United States went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, staved off further terrorist attacks, and killed Osama bin Laden. And for me, was the perfect ending to bring this story full circle.

The original book chronicles the story of 9-11 survivors, focusing on the attacks on the Twin Towers in NYC and acknowledging the plane crashes into the Pentagon and an empty field in Pennsylvania.

I read this book with my eighth grade students who were not yet alive in 2001. They approached this book with a sort of morbid curiosity and left it with deep compassion and mourning for the victims and their surviving friends and family. It was a difficult book for us to read, both in it's subject matter and high reading level, but my students stuck with it and felt a responsibility to understand what happened that day and how it has affected our nation since.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Like many, I remember where I was on September 11. I was in 1st grade, home sick from school in my grandparents' house. I was sitting on the couch in the living room, and I remember watching black clouds of smoke on the TV.
Because I was 6 years old and miles away, I never really learned much about what happened that day. Reading this book opened my eyes to this tragic, terrible event through individual people's stories, including the author's. Accessible for children, it provides context and a compelling narrative of what happened on that day that all of America remembers.

[Angel Sandoval · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book was so sad that 3,000 people have died. I would recommend this book to people that like history. The book is about the bombing of new york

[KO Farish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captured the fear and hope of humanity in a digestible fashionable, given the harrowing subject.

“After watching the huge skyscraper swallow up the plane, Jim Kenworthy instinctively started running toward the building where his wife worked. After one block, he thought of Beth and Billie. He turned and ran in the other direction, toward Beth's school. Jim had run two blocks back north when it occurred to him that Ginger might be lying wounded, unconscious even, somewhere in the World Trade Center. He should be trying to find her. He stopped and turned around again and started running south. After one block, he halted. He had gone four blocks in two directions and was now in exactly the same spot where he had watched the jetliner disappear into the side of the North Tower.”

[Vidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book September 11 2001 is about 9/11. This book specifically is about specific people who survived 9/11. The terrorist group who knocked down our Twin Towers and the World Trade Center and some of the Pentagon were called Al Queda. They hijacked planes and the people on all the planes died. More than 2,500 people died that day.

I think they should have included more pictures of people and the buildings after the attack.My opinion on this book is that it was very emotional because so many lives were lost and I can't imagine how hard that must be for their family members.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't read these type of books, but this was really good and gave a lot of detail about what happened September 11, 2001....

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing account of this event - several different stories of victims and heroes. So descriptive and tastefully written.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant and meaningful collection of first-hand accounts from people who were near, or inside, the twin towers after the attack. Great resource, although a little hard to swallow in one piece.

[Catmom 4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. Always interested in Survivors stories, plus, it contains some facts I never knew. This is definitely a Keeper for my collection of books.

[R]

Detailed. Various perspectives. Recommended to adult readers.

[Phoenix]

This book is sad, interesting and heartbreaking. This book talks about the lives lost in 9/11, peoples thoughts on this terrible day and how it made them feel. This book has a very powerful feeling talking about the attacks.

[Chris Toro]

September 11, 2001 Attack on New York City by Wilborn Hampton. This book solves the problem of low security in airports and other public places. The author has done research, talked to survivors, and talked to families who lost loved ones. He has shown from multiple points of view of what happened that day. He has shown how tragic everything was for the people on that day.

This book is not only sad but depressing. Even the happiest person in the world would cry. I am grateful that we have better security measures now otherwise the same thing could happen. People inside with no hope staring death in the eye somehow live to see tomorrow and tell their story. The first responders risked their lives for others even though it meant death. Photos taken show the devastation and panic.

I think this book was a lesson that tells us never to underestimate the power of others. also to never take a life for granted. I can’t relate to a book that’s about death and destruction because it’s one of Americas greatest tragedies that no one can compare unless they were a part of it. I had no favorite part in this book, it’s one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read. My least favorite part is when people tell the stories of their loved ones and how they lost them not because of fate but because of man. I wouldn’t change the book only because its full of lessons and basically shows even in our darkest hour we still rise together to help one another. That’s America that’s the people that’s the truth and that’s why I feel strong about this book. I would recommend this book to Jordan Maldonado and that’s all I have to say about this book

[Kandice Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read about Sept 11 and the events, lives, and moments that happened that day sets itself up as a personal narrative. The author gives accounts of everyday people going through their morning rituals and arriving at work before that stark day occurred. The author gives you accurate times, dates, and actions that account that day. This is an awesome expository and informational narrative because of its attention to the personal narratives of the people.
I would use this in my classroom as an argumentative piece. It includes the account of the terrorists that day and paints their story in a very neutral light. I would set this story as a mark towards journalism. My students and I could read parts of this story, pick an event that is happening in their community and become little journalists. I would push my students to right factual work instead of opinion.

[Kerrie McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my reading skills class, made up of seven 6th grade boys. We loved the book and they were shocked by the information they learned. The kids, who are not all avid readers, did not want to put the book down. They learned so much about a tragic event that occurred in America when they were only one year olds. There is higher level vocabulary words, many photographs, and accurate information. Many of the students decided to buy the book so they could own a copy. I'd have to say this book was the best read I have done with any class. They now understand the magnitude of what happened on September 11th.

[Anna Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very thorough and interesting view into multiple lives and how they were impacted by the events of 9-11. I was intrigued by the personal stories of rescue workers, survivors, mourning family members, and terrorists who were involved in the tragedies of that day. The heroic tales balanced the horrors so that it was palpable reading. Good historic reports make me interested in reading more. (I had similar experiences in my quests to learn more about Columbine and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire). After this book, I sought out further recounts of what occured on 9-11, and that to me speaks highly of the quality of this text.

[Romi (likes books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Walker Books for this review copy!

This was an incredibly powerful, informative, heart-wrenching book. Stories from survivors, those who lost family and friends, it was awful to relive their pain and the memory of those who died in September 11, but this was done so well, was so thoughtful and thought-provoking.

[Alejandra Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't write reviews really but this book was so powerful. The personal accounts just really go straight to the heart. As the author says "I wish this book had never been written. That is to say, I wish there had never been a reason for it to be written." This attack affected thousands and if anyone couldn't really understand it because they were so young- read this book and you will.

[Joseph Wengerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written account of the events of September 11, 2001. Hampton's focus on the different perspectives of those who faced that day was interesting. Although I appreciated all of the accounts, Omar Rivera's was quite thought-provoking. This book is written in a way that is accessible to young adults while still being enjoyable for adults.

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read and I liked it because it gave you a look at 9/11 from different people's perspectives.

[Alex!s Slomka]

It is good so far!!!! Very descriptive with real life stories and very graphic pics of what happened!!!! I recommend this book to everyone and it has a lexile of 1060. :)

[Nor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kata anak saya, dia sengaja pilih buku ni semasa BBW untuk lihat kejadian 11 September dari kacamata Non Muslim.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Short stories about different people who were affected.

[Armand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent, uncluttered, matter of fact account of the events of September 11, 2001.

[Sameer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book!

[Alejandro Medina]

What I thought about the book was great because it explained what exactly happen and the effects on people.

[Brenton C · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like the book, it changed peoples storys every page so i learned a lot about it.