In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks: A Graphic Novel

by Don Brown

A graphic novel chronicling the immediate aftermath and rippling effects of September 11, 2001.

The consequences of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, both political and personal, were vast, and continue to reverberate today. Don Brown brings his journalistic eye and attention to individual stories to help teens contextualize what they already know about the day, as well as broaden their understanding of the chain of events that occurred in the attack’s wake.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Historical, Comics, Teen

128 pages, Hardcover

Published August 10, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Don Brown is the award-winning author and illustrator of many picture book biographies. He has been widely praised for his resonant storytelling and his delicate watercolor paintings that evoke the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. School Library Journal has called him "a current pacesetter who has put the finishing touches on the standards for storyographies." He lives in New York with his family.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers is one of the newest books about September 11, 2001. Author and illustrator Don Brown definitely worked to bring the events of the day to life, and he succeeded at showing the sheer devastation, on both the material level (the overwhelming amount of wreckage to sift through and clean up) and human level (the huge number of lives lost). Nevertheless, the book falls short because he didn’t convey something basic: that this devastation was intimately bound up with an all-consuming sense of grief. Condensing a tragedy of such wide scope down to word bubbles and drawings may just be too challenging; this is an unemotional, mediocre work, hardly doing justice to one of America’s saddest days.

The book starts right after the South tower collapses. Events then unfold in a haphazard way as Brown included certain notable aspects and details but not others, with lesser-known facts interspersed throughout. Opening scenes are centered on a documentary filmmaker who happened to be in New York City that day working on a documentary about firefighters. But in the next pages, Brown forgot about this filmmaker and jumped back and forth to different events of the day, such as the crashes at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania; George W. Bush; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; and recovery efforts at the “Pile” (as the World Trade Center ruins came to be known).

The illustrations are in perfect harmony with the chaos that is the story. They’re messy and ugly and show what happened only in a broad way. Details are few; faces have little, if any, expression. Pain isn’t shown. The palette Brown used is drab--mostly watercolor grays, browns, and some dusty blues--though appropriate given the day’s widespread misery.

It could be argued that such slapdash construction actually works, that Brown did all this to highlight just how disorienting the day was. However, when done successfully that kind of intentionalism leaves no room for doubt. The timing of publication--so close to the 20th anniversary--suggests that this book was probably just rushed.

An afterword fleshes out some of what came before, and following this is a page of interesting statistics that break down things like the ethnicity, gender, and median age of those who died. This isn’t exactly a necessary read, but I still got something out of it. In particular, reading the book on and around the 20th anniversary felt like a kind of somber meditation to personally honor the day. Adults and teens will be able to appreciate the information best, and this graphic novel could be a good accompaniment to school lessons about the tragedy. Really, though, the tragedy probably can’t be simplified in a way that does it justice, and readers would be better off with a true nonfiction account with all the details and emotion.

Complementary viewing: 2021 docu-series "Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror"

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we try to process the heartbreaking footage coming out of Afghanistan, this book is an important testimony to how the war in Afghanistan began. Don Brown gives us graphics and images showing us the events of 9/11 and the aftershocks. I believe many will benefit from this work, especially now as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of that day in less than a month. This is a complex subject and even after 20 years, there are still things we do not know -- including the exact number of victims. For those who want to explore this subject in more depth, Don Brown also has a nonfiction book that was published for juvenile audiences to commemorate the tenth anniversary. The titleAmerica Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell. For older teens and adults, I heartily recommend The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 on audio for chronological and comprehensive coverage of that day.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very powerful. Brown has collected small, personal stories to share in this story we think we know well. The rescues, the long hours and dedication of the workers who walked thru death. The tower site itself as it was excavated.

The firefighters' beepers going off days after their deaths in the rubble, but workers didn't know if the beeper was the actual location of the person.

The hospitals that quickly mobilized rooms for survivors, only to realize they would not be needed.

The attacks on Muslim Americans in the wake of the attack, including one woman who was nearly run down by someone in their car.

The awful moment when rescue became recovery.

This short book will bring back all those horrors to those of us who have memories of 9/11. It is a powerful introduction to students who know nothing. It will inspire more research.

[Maeghan K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels really rambly, but I'm having a lot of mixed emotions, so bear with me (if you want).

Reading this made me realize two things: how much I've (apparently) actively avoided reading other books featuring 9/11 as a central plot, and how much my trauma from living through it as a tween impacted my memory of the events of the day (and those that followed). I've had teens at work find out that I'm from New York and ask me what it was like to live through this, and I always struggle to answer. It was obviously very scary to experience this as a child, and not understand the concept of terrorism in general, but I feel like the kids who ask want facts about the attacks, and I often feel like I can only speak to the mental and emotional impact it had on me, specifically. I guess that's the result of my trauma.

Don Brown's take on the 9/11 terrorist attacks will certainly evoke an emotional response. Quotes from "characters" in this work were taken from interviews with survivors, and they read with great authenticity. I think this will be a fascinating read for middle school and high school students who were not alive for this. I wouldn't discourage younger or older readers than that, however.

I did not cry, but felt quite choked up at times going through this book. Even though I lived through it, I felt like an outsider while reading. I always think that I want to read historical fiction for kids taking place during 9/11, but never get around to it. I grew up just a short train ride away from New York City and I typically attribute the "explosion" of my anxiety to this event. It's hard to battle my desire to understand it better while simultaneously trying to bury the experience. This latest work by Don Brown begins to scratch that itch, if only because it is so short for such a huge day in American history. My "bad librarian" confession for the day is that this is the first book of his that I've read, so I cannot compare--but I wonder if I'd feel the same about his take on Hurricane Katrina? His books always seem so short, but is it that there's just too much info to pack into one volume, or that he only skims the surface, and a bit lower?

This publication seems very purposefully timed with the 20th anniversary of 9/11. As such, it's been hovering in the back of my mind a lot during this early part of fall. I remember being picked up from school that day, and not understanding why so many of us were getting called to the office to meet our parents. Was it interrupting my social studies lesson, like I remembered it? Or does that just fit in well with the narrative of such a historic day? I'll always question it.

I asked my mom what was going on when she showed up, and she said, "It's just such a beautiful day, and I wanted to spend it with you and your brother." I thought that was weird, but just went with it, because why would my mom lie to me? It just didn't make sense with so many other kids getting picked up. She must have been trying not to alarm other kids waiting. I don't remember for sure if she told us on the short car ride home, or when we walked into the house, or if I just figured it out when I stupidly turned on the TV. It felt like all the channels were reporting on the attacks and it was overwhelming for my 11 year old self. I distinctly remember going to Nickelodeon and being angry that they were playing episodes of SpongeBob while something so devastating was happening.

I started drinking a lot of tea that year, so that it would "calm" me. I don't think I've ever really been calm since, honestly. My anxiety skyrocketed after that day--and I'm sure so many other kids were in the same situation. If anyone can recommend a middle grade novel that touches on this, that takes place during 9/11, I would love to know it. That's the book I needed then, and obviously could not have.

[Ali Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic graphic novel representation of the events of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11th 2001.

Many of my pupils were born after this massively world changing event and, while my memories of it are clear, their knowledge may be limited.

I learned a lot from this graphic novel - for example, there is a list of statistics at the back which quantifies the human loss and provides demographic information. Also, throughout, there are personal stories about people who survived, were rescued, joined in on the rescue effort and so on. This personal outlook helps the reader to see the human side.

I also learned about some of the practices at Guantanamo Bay and the process that the America government underwent to try and hold someone accountable for the atrocity. I did find that it managed a certain element of balance as it mentions some of the torture/interrogation techniques, and the afterword highlights some of the problematic aspects regarding who was captured by American forces, and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is not a great amount of detail on this, but for a graphic novel aimed at young readers I think it does well to introduce a non biased account that young people can then go away and research. Research is aided by a handy bibliography at the end.

The art work is lovely, the colours chosen really reflect how many of us remember that day - greys, browns and muted tones with the only colour coming from the American flag.

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that is accompanied by well written and informative text.

Thank you to the publisher, Etch/HMH Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for access to this eARC. I will be recommending it to my pupils when it is published, and I have already pre-ordered it for my library.

[Hannah]

This shit is WILD. My memory of this day, four days after I turned thirteen, is so removed. We didn’t watch TV in the morning, so it wasn’t until I stepped on the school bus that I heard anything at all, and at that moment the radio was discussing the local Air Force base being on high alert, so I assumed something was going down locally in Tucson. It took until home room, watching Channel One, for me to grasp what had happened. The political aftermath is so blurry to me and I’m not convinced this book makes it much clearer, but at least it doesn’t paint W or Rumsfeld as heroes (weirdly, where is Condie? It’s not like I like her, but how does Secretary of State not figure into this story? There are like two women mentioned at all, only one of whom is given a name). Anyway, I’m so aghast and in existential crisis that this is HISTORY to everyone who is currently a teen that I can barely be critical and “objective,” but I think it will probably be vaguely helpful as an intro? The meandering into the Middle East is a little too jumpy to make sense in the overall “plot,” and that’s where the book falters, but it really does tug at you to see the ways this tragedy completely altered daily life in New York City, because THAT is an element I really never thought about all the way on the other side of the country. This makes it less abstract.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, those of us who were alive during the 9/11 attacks remember exactly where we were when it happened. And in the following weeks, months, and years, we learned so much more about the attacks and the personal stories of survivors from NYC. But in this graphic novel, filled primarily with grey illustrations, we see how bleak and terrifying those first few days and weeks were. While there's limited information in this book, I think it would be a helpful introduction to the topic before diving deeper.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic treatment will be a history lesson to part of its audience...it's so strange to think that there's a whole generation that has no memory of 9/11, but I suppose every age group says that about their own tragic national events.

The book is straightforward in its recounting of the day and its aftermath, and doesn't get political or controversial. It does explore a bit of the lesser thought-of consequences of the destruction of the towers and the loss of so many lives at once. The book shines when it spotlights individual stories--from the handful of people who miraculously survived in the rubble to those who risked, and sometimes lost, their own digging them out.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some information was new; most brought back memories. Hated the line about how attacks against Muslims went up again in 2016 - past the amount from 2001. Hate is such a strong emotion that had a huge impact on Americans that day and even twenty years later.

[Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning and moving.

[Rachael Fryman]

*Note: I received an early review copy via Netgalley from the publisher.

[Heather Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars...

This was a very good graphic adaption of the tragic events that happened on 9/11. I enjoyed the addition of Newfoundland, which I didn't know that aspect until I read "The Day the World came to Town". I appreciated that being covered in another book about 9/11. Maybe because of the vast number of 9/11 books (both nonfiction & fictionalized) this didn't offer a new viewpoint or anything extraordinary.

I do love Don Brown's books and highly recommend "Drowned City" about Hurricane Katrina.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations, and story, by Don Brown are wonderful, troubling, moving, and sad at the same time. He included the story of Jules Naudet, a filmmaker who was documenting a firefighting crew in Lower Manhattan on 9/11/2001 when he filmed the first plane slammed into the North Tower.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the storytelling was a bit disjointed, I think this book could help young people who weren't alive when 9/11 happened understand what it was like to live through it.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Don Brown. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001 changed the world irrevocably.

Commemorating 9/11 two decades after the tragedy, Brown offers a visual recollection of Sept. 11, 2001, that both humanizes and poignantly remembers an overwhelming chapter in American history, portraying the experiences of real individuals who lived through the attacks and their aftermath.

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks is written and constructed rather well. Sourced extensively from news articles, documentaries, and reports, the quotes and harrowing, accessibly worded stories of survivors, first responders, volunteers, and soldiers are rendered in evocative, muted black lines and washes of watercolor.

Panels adeptly guide and sustain reader attention, with perspectives or subject matter shifting as intensity builds. Two-thirds of the graphic novel centers New York City on and around September 11, though accounts from the Pentagon attack and Shanksville plane crash are included. Notable is Brown's ability to depict, in this economical format, the event's wide-ranging aftereffects, including Islamophobia, the physical and mental health toll on workers dismantling "the Pile," and U.S. soldiers ending up on horseback in Afghanistan.

All in all In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks is a deeply moving account of the immediate aftermath and lasting effects of the largest terrorist attack on United States soil.

[Anna Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the ARC from Netgalley.

It took me three days to read this, not because the text was too dense or difficult, but because I became overwhelmed and would start weeping. Thankfully, I didn't lose any family members that day, but I remember the exact moment I learned about the tragedy with sharp clarity.

As a K-8 librarian for 9 years, I saw many students reference 9/11, but it was clear that they didn't really understand the full impact. How could they? Many of them were born about 10 years after it happened. This title, along with Don Brown's other book about 9/11 (America is Under Attack), are great references for students trying to understand the impact and significance of this terror attack. Don Brown is a wonderful writer and, though he doesn't shy away from the true horrors of the events he writes about, he is sensitive to his audience and makes the details accessible.
While Brown's other book focuses more on the timeline and details of the attack, In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers showcases multiple perspectives, and also mentions the precipitous increase in anti-Muslim racism that followed.

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This is a powerful graphic novel of what happened not only the day of 9/11, but a period of time afterwards as well. It covers some of the political and social repercussions as well as details of some of the people that are associated with this day for a variety of reasons. It was a one sitting read and there could have definitely been more detail and content, but this is a good overall view for students who know of this event, but not details of what actually happened. The book even covers things like the grounding of planes and having all the extra people in Gander, Newfoundland and how the president wanted to fly back to DC and was vetoed. There are a couple of pages in the back with more background information and an extensive bibliography that could be used by students looking for more information as well. The illustrations seems the capture the feel of this as well. Something I'll be recommending for sure.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent non-fiction historical graphic novel by author Don Brown. This very informative graphic novel shares over 100 pages of historical context to one of the darkest days in the history of the United States of America. Many who lived through it can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing on that fateful Tuesday morning. This is a must read for all MS/HS students and all teachers! Also be sure to read the Afterword, Statistics, Source Notes, and 8-page Bibliography. This book is a treasure!

[Kristi Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another example of excellent research and a melding of multiple voices to tell the story of 9/11, both the day of and the years that followed. Don Brown again chronicles historical events through the words of people who lived them. The graphic novel format is the perfect way to provide context and emphasize the breadth of the events with a relatively minimal amount of text.

[Mary Havens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third Don Brown book ("Great American Dust Bowl" and "Drowned City") and by far, the most difficult to read due to the subject matter. I remember really liking "Drowned City" for the way it encapsulated the experience of Hurricane Katrina. I don't remember much about "Great American Dust Bowl"....I think I read it fairly soon after reading "The Worst Hard Time" and I remember thinking that Brown had done an amazing job of taking such a complicated time and condensing it into a graphic novel. He has a great gift in this ability.
This one....in May, my best friend and I visited the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial and ugly-cried our way through it. There were so many things I had forgotten during that time and they all came back in fits and starts. I was 15 when the OKC Bombing happened and I really didn't grasp the situation. The museum was amazing and honored the victims of that tragedy so well in preserving and relating their stories.
I walked away from that museum thinking "Gosh, how much harder would it be to tell the story of 9/11? Only 168 people died in OKC." Well, after reading this graphic novel, I realize it would be so much harder to tell the 9/11 story. One, there are so many more victims. For me personally, I was 20 when it happened and had a much greater grasp of the suffering. Two: the impact of 9/11 was felt all over America. OKC was too but I was too young, I think, to really understand the gravity. There was no question about the impact of 9/11.
There are just so many stories to tell and Brown does a great job, again, of condensing the narrative into a graphic novel format. It was powerful reading and I've not yet recovered from it.

[Amy Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Brown excels at creating graphic nonfiction for younger readers that introduces pivotal events in U.S. history (the 1918 flu pandemic, the Dust Bowl, Hurricane Katrina, and more). In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers truly captures the tragedy, heroism, and aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Whether you remember that terrible day vividly, or are learning some of the details for the first time, this is a worthwhile read. All of Don Brown's books leave me wanting to know more, which I see as a plus: they are introductory overviews of events that will hopefully lead readers to further, more comprehensive sources.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I wonder how the teens I work with think about it. The events of September 11, 2001 are certainly etched into my memory—but today's teens weren't even born when these attacked happened. Does 9/11 feel far away and removed to them? Do they wonder what it was like to live through those traumatic times?

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers brings readers right into the moment the towers were struck and the devastating, chaotic aftermath. Don Brown masterfully create an accessible and immersive chronicle that's presented in a graphic novel format. Powerful and riveting, this will appeal to teens wanting to know more about this tragedy.

[Megan Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really got a lot out of this. It’s a young adult graphic novel about 9-11.

It’s very factual as it reports what happened on that day. It shows the situation from a few angles and locations.

I actually found it unique and impactful to have the book devoid of emotional language, the pictures and facts pack a real punch in helping any reader understand the graveness of the situation.

I was left wanting a little more about the events preceding 9-11 and the aftermath (including more specific stories) but I’d recommend this to anyone wanting to understand that historical day better.

If I had a teen wanting to learn more this would be a great resource. It is blunt, detailed and devastating, but that seems appropriate for this tragedy.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel starts out a little bit like news, but as you read through it, you see the destruction that happened on 9/11, the trauma that so many suffered, and the hard work and goodwill to help survivors. There are also a few snippets about how American military reacted in Afghanistan. This is recommended for grades 7+ (ages 12 and up), and this is due to a few mentions of interrogating and torturing Taliban (eg. waterboarding ). I would definitely recommend this for teens.

I got this ARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Emily Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers is a graphic novel about September 11. It is a quick read and has a lot of good, probably unknown, facts about September 11 and the stories surrounding it. It talks about firefighters, people in government leadership, troops in Afghanistan, and more. It jumped around and that made it hard to follow at times. Some people were mentioned in one frame and never mentioned again. Overall, a good book about September 11 for middle school kids.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hated the book "Fever Year" by this author but this was good. It's a broad overview of 9/11. It doesn't focus strictly on the falling towers, but more on what happened after they fell. I will say that I learned multiple things from this book. The author provides sources for everything which is great. It does not shy from the difficult stuff but it doesn't delve deep into them and it does not provide gruesome depictions which makes this a great recommendation for young kids who are looking to understand this tragic event.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

IN THE SHADOW OF THE FALLEN TOWERS is Don Brown’s graphic recounting events following the 9/11 Attacks on the Towers and the Pentagon from the moment of the “jetliner slamming into the North Tower of the World Trade Center” to the one-year anniversary ceremonies at the Pentagon; in Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and at Ground Zero. It also covers the fighting of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the capture and interrogation of prisoners from an al-Qaeda hideout in Pakistan.

The drawings allow readers to bear witness to the heroism of the first responders, firefighters, and police as they move from rescue to recovery over the ten months following the attacks and learn the stories of some of the survivors they saved. It is the story of the nameless “strangers [who] help[ed] one another, carrying the injured, offering water to the thirsty, and comforting the weeping.” (23)

We learn and view details that we may have not known, such as “Bullets start to fly when the flames and heat set off ammunition from fallen police officers’ firearms,” (11) the “Pentagon workers [who] plunge[d] into the smoke-filled building to restore water pressure made feeble by pipes broken in the attack,” (36) and former military who donned their old uniforms and “bluff[ed their way] past the roadblocks” to “sneak onto the Pile” to help. (50, 52)

For more mature readers this book adds to the story of 9/11 in a more “graphic” way.

Three stars because, while the graphics tell the story in an effective way, the text is not particularly well-written or engaging.

[Adam Rugnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

September 11 from a fresh perspective. Not only does Mr. Brown’s story teach the basics in a way a kid or adult can grasp, he tells the story of individuals giving you a sense for the million personal dramas the day had. From the real story of a rescue dog that passes out, gets a respirator, and gets back to work to a victim who woke up on tall pile of rubble having no idea what had happened. This is a great graphic novel ideal for teachers.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s shocking to realize that the audience for this YA graphic novel was not born when 9/11 happened. I guess I’ve reached that age.

This is by no means a complete history of the attacks, but it does serve as a good outline of the gray and grim aftermath. There were a few miracles in those days and weeks after, but even they occurred with hints of tragedy and sorrow, almost serving to highlight the depths of the loss.

[Mary Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting graphic novel taking us back to 9/11 and then having us walk in the shoes of the people in the middle of the attacks that day. Follows the history through that first year.
Extremely well done – and though it reminded me of the time we lived through, it also showed me how much I still don’t know about that day and what came next.