What do you think?
Rate this book
I Survived Graphix #4
I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001: A Graphic Novel
A gripping graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001, in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad's best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas's parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.
The next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It's a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle's firehouse, everything changes -- and nothing will ever be the same again.
Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in bold graphic novels. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.
The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad's best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas's parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.
The next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It's a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle's firehouse, everything changes -- and nothing will ever be the same again.
Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in bold graphic novels. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2021
406 people are currently reading
909 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Ball
137 books54 followersGeorgia Ball is a writer and developer living in Orlando, Florida. She launched her first webcomic in 2004, Scooter and Ferret, with her husband, artist Scott Ball. The strip ran until 2010 when she landed her first gig writing for licensed comic books. Since then she's written for Transformers, Scooby-Doo, My Little Pony, and Disney Princesses. Her horror credits include four issues of Evil Dead 2.
Recent projects have included Disney's Frozen Comic Collection from Joe Books, three Strawberry Shortcake graphic novels from IDW Publishing and a WWII graphic novel on Guadalcanal for Osprey Publishing. She lives with her husband and daughter with their dog and two cats.
Recent projects have included Disney's Frozen Comic Collection from Joe Books, three Strawberry Shortcake graphic novels from IDW Publishing and a WWII graphic novel on Guadalcanal for Osprey Publishing. She lives with her husband and daughter with their dog and two cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
November 19, 2021
I have been a fan of the I Survived series for many years and when the graphic novels started coming out I was thrilled. The kids I meet at my library really love our graphic novel section. It is difficult to keep that section full due to the popularity of the series and the fact that many of the items are published in paperback and the books break down more quickly due to all the checkouts. Putting this series out in hardcover could not have come at a better time. This one particularly is being released in the year when we remember the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attack. The story of Lucas and his experiences on that day show the severity of the attack and the pain and suffering that resulted. Those of us who were alive on that day have very clear memories of where we were and what we were doing. There is a whole new generation who has no connection to this calamitous event without stories like these. A big thank you to Lauren Tarshis for writing the original book to keep this story in our memories. Never forget.
August 6, 2021
My middle school students LOVE the I Survived series! I'm so glad these books are being adapted into graphic novel formats to make these stories even more accessible and engaging for kids! Having graphics to help kids visualize these historical events that happened before they were born is so helpful. I appreciated the several pages of back matter in this book to help young readers understand more of what happened that tragic day and the days, months, and years after.
December 9, 2023
I liked the illustrations in this I survived graphic novel better than the others.
Read
July 30, 2021 Available August 3, 2021!
One Sentence Summary: NY Firefighter's son POV during 9/11, now in a GN adaptation!
Reminds Me of: I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (novel) meets In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks
Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1) Lauren Tarshis is amazing with MG historical fiction.
2) This will be the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
3) Fantastic buddy read if you have young readers in your life with questions about this infamous day.
One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick it Up:
This is a graphic novelization of the previously released chapter book of the same name. So this would be an excellent way to get a struggling reader into a fantastic series with lots of options! (so many titles as chapter books, and a growing list be adapted to GN format!)
Favorite Quote (taken from my early reader's copy):
"Dad and I marched out of the dust...and we kept marching on. Together." (p. 140-141)
*Disclaimer: I received a an early copy of this title for review from Graphix via Edelweiss.
One Sentence Summary: NY Firefighter's son POV during 9/11, now in a GN adaptation!
Reminds Me of: I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (novel) meets In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks
Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1) Lauren Tarshis is amazing with MG historical fiction.
2) This will be the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
3) Fantastic buddy read if you have young readers in your life with questions about this infamous day.
One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick it Up:
This is a graphic novelization of the previously released chapter book of the same name. So this would be an excellent way to get a struggling reader into a fantastic series with lots of options! (so many titles as chapter books, and a growing list be adapted to GN format!)
Favorite Quote (taken from my early reader's copy):
"Dad and I marched out of the dust...and we kept marching on. Together." (p. 140-141)
*Disclaimer: I received a an early copy of this title for review from Graphix via Edelweiss.
October 26, 2023
I read this book in a quick 35ish minutes and I will say I liked it. I’m not usually a graphic novel person but a while ago in school I read the actual book book and thought I might as well see what the graphic novel was like. I loved that it was an easy read and it helped me wind down which out having to comprehend too much. I also appreciate that Lauren Tarshis put facts at the end of this book and her experience about 9/11 and I really enjoyed learning more about that day that I’ve always asked about.
April 1, 2022
"I like that Lauren Tarshish, the author, added Uncle Benny to the end of the story because she wanted Lucas to have a happy ending. Uncle Benny is a fireman and wouldn't have made it out of tower #1 if he hadn't gotten out just before it collapsed." -Cadee, age 9
December 9, 2021
Such a sad depiction of 9/11.
June 30, 2022
I haven't read the narrative, just the graphic novel version, but I'm picking and choosing some since their popularity with my own middle school kids but also that we have them in our high school library.
I did read the author's note at the end to explain the story and how she arrived at the ending, however I do agree that it should have ended with Uncle Benny's death. I understand that plenty survived, however, but paying homage to those first responders who did die by showcasing the boy who survived while others didn't would have been a more fitting end. It's also middle grade and generally tries to end hopefully, so I get it. This one actually didn't focus so much on the event itself, instead couching it in the story of playing football and his dad's recovery from a fire as a firefighter when 9/11 happens with the majority of understanding the actual event (and its aftermath) in the additional materials in the back.
I did read the author's note at the end to explain the story and how she arrived at the ending, however I do agree that it should have ended with Uncle Benny's death. I understand that plenty survived, however, but paying homage to those first responders who did die by showcasing the boy who survived while others didn't would have been a more fitting end. It's also middle grade and generally tries to end hopefully, so I get it. This one actually didn't focus so much on the event itself, instead couching it in the story of playing football and his dad's recovery from a fire as a firefighter when 9/11 happens with the majority of understanding the actual event (and its aftermath) in the additional materials in the back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
this is a popular series at school and i have a student who reads me a few pages of this book every day. i decided to read ahead and finish the book so i knew what was coming plot-wise and what details of the actual events were and were not included, bc i have a feeling he will have a lot of questions as we read along.
October 26, 2024
4🌟
RTC
RTC
December 22, 2024
This did a great job of telling the story of 9/11, I am in tears though.
May 26, 2022
I have a kid who is very interested in catastrophic events and also fairly sensitive, and this book struck that balance really well - gave lots of information in a gentle way (considering the horrific topic), especially by focusing on the first responders much more than the terrorists.
October 10, 2021
I read this weeks ago, but felt too overwhelmed to write a review. This graphic novel is very intense, and I cried through the entire second half, because it brought back the terror of 9/11 so vividly, through the eyes of a firefighter's son who is there in Manhattan. The story is very well-written, meaningful, and honest without ever sensationalizing the horror, and I appreciated the author's note at the end, where Lauren Tarshis wrote about her initial reluctance to cover this story and about her own 9/11 experience. There is also a historical note with additional information for kids.
This graphic novel is incredibly visceral and powerful. I was interested in reading this because of the visual medium, even though I had never read the chapter book it was adapted from. I really appreciated the authentic, moving portrayal of the traumatic event, and the boy's reactions all seemed very authentic. However, I would definitely give this book a trigger warning for anyone who experienced loss during 9/11, and for kids who are sensitive to violence and horror. None of the depictions in this book are gory, but they don't hold back, either.
It feels weird to give a trigger warning for sensitive kids, since I'm the most sensitive kid I've ever known, and I watched 9/11 unfold on TV shortly before my fifth birthday. Still, parents and teachers need to consider kids' temperaments and life experiences before handing them this book, because it is INTENSE. If someone isn't sure if their kid can handle this, I would encourage them to start with the chapter book. Granted, my younger sister said that reading the chapter book traumatized her when she was a child, even though she enjoyed the rest of the I Survived series, so some kids won't even want to read that. Still, the visual content hugely increases the impact and the feeling of secondary trauma, and even though this book is excellent, it is important for young readers and the adults in their lives to approach this carefully and perhaps process it together.
This graphic novel is incredibly visceral and powerful. I was interested in reading this because of the visual medium, even though I had never read the chapter book it was adapted from. I really appreciated the authentic, moving portrayal of the traumatic event, and the boy's reactions all seemed very authentic. However, I would definitely give this book a trigger warning for anyone who experienced loss during 9/11, and for kids who are sensitive to violence and horror. None of the depictions in this book are gory, but they don't hold back, either.
It feels weird to give a trigger warning for sensitive kids, since I'm the most sensitive kid I've ever known, and I watched 9/11 unfold on TV shortly before my fifth birthday. Still, parents and teachers need to consider kids' temperaments and life experiences before handing them this book, because it is INTENSE. If someone isn't sure if their kid can handle this, I would encourage them to start with the chapter book. Granted, my younger sister said that reading the chapter book traumatized her when she was a child, even though she enjoyed the rest of the I Survived series, so some kids won't even want to read that. Still, the visual content hugely increases the impact and the feeling of secondary trauma, and even though this book is excellent, it is important for young readers and the adults in their lives to approach this carefully and perhaps process it together.
Read
November 3, 2025not how i remember it
September 7, 2021
Possibly an unpopular opinion: I don't love all middle grade graphic novels. Some of them are terrible. BUT some of them are really good, and this one falls into the second category.
Lauren Tarshis is a master storyteller, and her style shows in this adaptation. She does great research, makes the stories very accessible to middle grade or upper elementary kiddos, and presents everything with class - it's so easy to use dramatized or sensationalized images and stories but she keeps it manageable and straightforward. All of my kids read this book when I brought it home, ages 17, 15, 12, and 10. I've been a big fan of pretty much anything that I've read by Ms. Tarshis.
Lauren Tarshis is a master storyteller, and her style shows in this adaptation. She does great research, makes the stories very accessible to middle grade or upper elementary kiddos, and presents everything with class - it's so easy to use dramatized or sensationalized images and stories but she keeps it manageable and straightforward. All of my kids read this book when I brought it home, ages 17, 15, 12, and 10. I've been a big fan of pretty much anything that I've read by Ms. Tarshis.
July 1, 2025
The I Survived Graphic Novel series is super popular in the elementary school library where I work. I’ve read a few now and I’m not surprised why kids enjoy them! It’s a great way to engage kids with historical events. The story is engaging and I especially love the graphic novel format.
The backmatter provides more detail and historical context. (For example, I was pleased to see some mention in the backmatter for this 9/11 story about the illnesses first responders faced in the years after).
This 9/11 story made me cry. The horror and humanity of it all was so well captured.
The backmatter provides more detail and historical context. (For example, I was pleased to see some mention in the backmatter for this 9/11 story about the illnesses first responders faced in the years after).
This 9/11 story made me cry. The horror and humanity of it all was so well captured.
January 1, 2026
I was challenged by my Library to read a graphic novel to fulfill a bingo spot on my Winter Reading Program. I chose this book because we were recently in New York City. Our tour guides all showed us the new One World Trade Center on the skyline & told of what the City was like on that tragic day when the Twin Towers went down. It really hit home & memories flooded back - where I was, the fear of what was going on & all the events going on around the world. We visited the memorial a few years ago in New York City, but did not go into the Museum. Hopefully some day. But hearing our tour guides talk about living in NYC that day & how frightening it was really made me realize the impact of that terrorist event. This book was a really good story of that day’s effects on someone & a nice capsule of information in the back. A good choice for my bingo spot.
February 24, 2022
My 10 yr old found this in her school library after we had a conversation about 9/11 over dinner one night. She brought it home and said "mom, I you should read this I think you would like it."
This graphic novel does a fantastic job of illustrating what a scary and confusing day that was. I'm grateful for creators whose work gives us space and time to make sense of the world.
I will for sure check out the rest of the series.
This graphic novel does a fantastic job of illustrating what a scary and confusing day that was. I'm grateful for creators whose work gives us space and time to make sense of the world.
I will for sure check out the rest of the series.
September 28, 2022
Had to read one of these to see what all the fuss was about, these books are so popular with readers and non-readers alike from age 8-13. Very good, bringing this difficult subject alive for kids who don’t normally read historical fiction and introducing them to the genre through graphic novels. I don’t mind saying the ending was satisfactory and produced a tear or two.
December 30, 2024
Review of "I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2033" by Lauren Tarshis
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2033" by Lauren Tarshis is a gripping and poignant graphic novel that both educates and engages readers on a topic of immense historical significance. Through the eyes of a young protagonist, the narrative unfolds the harrowing events of that tragic day, providing a unique perspective while honoring the countless lives lost in the attacks.
Tarshis masterfully weaves a tale that captures the chaos and fear experienced during the bombing, yet also highlights the resilience and bravery of those who faced unimaginable circumstances. The illustrations complement the text beautifully, enhancing the emotional weight of the story. This graphic novel not only serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism but also condemns such acts of violence that disrupt lives and communities.
The author's ability to address the complexities of loss and survival while fostering empathy in young readers is commendable. This book is an essential addition to any classroom library, encouraging important discussions about history, empathy, and the ongoing fight against terrorism. It is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in a world still healing from the scars of past tragedies. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2033" by Lauren Tarshis is a gripping and poignant graphic novel that both educates and engages readers on a topic of immense historical significance. Through the eyes of a young protagonist, the narrative unfolds the harrowing events of that tragic day, providing a unique perspective while honoring the countless lives lost in the attacks.
Tarshis masterfully weaves a tale that captures the chaos and fear experienced during the bombing, yet also highlights the resilience and bravery of those who faced unimaginable circumstances. The illustrations complement the text beautifully, enhancing the emotional weight of the story. This graphic novel not only serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism but also condemns such acts of violence that disrupt lives and communities.
The author's ability to address the complexities of loss and survival while fostering empathy in young readers is commendable. This book is an essential addition to any classroom library, encouraging important discussions about history, empathy, and the ongoing fight against terrorism. It is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in a world still healing from the scars of past tragedies. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.
November 1, 2021
I was in fourth grade when this happened. It made me really emotional to read about it, even after so many years later. I think it captured that day well for young readers to get a small understanding of the emotional impact of that day.
April 15, 2022
An excellent retelling of the story of 9-11. There is sadness throughout the book, but that my be my memories of the days and weeks of the event. It is dealt with in a way that is VERY accessible to kids.
April 29, 2022
Being two days shy from my second birthday, I had no understanding of what this attack meant on the United States. However, I’m glad there are books like this that can help relay that story to most that were born after 9/11 or were young when it occurred.
May 14, 2022
This is one of the books selected for the 22-23 Elementary Battle of the Books for the county where I teach. My students are far too young to have much a grasp on something that shaped half my life. This definitely made me cry, thinking of my own memories of that day.
Read
November 15, 2021My dad almost died because he used to work in that building at that time
March 8, 2022
It was a very good graphic novel.
May 27, 2022
ggoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodd
January 30, 2023
Historical fiction book #5. At first I didn’t like how much of the story was about Lucas playing football, but it turned out to be an emotional story with a connected ending.
February 5, 2024
I have never read a graphic novel but I enjoyed this one and feel like it’s a great way to teach youth about history.
December 15, 2024
wait why’d i start tearing up?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews