What do you think?
Rate this book
Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape
A taut and harrowing depiction of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the Pentagon, alternating between a boy caught in the chaos and the rescue dog who's attempting to save him. Twelve-year-old Mikey is doing a school project on the Pentagon, where his father works as a civilian contractor. Mikey has been given special permission to visit his dad’s office and do some research on the facility, all for a class report. At first he finds the tour strangely tame -- until all the TVs across the office space begin showing the attacks on the Twin Towers. Like everyone, Mikey is transfixed and horrified by what he's seeing. Then, the world around him explodes. Sage is an 18-month-old border collie and search-and-rescue dog. He’s been training since he was a young pup, and is eager for his first official mission. Sage is confident in his skills, perhaps even too confident. But today those skills will be put to a dire and tragic test. Thrust together on one of the darkest days in American history, Mikey and Sage are both are still young. But they'll do everything they can to help -- and to survive.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2023
25 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Alex London
35 books913 followersThe Short Version:
Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.
The Long Version:
C. Alexander London grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He's an author of nonfiction for grown-ups (under a slightly different not very secret name), books for teens (as Alex London...see above), and, younger readers. He once won a 12-gauge skeet-shooting tournament because no one else had signed up in his age group. He's a Master SCUBA diver who hasn't been diving in way too long, and, most excitingly, a fully licensed librarian. He used to know the Dewey Decimal System from memory.
He doesn't anymore.
While traveling as a journalist, he watched television in 23 countries (Burmese soap operas were the most confusing; Cuban news reports were the most dull), survived an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hurricane on small island in the Caribbean, 4 civil wars (one of them was over by the time he got there, thankfully), and a mysterious bite on his little toe in the jungles of Thailand. The bite got infected and swollen and gross and gave him a deep mistrust of lizards, even though it probably wasn't a lizard that bit him.
Although he has had many adventures, he really does prefer curling up on the couch and watching some good television or reading a book. He enjoys danger and intrigue far more when it's happening to somebody else.
He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
See also C. Alexander London and Charles London
Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.
The Long Version:
C. Alexander London grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He's an author of nonfiction for grown-ups (under a slightly different not very secret name), books for teens (as Alex London...see above), and, younger readers. He once won a 12-gauge skeet-shooting tournament because no one else had signed up in his age group. He's a Master SCUBA diver who hasn't been diving in way too long, and, most excitingly, a fully licensed librarian. He used to know the Dewey Decimal System from memory.
He doesn't anymore.
While traveling as a journalist, he watched television in 23 countries (Burmese soap operas were the most confusing; Cuban news reports were the most dull), survived an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hurricane on small island in the Caribbean, 4 civil wars (one of them was over by the time he got there, thankfully), and a mysterious bite on his little toe in the jungles of Thailand. The bite got infected and swollen and gross and gave him a deep mistrust of lizards, even though it probably wasn't a lizard that bit him.
Although he has had many adventures, he really does prefer curling up on the couch and watching some good television or reading a book. He enjoys danger and intrigue far more when it's happening to somebody else.
He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
See also C. Alexander London and Charles London
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 9, 2025
"I want to shout, but I've got no air to shout with. I feel like I'm drowning in the hallway, tumbling ahead of a roaring inferno.... Everything's a jumble, like reality has become unstitched, and suddenly the lights go. It's pitch black. I feel myself hit something hard.... My own lights go out then."
✏️ Review ✏️
When most people think about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the collapse of the Twin Towers usually comes to mind. But the attack at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. is also another devastating and tragic facet of September 11, 2001. And Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape provides a fictional yet realistic look at this horrific event.
The dual-POV narration of this story is creative. While Mikey, the MMC, gets the most chapters, the rescue dog Sage has many chapters where he tells his part of the story. I thought that was really neat! Especially being able to learn (hypothetically, of course! 😉) how dogs think, view, and respond to events and situations differently from humans. (Like, yeah, dogs really have a difficult times training us humans. Lol! 😄)
But the characters themselves don't feature the greatest development. I thought the MMC could be really stupid and selfish, especially not heeding the commands of the firefighters. Mikey does feel some remorse for this during the story but he doesn't discuss it in a specific fashion, although the way events go in the story it's clear his disobedience had consequences.
While some of the historical accuracy of the 9/11 Pentagon attack have been changed for the story's sake (which the author addresses in the "Historical Note"), Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape would be a great read for middle grade readers, teens, and even adults who want to learn more about this tragic event in story form.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The creative dual-POV of the story's narration.
• The historical information provided in the book about the 9/11 Pentagon attack.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The lack of substantial character development in the MMC.
• Some of the MMC's actions — they were selfish and foolish.
• A few elements of the story's content, especially since this book is marketed to middle graders (most specifically the first two points in my "Content notes" in the Random Comments section below).
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.* (Please see the content notes in the Random Comments section below before recommending to middle graders.)
— To whom? To those who like to read mildly intense 9/11 historical fiction reads that don't have the most developed characters; and if you don't mind that the story contains a few intentional historical inaccuracies for the sake of the plot line.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 2.75/5 [rounded up to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 2.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One use of God's name in vain.
— ⚔️ Violence: 2/5
• A few prolonged sequences of mildy intense peril.
• Several mildly graphic descriptions of injuries (mentions blood).
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) The MMC wonders why God can't be a "She" or a "They," instead of just a "He"; there are also a couple of other irreverent statements about God. (2) The MMC explains how his dad told him "that there's a time and place for everything, even curse words." (3) The MMC's mom had a drug and alcohol addiction, so that is mentioned a few times. (4) There is one instance where the MMC tells a lie to get his own way.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
When most people think about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the collapse of the Twin Towers usually comes to mind. But the attack at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. is also another devastating and tragic facet of September 11, 2001. And Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape provides a fictional yet realistic look at this horrific event.
The dual-POV narration of this story is creative. While Mikey, the MMC, gets the most chapters, the rescue dog Sage has many chapters where he tells his part of the story. I thought that was really neat! Especially being able to learn (hypothetically, of course! 😉) how dogs think, view, and respond to events and situations differently from humans. (Like, yeah, dogs really have a difficult times training us humans. Lol! 😄)
But the characters themselves don't feature the greatest development. I thought the MMC could be really stupid and selfish, especially not heeding the commands of the firefighters. Mikey does feel some remorse for this during the story but he doesn't discuss it in a specific fashion, although the way events go in the story it's clear his disobedience had consequences.
While some of the historical accuracy of the 9/11 Pentagon attack have been changed for the story's sake (which the author addresses in the "Historical Note"), Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape would be a great read for middle grade readers, teens, and even adults who want to learn more about this tragic event in story form.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The creative dual-POV of the story's narration.
• The historical information provided in the book about the 9/11 Pentagon attack.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The lack of substantial character development in the MMC.
• Some of the MMC's actions — they were selfish and foolish.
• A few elements of the story's content, especially since this book is marketed to middle graders (most specifically the first two points in my "Content notes" in the Random Comments section below).
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.* (Please see the content notes in the Random Comments section below before recommending to middle graders.)
— To whom? To those who like to read mildly intense 9/11 historical fiction reads that don't have the most developed characters; and if you don't mind that the story contains a few intentional historical inaccuracies for the sake of the plot line.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 2.75/5 [rounded up to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 2.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One use of God's name in vain.
— ⚔️ Violence: 2/5
• A few prolonged sequences of mildy intense peril.
• Several mildly graphic descriptions of injuries (mentions blood).
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) The MMC wonders why God can't be a "She" or a "They," instead of just a "He"; there are also a couple of other irreverent statements about God. (2) The MMC explains how his dad told him "that there's a time and place for everything, even curse words." (3) The MMC's mom had a drug and alcohol addiction, so that is mentioned a few times. (4) There is one instance where the MMC tells a lie to get his own way.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
June 6, 2025
This book was serious. Good, though! Did you know that Alex London made a ton of books, for teenagers, also kids just like this book, Search and Rescue? I think they will also be very serious.
If it weren’t intense, then I would’ve rated this a four.
If it didn’t have a good ending, I would’ve rated this a two.
If i could do, for example, a 4 1/2 star rating, if it wouldn’t have a good ending, and if it weren’t intense, four star rating too.
👍 🤗
But really…it was good!
If it weren’t intense, then I would’ve rated this a four.
If it didn’t have a good ending, I would’ve rated this a two.
If i could do, for example, a 4 1/2 star rating, if it wouldn’t have a good ending, and if it weren’t intense, four star rating too.
👍 🤗
But really…it was good!
March 22, 2025
Was a good book overall, but I didn't feel like it was my favorite or special to me in any way if that makes sense.
June 11, 2024
It’s September 11, 2001, and middle-schooler Mikey is visiting his dad who works at the Pentagon. When the plane hits, Mikey is on a building tour with a Marine. He makes it out, but can’t find his dad and goes back into the wreckage to find him. Sage is a search and rescue dog brought in to find Mikey and other survivors.
Loved the chapters told from Sage’s perspective - I’m a sucker for a Very Good Boy doing brave work. I think the author did a nice job explaining Mikey’s backstory with his mom and how that fueled his utter desperation to get to his dad, even if it put his life at risk (didn’t love how his recklessness also put firefighters at risk, but it’s fiction, so whatever). The historical note at the end was great and helped provide context for younger readers.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to 4th/5th graders at work.
(( animal-based spoiler below ))
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Loved the chapters told from Sage’s perspective - I’m a sucker for a Very Good Boy doing brave work. I think the author did a nice job explaining Mikey’s backstory with his mom and how that fueled his utter desperation to get to his dad, even if it put his life at risk (didn’t love how his recklessness also put firefighters at risk, but it’s fiction, so whatever). The historical note at the end was great and helped provide context for younger readers.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to 4th/5th graders at work.
(( animal-based spoiler below ))
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
December 28, 2023
A survival story set in the midst of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Told from two points of view: Mikey, who is visiting the Pentagon with his dad, and Sage, one of the rescue dogs who's sent in to find survivors in the wreckage of the building after a plane hits it.
October 28, 2024
Excellent!!! This brought up so many memories of that day. My family was in ky, I was in sc. my daughter was at school in the 3rd grade. My mom called, I turned on the news in time to see the 2nd plane hit the towers. I immediately went to get my child and already the school was on lockdown. Several other parents showed up and they finally let us in. It was so horrifying! Flash forward to my youngest grandson, 2nd grade, working hard to earn a token to the school book vending machine. He could barely read the title but he got it for me because of the dog on the cover and he knows I love dogs. I know this is a book review and not my story but a book that inspires so much for me and others, has to be shared and celebrated.
November 20, 2023
Told from the perspectives of middle-schooler Mikey and rescue dog Sage. Mikey is excited to spend the day visiting and learning about the Pentagon with his Dad for a school report. Mikey’s tour guide tells him it is an auspicious day to visit – September 11, 2001 is exactly 60 years to the day when builders broke ground to begin construction of the Pentagon. When the plane hits the Pentagon, Mikey is separated from his escort and must use his wits to save not only himself, but others he encounters. Sage is a newly trained rescue dog who is brought in to find survivors. Will Mikey find his Dad and escape the rubble?
February 22, 2025
Read this as a quiet time read with my 3rd graders. They really liked the book and enjoyed being exposed to an age appropriate historical fiction story. They liked the perspective from the rescue dog (Sage). As far as a read aloud, there wasn’t a lot of dialogue and it dragged at points. It was a good length at under 200 pages. Again - kids liked it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
My 10 year old nephew recommended this book to me and said it was his favorite and he wanted to share it with me. So I read it at his request. Such a good story about the events of 9/11 for younger kids to understand part of what happened that day
October 7, 2023
My students are always wanting 9/11 stories.
Read
November 26, 2023This is a very good and sad book. It refers to what happened at november11th 2001
Read
January 14, 2024Compelling read for fans of the I Survived series and for those interested in the history of 9/11 told through a fictionalized perspective
January 18, 2024
I think it's a great book, it is based on 9/11 and it is one of the best books I have ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2024
I wanted to see more of Sage at work!
July 15, 2024
This is an amazing book, and the first I've read about 9/11 at the Pentagon as all the other books I've seen/read have been at the Twin Towers. This book is an amazing one, for sure.
October 10, 2024
My daughter chose this one as her read aloud. She got it last year at the book fair and really liked it so she wanted to read it again this year around Sep 11th. It was a good fictional story of something that could have happened that day. It was good but I would probably not ever read it again.
March 26, 2025
It was fun to see the different points of view to the story. Also, it was fun to have the historical note at the end.
July 7, 2025
reminds me of that army dogs book series
August 1, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Mikey is very excited to be going to work with his father, a civilian contractor who has worked on tech projects like Y2K and others at the Pentagon. He has a class projects on a US landmark, so is thrilled when Sgt. Guinsler, his father's boss who used to give tours of the facility, offers to take him around. It's even more exciting since they are there on the anniversary of the groundbreaking of this military location, which occurred on 9/11/41. Guinsler is a fun guy who tells lots of dad jokes, and gives a very complete (if unclassified!) tour. They meet Lena, who who is a navy vet who has brought her baby to work that day because she couldn't find a babysitter, and even the army librarian, Ann! Soon, however, there are disturbing images on the televisions scattered around; a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center. When a second one crashes, the Pentagon is put on high alert, because this seems like an attack. Of course, before too long, Mikey is involved in a devastating explosion. He manages to locate Lena's baby Zachary and reunit the two, but getting out of the burning building proves difficult. Sgt. Guinsler surfaces, but there are some people, like a man trapped under a copier, whom Mikey can't help. His father has been seen alive, and when Mikey doesn't see him in the courtyard he's been successfully evacuated to, he goes back in despite the warnings of people like Chad, who helped him. In alternating chapters, we are introduced to Sage, a search and rescue dog who is brought to the Pentagon. Sage doesn't usually work while a disaster is still unfolding, but when Mikey goes into the building, Sage is sent to find him. Eventually, Mikey and his father are safe, and Mikey learns an important lesson about not complicating the rescue process or jeopardizing rescue workers by not following instructions.
Strengths: 9/11 is a historical event that is still of interest to young readers, who now frequently have teachers who were in middle school in 2001. While there are titles that describe the events surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the aftermath, like Bermudez's Big Apple Diaries or Rhodes Towers Falling, what my students really want to read are books like Arash and and Reedy's Enduring Freedom, Tarshis' I Survived the Attacks of September 11 or Gratz' Ground Zero. Most of these books are concerned with what happened in New York City, so it's fascinating to see that day unfold at the Pentagon. Not only that, but how many of us will ever get a tour of the Pentagon? There are lots of great details about what it is like to work in that environment, although not so many that it will compromised national security! The details about how to survive in a building that has been attacked and is on fire are great, and while Mikey's attempts to rescue his father are ill-considered, I loved that there is a good discussion about what to do if that situation ever arises! The characters are all appealing, and I'm glad that the ones we care about make it to safety. Sage's viewpoint, with all of the smells and dog interests, will appeal to readers who like books with search and rescue animals, like Mason and Steven's Rescue Dogs or Sutter's Soldier Dogs.
Weaknesses: Paperback only, which makes no sense. Have already put two of the FollettBound copies of this on my order for fall. Paying Follett $7 per copy to put that hardcover on, but would much rather have sent the money to Scholastic for a actual dust jacketed hardcover.
What I really think: There is still room for a lot more 9/11 books. If we're seeing WWII books 80 years on, I suspect that this will go on for a while. I don't know that I have seen a book set in about 2011, about a child who was a baby when a parent was killed. That would be an interesting one. Like Reedy or Gratz's books with alternate viewpoints, a writer could contrast the day of 9/11 with the issues going on in 2011. Just a thought. Definitely purchasing. London does such great military books!
Mikey is very excited to be going to work with his father, a civilian contractor who has worked on tech projects like Y2K and others at the Pentagon. He has a class projects on a US landmark, so is thrilled when Sgt. Guinsler, his father's boss who used to give tours of the facility, offers to take him around. It's even more exciting since they are there on the anniversary of the groundbreaking of this military location, which occurred on 9/11/41. Guinsler is a fun guy who tells lots of dad jokes, and gives a very complete (if unclassified!) tour. They meet Lena, who who is a navy vet who has brought her baby to work that day because she couldn't find a babysitter, and even the army librarian, Ann! Soon, however, there are disturbing images on the televisions scattered around; a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center. When a second one crashes, the Pentagon is put on high alert, because this seems like an attack. Of course, before too long, Mikey is involved in a devastating explosion. He manages to locate Lena's baby Zachary and reunit the two, but getting out of the burning building proves difficult. Sgt. Guinsler surfaces, but there are some people, like a man trapped under a copier, whom Mikey can't help. His father has been seen alive, and when Mikey doesn't see him in the courtyard he's been successfully evacuated to, he goes back in despite the warnings of people like Chad, who helped him. In alternating chapters, we are introduced to Sage, a search and rescue dog who is brought to the Pentagon. Sage doesn't usually work while a disaster is still unfolding, but when Mikey goes into the building, Sage is sent to find him. Eventually, Mikey and his father are safe, and Mikey learns an important lesson about not complicating the rescue process or jeopardizing rescue workers by not following instructions.
Strengths: 9/11 is a historical event that is still of interest to young readers, who now frequently have teachers who were in middle school in 2001. While there are titles that describe the events surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the aftermath, like Bermudez's Big Apple Diaries or Rhodes Towers Falling, what my students really want to read are books like Arash and and Reedy's Enduring Freedom, Tarshis' I Survived the Attacks of September 11 or Gratz' Ground Zero. Most of these books are concerned with what happened in New York City, so it's fascinating to see that day unfold at the Pentagon. Not only that, but how many of us will ever get a tour of the Pentagon? There are lots of great details about what it is like to work in that environment, although not so many that it will compromised national security! The details about how to survive in a building that has been attacked and is on fire are great, and while Mikey's attempts to rescue his father are ill-considered, I loved that there is a good discussion about what to do if that situation ever arises! The characters are all appealing, and I'm glad that the ones we care about make it to safety. Sage's viewpoint, with all of the smells and dog interests, will appeal to readers who like books with search and rescue animals, like Mason and Steven's Rescue Dogs or Sutter's Soldier Dogs.
Weaknesses: Paperback only, which makes no sense. Have already put two of the FollettBound copies of this on my order for fall. Paying Follett $7 per copy to put that hardcover on, but would much rather have sent the money to Scholastic for a actual dust jacketed hardcover.
What I really think: There is still room for a lot more 9/11 books. If we're seeing WWII books 80 years on, I suspect that this will go on for a while. I don't know that I have seen a book set in about 2011, about a child who was a baby when a parent was killed. That would be an interesting one. Like Reedy or Gratz's books with alternate viewpoints, a writer could contrast the day of 9/11 with the issues going on in 2011. Just a thought. Definitely purchasing. London does such great military books!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews