Ground Zero. Alan Gratz. 2021. [February] 336 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Brandon Chavez was in trouble.*
Premise/plot: Ground Zero has two protagonists and two time periods. Brandon Chavez, one of our protagonists, is nine years old. He's accompanying his dad to work; his dad works at Windows on the World, a restaurant located on the 107th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The day is September 11, 2001. Reshmina, our other protagonist, is living in Afghanistan with her family in the present day.** Her twin brother, Pasoon, is wanting to join the Taliban. She is angst-y. She doesn't want him involved in the war...at all. She doesn't seem to think the Taliban or the Americans are the "good guys." There are no "good guys." When the fighting hits really close to him--literally--and brings her into contact with an injured American soldier (named Taz), Reshmina has some tough decisions to make. What she decides may decide the fate of her village and her family.
My thoughts: I spent most of the book wanting to curl up into a ball and moan. Reading it felt like I was continually getting punched in the gut again and again and again. With an occasional stab in the heart. If you are not mentally and emotionally bruised after reading this....tell me how you did that...I'm curious.
Both stories are incredibly intense. There's a definite sense of urgency both within and without (if that makes sense.) There is an urgency in the fictional story. In particular with Brandon's story. Readers most likely will know that it is literally a race against the clock once the first plane hits. Brandon, of course, like all the other characters doesn't realize this. His initial urgency is to get back to his dad--even if his dad is a dozen floors above him when the plane hits. There is urgency in the present day story as well as a battle unfolds and civilians are caught up in it. But there is also an urgency that the reader experiences. At least this reader experienced. Almost the equivalent of ripping a band-aid off. I couldn't allow a slower pace--I just couldn't handle it. The only hope for surviving the utter and complete heartbreak was to keep a steady pace. Page after page, keep turning, keep looking ahead. I couldn't imagine just reading this one chapter a day for weeks. (I read this in two days).
Both stories have substance and depth. Both unfold at a compelling pace. There is some emotional reward for investing in both stories. But for sensitive readers this might be too much to handle.
*The text literally says Brandon Chavez wn trouble. I did my best guess as a reader and interpreted that to mean Brandon Chavez was IN trouble. I suppose it could be "won" "win." But neither made sense in context.
**Before the withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan. So before the summer of 2021.
© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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