Understanding September 11th: Answering Questions About the Attacks on America

Explained by this Time magazine reporter, the questions as to why this attack happened and the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan are answered in a clear and direct manner through straightforward text, profiles of the highjackers, maps, pictures, and more.

Grade 7 Up-A Time magazine reporter uses a journalistic approach to organize his information. Who were the hijackers? What is Islam? Why did the terrorists target the U.S.? Why did we go after Afghanistan? And so on. Although the answers are not footnoted, the bibliography is organized by chapters, so readers can see that Bernard Lewis's The Middle East (Scribner, 1995), Thomas Lippman's Understanding Islam (Meridian, 1995), and Don Belt's The World of Islam (National Geographic, 2001) informed the author's thinking, as did current periodicals. He offers fairly in-depth explanations of how Islam and terrorism diverge and when they come together, providing historical background, biography, and descriptions of important texts, such as the Qur'an and the Encyclopedia of Jihad. He presents an empathetic picture of Middle Eastern resentments. He is blunt in laying out the religious, political, and economic reasons for U.S. interest in the region and passionate about civil liberties. Black-and-white photographs, insets, maps, an index, and a glossary that includes a number of Muslim terms provide additional assistance.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Frank, a reporter for Time magazine, opens his informative narrative with a chilling account of his experiences on September 11, when he rushed from his Brooklyn Heights home to the scene of the disaster just after the first of the Twin Towers was hit. Using a question-and-answer format, the author then effectively distills for young readers information about the Middle East (especially Afghanistan), Islam, Islamism, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. He also discusses terrorist groups' hatred of America and their campaigns against it. Readers may find here a useful framework for examining the possible motives for the terrorist attacks and the U.S. government's subsequent responses. Illustrations include photographs and maps; final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 12-up.