Towers Falling

By: Jewell Parker Rhodes

Narrated by: Jewell Parker Rhodes

From award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful novel set fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks in a classroom of students who cannot remember the event but live through the aftermath of its cultural shift.
When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Dèja can't help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

Award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes tells a powerful story about young people who weren't alive to witness this defining moment in history, but begin to realize how much it colors their every day.

Critic reviews

Praise for Towers Falling:

"History made personal--and what a person! Deja's voice is real and memorable, her compelling story one of hope unmarred by sentimentality."
—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author

"This tender retelling of tragedy is a solid vessel to help young readers understand the gravity of 9/11 and how it touches all Americans, no matter where we come from. "
—Kirkus Reviews

"This is a welcome contribution to children's literature."—School Library Journal

"Rhodes approaches a complex, painful topic with insight and grace, providing context to an event distant to the book's audience."
—Publishers Weekly

Towers Falling Review

The narrator was a bit boring but the story was lovable and so was the main character. You can put yourself in her shoes and you feel what she feels through out the book. I do think it took a little long for the book to end and get interesting and I also think there were some moments that did not need to be in there. Overall I think the book was entertaining and fun but I do not think the plot was fully developed as well as some of the characters.

Poor Narration

I was hoping that this would be good for my daughter to listen to while she read. The performance was more of a distraction than anything. The narrator sounded like she was whining the entire time and made it, virtually, impossible to listen to.

Family. Home. Beautiful.

A great story about love, understanding, friendships and family. As well as a compassionate way for children to learn about 911.

Great story, horrible voice.

I loved the story, but I almost didn’t listen to it because the narrator’s voice was so annoying. The way she spoke when doing Deja’s voice was too shrill and like she was really overdoing it. It made me not like the character at points because the narrator’s voice was so whiny and bratty.

Amazing

I’m in the forth grade and did not know this much about 9/11
Until reading this book