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Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story

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From the critically acclaimed author of Anything But Typical comes a touching look at the days leading up to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and how that day impacted the lives of four middle schoolers.

Ask anyone: September 11, 2001, was serene and lovely, a perfect day — until a plane struck the World Trade Center.

But right now it is a few days earlier, and four kids in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, is struggling to come to terms with the absentee father he hates and the grandmother he loves. Will’s father is gone, too, killed in a car accident that has left the family reeling. Nadira has never before felt uncomfortable about being Muslim, but at her new school she’s getting funny looks because of the head scarf she wears. Amy is starting a new school in a new city and missing her mom, who has to fly to New York on business.

These four don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined. Award-winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin weaves together their stories into an unforgettable novel about that seemingly perfect September day — the day our world changed forever.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2016

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About the author

Nora Raleigh Baskin

22 books292 followers



I am seriously an open book. I've been writing semi-autiobiographical fiction since I was in 6th grade (1972) then, in 2001, Little, Brown published my first middle grade novel, about my life in 6th grade! titled "What Every Girl (except me) Knows." Twenty years and fifteen books later, that still, pretty much sums things up.

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5 stars
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103 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,147 reviews
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,209 reviews109 followers
March 13, 2022
Solidly a 2-star read with the very last part bumping this up to 3 stars. The story centers around four youths whose lives will be affected in some way by the events of 9-11 and the bulk of the story describes them as individuals and as members of a community. However, for young readers not familiar with the events of that fateful day and the counterreaction that followed, the story feels disjointed as it is hard to see how their different lives tie together. The book will be better received by those who know the tragedy of 9-11 and can see the commonalities between the four youths. Otherwise, it's rather confusing as each chapter turns the focus to a different character.

For me, the best writing was at the end when the characters are all in New York for the one-year remembrance ceremony. Here we see the connecting thread and that this story and this day from history is about people coming together to do what is right, uniting in faith, hope, and love to accept the past, learn in the present, and face the future vowing to do better and be better.
Profile Image for Amanda Schreiber.
98 reviews39 followers
May 8, 2016
This book brings the "before" and "after" of September 11th to students & readers that only know the after.

I was engaged not only in the story and subtle hints of history, but in each character's story. They were authentic, real & diverse yet were able to connect & heal all because they experienced 9-11. Although each experience was different, none was devalued. Everyone that was alive on that day has a story & Nora honored that with this book.

This brought back many memories & emotions and I hope my students can begin to feel a connection to this important event. The eloquent writing & chilling events did bring tears - but only because I remember so much of that day myself. Nora's writing is beautiful & honest and will captivate so many readers. If nothing else, I know this book will teach respect & tolerance. I'm adding this book to my Mock Newbery for its story, style & varying perspectives.
Profile Image for Colby Sharp.
Author 4 books1,209 followers
March 29, 2016
Whoa. A beautiful book. The different storylines were fascinating. I felt my heartbeat race as I inched closer to the awful events that took place on 9/11. I can't wait to hear what kids think of this important book.
Profile Image for Wendi Lee.
Author 1 book475 followers
August 8, 2017
Now when she looked around at the crowd of people, all sharing the same moment, the same sadness, not one person was like any other. If she squinted her eyes, everyone, every single person, melted into a mix of shapes and colors.

This sensitive middle grade novel follows four children in the few days before September 11, 2001, during the attack, and then one year later. There's Aimee, whose mother flies to New York for a meeting at the World Trade Center. There's Naheed, who is struggling with the first few disorienting days of middle school, and classmates who are beginning to tease her about her religion and her hijab. There's Sergio, who finds solace in a new friendship with fireman Gideon after a disastrous encounter with his father. And then there's Will, whose father died in a tragic accident a year ago, trying to make sense of the world still blanketed in grief.

It's still hard to read about 9/11, fiction or otherwise. I admit I cried as I read this, knowing that each day brought these kids closer to the events that changed America, and would alter their own lives. I was especially scared for Naheed, although each of these kids felt uniquely vulnerable.

The target audience for this book are middle grade readers all born after 2001, who never got to experience the US before the events of that day. I think this is a powerful introduction of how it felt to live through 9/11.
16 reviews4 followers
June 30, 2016
I could not put this one down. I stayed up too late reading, but it was worth it. This MG HF novel revolves around four middle school students living around the country (LA, NYC, Columbus, Ohio, and Shanksville, PA) in the two days leading up to September 11th. The individual characters aren't really connected to each other, but the events of 9/11 act as a common thread. As I was reading, I found the book very suspenseful because unlike the characters, I knew what it was leading up to. The book shows how each of the four characters are touched by this day. Powerful look at this sad day in our nation's history. This novel makes this topic accessible to middle grade readers. A must-read!
Profile Image for Hailey.
24 reviews
January 3, 2018
This book was alright. My favorite part was the ending. I honestly thought it was pretty touching, but I was not fond of the rest of the book. I understand that this book is about the day before September Eleventh, and how, on 9-11, it didn't feel like any other day until the first plane struck the World Trade Center. I also realize that these are normal people, just with different perspectives and situations. I just think that, over all, it was kind of boring. Don't get me wrong, the character's stories are interesting but I feel like the book would have been more interesting if there was more spice to it. But maybe thats because I read a lot of fiction.
Profile Image for Amy.
844 reviews48 followers
September 13, 2017
November 2015 review: 2 stars

Lots of leadup of 4 different characters pre-9/11, very little development post-9/11... I found that frustrating, as I expected to read a story about how four different characters dealt with 9/11's aftermath.

September 2017 revisit: 3.75 stars

I've had a chance to mull over Nine, Ten more in several different ways. I've read other 9/11 books, I have seen Nora speak several times, and I've seen students interface with the story.

When I first read this story, I read it as a digital pre-publication ARC and wasn't quite able to contextualize it. I knew that what I wanted for my middle school readers was an emotionally intense story about a character trapped in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and I knew this wasn't that story. (Little did I know in November 2015 that I WOULD read that story, and that book is All We Have Left, and yes my students adore that book, and yes it ruins them in a good way.)

This book is more ... a story about regular kids whose lives were affected by 9/11, but whose characters and histories and trajectories are somewhat tangential to the attack and the smoke and the fire (for the most part.) It's a great book for showing how we are all connected to each other and it has some haunting, bang-up prose.

So yes, my initial review felt a little harsh because I was craving a different kind of story. Nora's I like, but I like it for different reasons.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,700 reviews64 followers
January 30, 2016
I have read one other fictionalized account about 9/11 (Joyce Maynard's phenomenal The Usual Rules) and was curious to see how this event might be handled with younger readers. (Side note: Odd to realize the members of the target audience for this novel were not even alive in 2001!) Overall, I applaud Nora Raleigh Baskin for her gentle, bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful story.
The book chronicles the stories of four unacquainted children living in different parts of the country in the 48 hours leading up to the destructive attacks and again, on the first anniversary. Through the children's eyes we see their confusion, despair, and grief and the toll the event has on their families. Although the ending is more than a bit unlikely, I think the message of the novel is positive and allows readers to believe that all hope is never lost, no matter how deep the tragedy.
Profile Image for Christine Indorf.
849 reviews135 followers
January 7, 2022
Wow what a wonderful Middle Grade. The story of 4 children and their lives the day before 9/11. Each going through situations and all had someone or something effected by 9/11. None of them lost anyone but to see 9/11 through the eyes of a child was really wonderful. All dealt with it differently. Every family ended up making the trip to the 1 year anniversary and all families had the day effect them in different ways to having a friend who a first responder to a Muslim family who face discrimination. I highly recommend this book for people of all ages. I was touched by the story and can't recommend it enough!!
Profile Image for Joyce Yattoni.
299 reviews28 followers
October 9, 2016
4 children. 4 stories. 48 hours before the 9/11 attacks. This isn't a story so much about 9/11, rather a story about children's fears, worries and battles. It is a great reminder for kids that other kids experience all kinds of hardships and wouldn't the community be a better place if we were all kind, and respectful to one another? I enjoyed Will's story whose father had recently passed away. The author does a beautiful job capturing his loneliness in the year after his Father's death. Sergio's story of how an adult could make a difference in a child's life is inspiring. Naheed's story about being different and learning to respect our differences is a wake up call to all to accept one another. This is a very quick read, but one that will leave you thinking how you can overcome obstacles and be a positive influence in the community.
December 20, 2016
Even thought I was not alive on September 11th, 2001, after reading this book, I almost felt like I was. These 5 ordinary middle schoolers, have nothing in common, or are totally unknown to one another before 9/11. This story doesn't focus so much on the day itself, but the ordinary days that led up to it. The kids will cross paths with each other in the most unexpected ways, and help each other in times of crisis when they are all affect in some way after the attacks. I adored the authors note in this book because it inspired me to look at the world in a new positive way like many people did after 9/11. I loved the way Baskin ended the book, with the quote, "I wanted to show how in the end this tragic, divisive event actually brought complete strangers together instead of tearing them apart, which is, I imagine, the ultimate goal of terrorism."
Profile Image for Katie Fitzgerald.
Author 6 books215 followers
December 19, 2016
Nine, Ten opens with the first plane striking the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, then immediately jumps back in time to two days earlier. The reader then follows New Yorkers Sergio, who is Hispanic, Nadira, who is Muslim, and Aimee, who is Jewish, as well as Will from Pennsylvania, through their activities in the 48 hours prior to the 9/11 attacks. In one sense, this approach is very useful, as it allows kids who were not yet born in 2001 to understand the same sense of shock and dismay that young people felt when the attacks took place. Unfortunately, though, building up to the attacks doesn’t really teach much about them, and there are some contrived elements, such as Sergio befriending a New York City firefighter and Nadira beginning to wear her first hijab, both on September 10th, that further detract from the educational value of the book. I like Baskin’s writing style very much, but I find her books often have the problem of including many interesting characters and not quite using them effectively. Despite being a September 11th story, this book doesn���t really help kids develop a knowledge base, let alone an emotional reaction, surrounding the events of that day.
Profile Image for Joy Kirr.
1,106 reviews151 followers
August 20, 2016
Many teachers in MS are using this as their first read aloud for the year, so I had to see what all the hype was. I love the multiple perspectives in this book. I understand why the author skipped ahead one year, and I loved the message at the end, but it just felt too quick for me. I wanted more, I guess. The “more” I was searching for is in my memories, but won’t be in my students’.
Profile Image for Susan.
2,057 reviews83 followers
June 13, 2020
The story of 9/11 told through the eyes of children... heart-wrenching, life altering, the collective loss of innocence to all Americans. A good reminder of that bright clear sunny day that broke my heart.
Profile Image for Ariel Jensen.
573 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2019
An appropriate book to start the month of September with. It grew on me as the story progressed and by the end, I really liked it. Lots of feelings.
September 23, 2017
...I am completely speechless after reading this book. Absolutely and completely speechless. This book follows the lives of four unique characters: Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn with an absent father; Will, living in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with a father who has passed away; Naheed, a Muslim girl trying to survive middle school in Ohio; and Aimee, who is living in Los Angeles while her mom is away for business in New York City. This book begins by detailing their lives on September 10th, 2001, continues during the tragedies of September 11th, and finishes by skipping to one year later at Ground Zero. This book is a beautiful story and is written for the generation that was not alive to remember the heartbreak that occurred over sixteen years ago. As I read this story, my own memories foreshadowed the sadness that I knew was coming, but the stories that were being told kept me drawn to the pages. It brought back emotions of that fateful day for me in third grade, and how I truly did not comprehend the thousands of lives lost in a matter of minutes. The story illustrated the imagery of that day when no one ever would have believed such an act of terrorism would occur. The author kept circling back to the incredibly clear blue sky and the beauty that came when the sun rose that morning.
The genre of this text is historical fiction, and I believe is an appropriate read aloud for 3rd grade through middle school. This story is extremely touching and deserves to be read aloud. This story is so memorable and had me in complete tears at the end. I feel that a story so emotionally powerful needs to be read to the generation we are currently teaching. They need to understand the importance of that day and the outpouring of love that has followed for years to come.
There are many ways this book can be used in the classroom. I believe it would be a great book to hold very thoughtful discussion. Students in your classroom could discuss similarities between the characters in the story, or talk about the book's overall structure and how it leads to the culminating end. Additionally, the students could write the futures of the characters and predict the life that each one will lead in ten years based off of the information given in the story. The teacher could show photographs of the many memorials that have been erected in the memory of 9/11 and discuss memorials; most specifically their purpose and significance. Lastly, if you are teaching older students, they could write a persuasive essay about the importance of remembering 9/11. This was a wonderful story, and as you can tell, has many different instructional uses.
Clearly, this book was extremely reflective for me as a reader. I physically felt what the characters felt, and clearly lived through September 11, 2001 all over again through reading this book. I understand perspectives that I had never thought to explore before. I could remember how Muslims in our communities were looked upon with prying eyes after the attacks on the Twin Towers, but I never truly understood how they felt until reading this story. I never knew their fear until walking into Naheed's life. This book left me in the tears at the end, wishing that the story had gone differently. Wishing that 9/11 had never happened. Wishing for any other possible scenario to occur. This book was incredibly moving, meaningful, and reflective. This is a must read for elementary or middle school readers-even adults. It is important to read this story and to never forget 9/11. To never forget the people who sacrificed their lives to save others. We must never forget this day, and this book makes that notion extremely real. I will never forget.
Profile Image for Jana.
2,595 reviews43 followers
June 29, 2016
We had the opportunity to read Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin and I have to say that I am so happy that we did! We are coming up on the fifteenth anniversary of that world altering day. None of my fourth and fifth grade students were alive then, so to them it is history. And as history, it is very difficult for these kids to relate in a personal way to these events. This book is like a magical field trip that will give me the ability to transport them back to that day all those years ago. I know that this story certainly took me back!

Nora Raleigh Baskin starts her story a few days before September 11, 2001. On September 9, 2001 we meet four different kids at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. They all have their own lives and their own reasons for being at the airport, but this day at the airport starts the connectivity of everyone's lives as the timeline of events moves forward. My students will definitely recognize themselves and their own stories in these characters, which is the foundation for relating to the text and these events.

For my complete review, please visit: http://janatheteacher.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Theresa Milstein.
Author 10 books64 followers
July 11, 2016
Like Nora Raleigh Baskin, I too lived an hour away from Manhattan. I was on Long Island at the time. My husband and sister and a few other relatives were in Manhattan on 09/11. I can remember the entire day as it unfolded, and so much of the aftermath still stays with me. My family was lucky.

In those years afterwards, my fifth grade students used to share their experiences. But at some point they became too young, and then they weren't even born. I understand the author's drive to write this world-changing event. For we still live with its repercussions.

Nora Raleigh Baskin writes quietly. The sentences are smooth and flow together like calm water. It's easy to become blindsided when they reveal their power. She follows four middle school students to show us their lives in the 48 hours before the event, during the event, and a snapshot a year later.

There's a powerful moment, I won't reveal what it is or when it happens. But it's a white person waving a flag and being racist. And I cried because those types of people have always existed, but they live in such an open way now. I fear that 09/11 has led us to this divided world we're living in now.

But this author reminds us of how alike we are, and the great power that comes when we realize it too.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,434 reviews239 followers
August 8, 2019

September 11, 2001, changed and touched so many lives.

This little book tells the story of the days leading up to the 11th for 4 young characters—Aimee, Sergio, Will, and Naheed. All four voices were strong and clear and real for me on the page. I really got to like these kids in such a short amount of time. They were spread out around the country, but linked in so many ways. We all are! Each one of their stories will hit your heart in different ways, but a theme of action ran through all of their lives. That’s what rang out for me anyway—action. Lend a helping hand, say something, and act. 3 letters packed with power--ACT! It’s a lot easier to say than do though. At any age!

“making a choice, not knowing the outcome, but knowing that acting was better than not acting”

I’m glad this book and message found its way to me. 9/11 needs to be written about for young readers. And not just the events of that terrible day, but for the way it brought people together after for strength and hope too.

Highly recommended read.



This little line said so much…

Profile Image for Mackenzie H.
25 reviews9 followers
December 22, 2017
The beginning of this book was very confusing to me. There is four perspectives of four different kids. The whole first part of the book talked about 9/10 not 9/11. It goes through setting up the characters and their lives so we know who would be affected by the horrific event. Eventually, the book did transition into 9/11.

The one part in the book that hit me hard was when Naheed went to visit the memorial one year later on September 11, 2002. Naheed is Muslim and wears a hajob. While she was paying her respects to the memorial a White man came up to her and her family and asked."What are you people doing here?" They were all really confused because they were mourning the death of those who passed. But the next thing that happened was the best part of the book in my opinion.

A group of all different types of people formed a line infront of the family to show that everyone has a right. This was the most moving part of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2 reviews3 followers
August 13, 2016
I loved this book, and I highly recommend it especially to anyone who was about the age of the main characters (middle/high school) when 9/11 happened. I was in 6th grade and in homeroom when we heard the news on September 11, 2001. Reading a book written for today’s young readers really brought me back to the way I perceived events at the time - and gave me new insights into how differently people experienced this day. This novel offers a mix of perspectives - children who were affected by the events on 9/11 in different ways to different degrees in their personal lives - but the characters are unified by compassion, love and hope that they still see in the world. This book is devastating, hopeful, and beautifully written.
Profile Image for Kelly.
279 reviews
July 22, 2016
Wow! For such a short book, this was a moving and profound read! The story is told from 4 different middle schoolers' perspectives during the days leading up to September 11, 2001. They are from different geographical locations and the events of 9/11 don't directly impact any of them, but the attack is felt by each of their families in different ways. In fact, only a short part of the book actually occurs on 9/11, so it is a focus of the book, but certainly not the only one. This book brings up so many important issues that affected people in 2001 and still resonate today. It would make a great read aloud for middle school, though it is a little heavy at times, so I would say late 6th grade or definitely 7th/8th.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,778 reviews17 followers
March 26, 2017
I have tried to avoid books on 9/11 -- the topic is still too raw. But with the 15th anniversary upon us, there are a slew of children's books on it coming out. I hope they all deal with it as well as this book does, and end with a message of hope.
Profile Image for Mary Lee.
3,087 reviews55 followers
August 4, 2016
Loved this. Loved the multiple voices. Loved how she wove the stories together at the beginning and the end. Possible read aloud to follow Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. Multiple voices. Hmm...
Profile Image for Imanewreader ✨.
645 reviews198 followers
January 15, 2023
i was extremely young when 9-11 happened and on the other side of the atlantic, but this event has affected the whole world and muslims to this day.

it was an interesting read. we follow 4 young people before, during, and after the events. all of different backgrounds and faiths. they are not related to any of the victims, which i find respectful. no victim was invented nor a family invented to a real victim of this tragedy.
what bugs me really is the change of povs. i did find myself lost at times as i listened to the audiobook.
Profile Image for Jaymie.
628 reviews2 followers
April 19, 2021
A story about 9/11 and the days leading up to it. 4 kids with completely different backgrounds and lives. How a nation was brought together by one tragic event.
Good for Junior high and older elementary school age kids.
Profile Image for RoRo.
289 reviews80 followers
April 30, 2022
4.25 stars

TW: 9/11




This book was good to say the least. I love learning about 9/11 because I think it is a really important part in history, that everyone needs to know about. Also, since I had family near the plance crashes so yea. Overall, this book, I think everyone needs to read and learn about the facts and I honestly think this point in history is so interetsing in many ways.
Hope you all have a happy and healthy day!
BYE!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Margaret.
2,640 reviews
July 18, 2016
Catastrophic events shared by survivors and witnesses make indelible marks on our minds. These horrific happenings change all our lives, the way we knew life, forever. Nothing will not, cannot, be the same.

People tend to remember where they were and who they were with vividly. On November 22, 1963 in the early afternoon I was with my seventh grade classmates on the second floor of our junior high school, an old brick building. We were seated in Mr. York's math class when we were interrupted with a stunning announcement over the P. A. system. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been assassinated.

On September 11, 2001 I was seated in my office with my assistant. It was the first full year we were in our newly constructed library media center at the elementary school. A bank of windows stretching across one side looked out over the playground and behind that into the woods. I noticed deer frequently walking by on the weekends and evenings when I worked. In the morning between classes our phone rang. It was my assistant's daughter telling us to turn on our television set immediately. We both ran out of the office across the room. We stood watching in horrified silence and then in tears. Over the course of the next few hours and the following days the sadness for the lives lost, nearly three thousand, during those attacks deepened. We were all overwhelmed with grief.

For our children, our students, not yet born during 9/11 there are stories to be told they need to hear. Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story (Atheneum Books For Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, June 28, 2016) written by Nora Raleigh Baskin is one of those stories. It's a tapestry formed by the threads of four young people's lives


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
Profile Image for Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance.
6,009 reviews301 followers
June 29, 2016
Whew. I finished this book an hour ago and I'm still crying a little.

Let me see if I can stop this weeping and tell you about the story.

Four kids with four separate lives in four different locations. It's a countdown format: September 9th, September 10th, and then, September 11th. The story shifts from person to person, with ordinary days for each child, leading up to the terrible day. Each child has his own problems---a new school, loss of a father, a terrible dad, issues over being Muslim---but none of these has any connection with 9/11, and each child's story is distinctive and compelling on its own. And then the terrible day comes, and each child suffers from the effects of the 9/11 in his own way. To close, the author brings all four children together a year later and they finally come together in a moving way.

I can't say enough about this book. It's emotionally moving and thoughtful and brilliantly written. Wonderful.

And now I really, really must stop crying.
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