Summary reviewed by:
Terrence Timmons
Terrence Timmons
Analyst
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University Of California, Santa Barbara 2019
With over 4 years of experience as an analyst. Terrence Timmons is committed to analyzing summaries without compromising on quality.
Grab onto your seats because "Ground Zero" is a heart-stopping, page-turning emotional rollercoaster that rockets you back and forth in time between two incredibly moving narratives! It's September 11, 2001, and nine-year-old Brandon is on a tour at the North Tower of the World Trade Center when tragedy strikes America. Cut to a parallel storyline; it's 2019 in Afghanistan, and Reshmina, an eleven-year-old girl, gets caught in a quagmire of a different yet equally devastating conflict. While Brandon navigates the chaos of the collapsing tower, fighting smoke, falling debris, and emotional turmoil, Reshmina must deal with the immediate and long-term consequences of the never-ending war in her homeland. Each step, each choice, each second could be their last. "Ground Zero" transcends borders and timelines, weaving the narratives into a single, heart-rending tapestry of survival, sacrifice, and the complexities of war and terrorism. Time is running out. Will these young heroes find a way out of their life-altering situations? Or will they become casualties in the bleak landscape of human conflict?
Date Published: February 2, 2021
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Historical Fiction
Young Adult
Adventure
War
Drama
Brandon: A curious and brave nine-year-old boy who values family and life. When trapped in the North Tower, he pushes past his fears to assist others in the escape.
Reshmina: An eleven-year-old Afghan girl with an insatiable appetite for peace. When she nurses a wounded American soldier, she challenges the traditional norms of her community and jeopardizes her family’s safety.
Tarek: Reshmina’s twin brother, who values loyalty and fights for the Taliban. His allegiance to his cause drives him to question Reshmina’s choices.
Survival: Both Brandon and Reshmina struggle to survive in hostile environments, making gut-wrenching choices for the sake of staying alive.
Heroism: Acts of courage and bravery, such as Brandon’s decision to go back and help others, underline what it means to be a hero in dire circumstances.
Moral Ambiguity: Reshmina’s choice to help an injured American soldier opens a Pandora’s box of ethical and moral dilemmas, forcing readers to grapple with the complexities of war.
Unity and Division: The collective struggles of characters within and across both storylines expose the dualities of unity and division in the face of tragedy.
The Cost of War: Both narratives explore the devastating effects of war on individuals and communities, forcing readers to ponder the price of peace.
