On this anniversary, it seemed appropriate to compile a shortlist of books for children and adults about the 9/11 attacks.
For Children
- Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman - the true story of a retired boat called back into service immediately after 9/11. For ages 4 and up.
- 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy - the true story of a Masai student who witnessed the 9/11 attack in New York City and what happened when he returned home and told the story to his village. For ages 6 to 10.
- America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001 by Don Brown - a clear, straightforward account for young readers. One of School Library Journal’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011. For ages 6 to 10.
- The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Laurence Wright - This Pulitzer Prize winner is comprehensive, lucid, and gripping.
- Falling Man by Don DeLillo - After 9/11 come all the days and months and years that follow.
- Saturday by Ian McEwan - Set in London in 2003 on the day of the protest against the Iraq War, this book explores the post-9/11 world, random violence, and the fragility of life.