Welcome to Litsy!

The skyline's changed. The two rectangular towers in the photo are gone, replaced by one glittering tower with a pointy top pricking the sky.

Students can explore themes of perseverance, empathy, and shared history as they follow Deja on her quest to learn about 9/11 and its impact on her family and community. This book helps with talks about how historical events impact individual lives and the world around us. Students who engage with Deja's story can have a greater understanding of the connections between history and their own lives.

Jewell Parker Rhodes' Towers Falling expertly combines fact and fiction, mixing 9/11 history with a contemporary, emotionally charged narrative. Rhodes brings history to life in a personal and sympathetic way by following Deja, a fifth-grader who is investigating the tragedy's impact on her family and neighborhood. The detailed descriptions of New York City's skyline, both past and present, give the story a strong sense of place and loss.

“History isn‘t just in books; it‘s in the people around us.“

This book follows a fifth-grader named Deja as she navigates life in a diverse Brooklyn neighborhood while learning about the impact of 9/11 on her community. Through friendship, family, and the exploration of history, Deja discovers how the past shapes her identity and understanding of the world.

This book serves as a powerful tool in the classroom to foster discussions about history, empathy, and community resilience. It encourages students to engage with complex themes in a relatable way, promoting critical thinking and understanding of societal events.

All the 9/11 books on my shelf have already been mentioned today, but I‘m going to share these again. Ground Zero is currently checked out. Each of them presents an important perspective for readers.

#MiddleGrade #MiddleGradeMonday #MsDsLibrary

#middlegrademonday
@karisimo

I can't believe it'll be 23 years on Wednesday. 😔

Thanks for the tag @Karisimo #middlegrademonday

@BethM @JenReadsAlot @peaKnit

I really enjoyed this novel. Talked about the history of 9/11 on a level children can understand while being honest and direct about the impact it has on the country, the people, and the world.

This book takes a unique approach to introducing the events of 9/11 to young readers. It tells the story of Deja, as she starts attending a new school. She makes friends and starts to build a better understanding of what it means to be part of a family and community. She also gradually learns about what happened on 9/11, her father‘s connection to that day, and why he‘s been so secretive about it.

#bookspinbingo

This was better than I had expected.

#wintergames2020 #MerryReaders #ReadYourWay
@clwojick @TheAromaofBooks

This middle grade novel broke my heart. Deja is starting at a new school in a new neighborhood. Deja knows that her home life is different from her classmates and friends. But when she has to do an assignment about the two towers that are missing from the skyline outside of her classroom windows. She learns the heartbreaking truth about 9/11 and how her father was there on that awful day.

#bookspinbingo #doublebookspin

??
This was such a difficult story to read right now but such an important story. For so many now, there is no world before 9/11. Dejá has to figure out what‘s her connection to 9/11 and the way it impacts her life, even though it happened before she was born. Makes me wonder about the COVID equivalent one day. “She says people helping people made her feel safe again. Strong.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book 20/24 for #bfc28 and 2/6 for #easterextravaganza

Tagged book is Maya‘s first book complete during our break-but-not-a-break from school. No book picture, instead here is our social distancing outdoor adventure.

She loved this book, and Rhodes is becoming a favorite author.

Today‘s activities also included making a stop animation video, vocab practice, and Statistics on Khan Academy.

Day 1 in the books! #coronavirus #covid19 #keepLitsyPositive

Towers Falling (RF) is a touching story for upper elementary (LC). The story is set in Brooklyn, New York. Read along as fifth-grader Deja, sets out on an adventure to learn more about the towers and September 11, 2001. The information is written elegantly and is comprehensible for students. #LAE3414SP19

Towers Falling (RF) by Jewel Parker Rhodes is about a fifth grade girl who goes an a journey to discover herself as well as our country. She also learns about the tragic day in 2001. This novel is the perfect IR for classes, especially during September. It is such a good read! UDL 9.3 Develop self-assessment and reflection. EL Strategy 49 Give students pre-lexicon assignments when introducing new topics.
#LAE3414SP19

I would use this historical fiction novel for a literature circle in my classroom. Deja can‘t help but feel confused when her fifth grade teacher is teaching a series of lessons about how community will have one big answer about two tall towers ones visible outside the classroom windows. As she gets closer to answering questions about herself, what America means, and how communities can grow and heal, she discovers new questions too.

Ladies I am soooooooo sorry to have missed out on our discussion. I usually wait until the next day to respond. Well my son had a big hockey game Monday night and ended up getting a concussion. 😥 He's doing fine, but that took over most of the week then I ended up sick by the end of the week. 😷 We are all back on track now! Thank you for yet again having another incredibly thoughtful discussion. I really enjoyed everyone's thoughts.

This photo was taken summer of 2014, just before our girl started kinder. Such a somber experience; our girl was prepared for the museum visit by watching documentaries with us beforehand. We also visited the Pennsylvania site. Photo credit: my husband, Tom.

#mgbuddyread

Question 4 #mgbuddyread

Question 1 #mgbuddyread

#mgbuddyread

I‘ll admit it, I love the fact that I can wait until the last minute and usually still participate in #MGBuddyRead. There are several other books I am in the middle of or should knock off the TBR list, but I‘ve been curious about this one so I‘m reading it. I‘m also enjoying Saturday snacks instead of cooking today.

Deja, the 10-year-old protagonist of “Towers Falling,” a native New Yorker, knows nothing of 9/11 as the book begins. Throughout its pages, she learns about the profound & hidden impact it‘s had on her family. By the end, she admits she hasn‘t learned everything about the tragedy but that she knows *more*, & specifically that she understands the “enormous hurt.” That‘s what this book will do for young readers: give them real *feelings* of empathy.

A story for kids born after the events of 9/11, but also a story for all who were around as well. The classroom where the story takes place is ideal. All the 5th graders are kind. All at the school are accepting. I read to escape so I didn't mind. I like to imagine a world where all are kind. All are accepting. I will be adding this to my school collection. (Saving the rest of my thoughts for our #mgbuddyread on Sunday.)

When asked a question, class, it's important to consider how it's framed. Sometimes a question is a door to another question, another way of seeing. Understanding. #mgbuddyread

Don't forget! This month's #mgbuddyread discussion will be this Sunday. Questions will be posted around 4:00. Join in when you can! Questions? Just ask in the comments 🙂

⭐⭐⭐⭐- Novel
⭐- Narration
I'm ready for our #mgbuddyread discussion next weekend.(no spoilers) I just listened to this on Audible today. It was a good story but I wish I had bought the paperback, the narration was terrible. #Middlegrade @Lmstraubie

An interesting middle grade view of 911 fifteen years after the tragedy. This book also depicts a sweet story of friendship and loyalty. At times it was a little preachy and felt like a political commercial for everything the author feels passionate about. Still, I think this is a very sensitive look at people directly involved with the towers falling and an important book.
#MGbuddyread