SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Gr 5-8–This historical novel takes place in Coral Springs, Florida in the days leading up to and after September 11, 2001. Jake Green struggles with the knowledge that one of the hijackers was living in his town prior to the attacks. His best friend and neighbor, Sam Medina, an Arab Muslim, is targeted by boys in their class whose actions and behavior toward persons of Arab descent is disrespectful and volatile. Sam’s father is taken into FBI custody after the discovery that he serviced the hijacker at the bank he worked at prior to the attacks. Jake soon finds himself at odds with his immediate family as he defends his best friend’s honor and tries to help bring Mr. Medina home. Tensions run high at Jake’s house as he tries to make sense of his mother’s prejudices. His interest in history and war leads him to develop a relationship with a mysterious neighbor who lived through the attack on Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Historical fact and realistic fiction elements are woven together with an expert hand, making readers care about this moment in history and giving educators an excellent book sure to spur thoughtful discussion.–Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

KIRKUS REVIEWS
The tragedy of 9/11 forces a 13-year-old Florida boy who has always lived with a comfortable, straightforward code of conduct to explore the issues of loyalty, patriotism and fair play.

In this tale that should be just the supplemental material middle-grade history teachers are looking for, Cerra presents three cross-country teammates: a Christian Everykid, a Muslim whose father had a routine business interaction with one of the terrorists, and a Jewish boy whose Navy officer father died during the attack. The story is narrated by Jake Green, the Christian boy, who is best friends with Sameed “Sam” Madina, a child of Saudi Arabian descent from a nonobservant Muslim family. Prejudice rears its ugly head directly after the attack: Sam is assailed by a bigoted classmate, and Jake rushes to his defense, striking Sam’s attacker. Later, Jake is shocked to discover that he’s not supported by his coach, many of his classmates and his parents, particularly his emotionally distraught mother, whose old psychological wounds have been reopened by the event. Sam too has changed, particularly after his father comes under suspicion, leaving Jake confused and alone. Although the tale is didactic and slow in spots, Cerra does a good job of re-creating the combination of fear, confusion, patriotism, prejudice and community spirit the attack engendered, and readers should identify with Jake’s plight.

A perceptive exploration of an event its audience already sees as history. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

VOYA, October 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 4) - Samantha Godbey
In the days leading up to September 11, 2001, all-American Jake Green and his best friend Sameed “Sam” Madina are primarily focused on becoming captains of their middle school cross-country team and beating their rival school. Jake and Sam have always been interested in war and playing soldier games, but after the terrorist attacks, it is less clear who is the enemy. Boys attack Sam at school because his family is Muslim, and his father is taken into custody by the authorities. Jake’s grandfather died a hero before he could even meet him, and he is convinced that his grandfather would want him to fight back on Sam's behalf. The adults in his life, however, encourage him to find other options. For middle-grade readers, this novel will help bring to life a pivotal event in recent history, laden with conflicting emotions and uncertainty. Jake experiences firsthand the shock, fear, anger, and confusion that so many Americans experienced at that time. The adults in the novel deal with conflicting feelings as they try to resume their lives, and Jake’s relationship with his father is especially credible as his father attempts to balance the demands of work and his son’s need for attention. Jake is a credible middle-school boy, struggling with conflicts that cannot be resolved with fists. There are imperfections — an anomalous fear of an elderly neighbor and inconsistent pacing—but overall, a welcome and needed addition to a middle-grade collection. Reviewer: Samantha Godbey; Ages 11 to 15.