ALA Booklist (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

What is terrorism? What is jihad? What makes al-Qaeda different from other terrorist groups? Why attack the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? Using a question-and-answer format that distills topics down to their core, this fine title by a Time magazine reporter boldly tackles the largest questions about the 9/11 attacks. In remarkably simple, accessible language, Frank, a New Yorker, begins with an overview of the tragic events, including his own terrifying first-person experience. Always, the author moves beyond the facts of what happened to why, and the book's later chapters are devoted to questions about who the terrorists were, where they came from, what they wanted. Frank takes a worldview that assumes that America is the most powerful nation on earth, and his language sometimes jars with its blatant nationalism: Why does the Middle East matter to us? But his constant reminder is that change and hope begin by learning about other people, other cultures. The black-and-white photographs are all the more alarming for their snapshot quality, and a time line of 9/11 progresses along the bottom of each page. Direct, unflinching, intelligent, and humane, this is an invaluable resource for teens and adults alike.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

While it is difficult for a book to provide a comprehensive account of an ongoing global crisis, Frank does a good job of setting and justifying parameters for his outline of the political and religious contexts that shaped the events of September 11th and the repercussions. Of particular value is the discussion of Islamic fundamentalism, which includes more detail than other books for young people on the subject. Bib., glos., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

So often when big events occur, a flurry of articles appears in the newspapers, and when the reader feels the need for more background information—more context—it's too late; it's old news. This is an important volume for students and adult, because it provides that context. After several months of headlines, on-the-spot reports, news specials, and human-interest stories, many readers will crave a work such as this. Exactly what is al Qaeda? What is Islam? Why does the Middle East matter to us? Who are the Taliban? Why did we go after Afghanistan? Who is Osama bin Laden? These are some of the questions answered in this clearly written, straightforward report by Frank, a reporter for Time magazine. It supplies solid information, maps, photographs, and many sidebars with statistics, further information, and historical context. One detail, unfortunately, trivializes the account of the terrorism efforts: "When the Taliban had taken power, they had searched for all the television sets in the country and smashed them. Now Afghan men dug up TVs and VCRs they had buried in their backyards. One Afghan popped in a hidden copy of Titanic and sat down to watch." Clearly a Western perspective: fighting terrorism to make the world safe for the American movie industry. Otherwise, this report provides thorough information for a study of 9/ 11 or for looking up information on specific aspects of the story. (glossary, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12+)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Frank, a reporter for <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Timemagazine, opens his informative if uneven narrative with a chilling account of his experiences on September 11, when he rushed from his Brooklyn Heights home to the scene of the disaster just after the first of the Twin Towers was hit. Using a question-and-answer format, the author then effectively distills for young readers information about the Middle East (especially Afghanistan), Islam, Islamism, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. He also discusses terrorist groups' hatred of America and their campaigns against it. Frank's writing is at times confusing or sloppy. He notes, "Many people said the whole world changed on September 11th. It didn't. America woke up in those two hours and suddenly saw the world in a different light." Yet on the following page, this statement appears: "On September 11th, the world changed in two hours." However, the book delves into pertinent topics in reasonable depth. Readers may find here a useful framework for examining the possible motives for the terrorist attacks and the U.S. government's subsequent responses. Illustrations include photographs and maps; final artwork not seen by <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW. Ages 12-up. (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Aug.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-A Time magazine reporter uses a journalistic approach to organize his information. Who were the hijackers? What is Islam? Why did the terrorists target the U.S.? Why did we go after Afghanistan? And so on. Although the answers are not footnoted, the bibliography is organized by chapters, so readers can see that Bernard Lewis's The Middle East (Scribner, 1995), Thomas Lippman's Understanding Islam (Meridian, 1995), and Don Belt's The World of Islam (National Geographic, 2001) informed the author's thinking, as did current periodicals. He offers fairly in-depth explanations of how Islam and terrorism diverge and when they come together, providing historical background, biography, and descriptions of important texts, such as the Qur'an and the Encyclopedia of Jihad. He presents an empathetic picture of Middle Eastern resentments. He is blunt in laying out the religious, political, and economic reasons for U.S. interest in the region and passionate about civil liberties. Black-and-white photographs, insets, maps, an index, and a glossary that includes a number of Muslim terms provide additional assistance.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.