Ground Zero

December 15, 2016
Grades 5-8 Iconic photographs capturing key historical moments litter textbooks, but sometimes the historical circumstances surrounding those photos get lost in the shuffle. Titles in the Captured History series aim to clarify that context by zeroing in on recognizable photos and outlining some of the events leading up to the moment as well as analyzing the photograph and its ultimate impact. The photo showcased in Ground Zero, of three firefighters raising a U.S. flag amid the rubble of the World Trade Center on 9/11, is more tightly focused on the image itself, including the spontaneous nature of the photo opportunity and what the photo came to represent later on. Though there's less historical context here, and the text is occasionally repetitive, students still will likely pick up on the gravity of the moment. The approachable text, appealing layout, and fascinating lens through which to explore history are all bolstered by extensive source notes and additional resources.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)