In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers

  

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers by Don Brown

By: Jeanie Almazan, Ezekiel Basilio, Juliet Burger, Laura Bryan, Tiana Bernaola

Review:

The graphic novel In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers by Don Brown discusses the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years after the 9/11 terrorist attack that caused the destruction of the twin towers in New York and the loss of thousands of lives during and after the attack. In this novel, we go through the different perspectives and experiences of the people that were there during the attack and of the bystanders that were heavily affected from the results of the attack. The book begins from the view of Jules Naudet, a documentarian filming the New York fire department for a documentary only to capture footage of a jetliner crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He gives his statement saying,“I didn’t even have time to think… I just run… Then I feel someone jumping on top of me, and then the dust… At that point I realized I was going to die…” (6-7). Naudet would then be seen to be the only survivor, the firefighters and police that he was recording earlier were gone. In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers describes the terrifying events of 9/11 and the aftermath of how the U.S. dealt with its fallout through visual images.

The book goes through a chain of events after the plane attacks that follows through different accounts of the tragedy from different people, switching through different statements as it’s illustrated to reveal the sights and horrors that were seen by first responders and civilians alike. Haunting scenes of people covered in sheets of ash and lone shoes scattered amongst the ground with paper raining from the sky are dutifully illustrated. Despite the horrors of 9/11 and its terrifying details of its aftermath, the illustrator opts to use a minimalistic artstyle. The expressions and people are drawn in simple shapes but have distinguishable emotions to them that readers are able to recognize the fear that envelops them whole. The artist also chooses to avoid using blood, opting for a muted color palette that highlights only the fires and destruction rather than the bloodshed and the lives that were taken. One such example being the capture of Abu Zubaydah and the torture methods the US government utilized on him. Rather than explicitly showing the torture itself, it showed simple graphics with little to no details on how the actual scene looked; similarly to instruction manual graphics.

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers gives a broad outlook to the terrors that faced New York post-9/11. It brings into account the grief faced by millions throughout the country and the effects it had on society such as racism towards Muslim Americans and security laws on terrorism that affected airport and airplane safety measures. This book is a good introduction to 9/11 for teen readers and young adults alike. The format of inputting information of 9/11 in visual imagery allows for better understanding of the topic and makes the knowledge digestible while effectively carrying out the messages within the novel.

Biography:

Don Brown, was born in 1949 and didn't start writing till in his 40s. Currently resides in New York, with family. 

    Earned a degree in history. 

    An awarded American author and illustrator of children's books/picture book biographies.

    He is not Donald Michell Brown Jr., another famous author known for his work in military history        and adult thrillers, or Dan Brown, a best-selling writer of thrillers turned movie.

Most notable awards:

William Allen White Children's Book Award (2014)

NCTEOrbis Pictures Award (2016)

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (2019)

Widely praised for his resonant storytelling and watercolor ability that evokes the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. 

The reason he got into writing was for his two daughters, he wanted to create a female role model for them. This resulted in the creation of Ruth Law Thrills a Nation in 1993, his first story.

    His artistic style is influenced by the cartoonist Ronald Searle and Ralph Steadman.

    Has written more than two dozen history books.

He believes "with care and sensitivity, most subjects can be presented to both younger and older readers."

    He has been instrumental in teaching young readers about famous people and events, such as Albert      Einstein, Thomas Edison, Mary Kingsley, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the sinking of        the Titanic.

On top of doing all the research, writing, and illustrating for his books, Brown finds the time to present to these kids as well. Developing their skills and knowledge of past people and events by teaching/reading his book. 

“About Don Brown.” Books By Brown, 6 Apr. 2016, https://www.booksbybrown.com/about-don/.

“Brown, Don.” Bound to Stay Bound Books, 1 Nov. 2018, https://www.btsb.com/2018/11/01/brown-don/.

“Don Brown (Children's Author).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Apr. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Brown_(children's_author).

Instructional Resources:

https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2021/09/02/in-the-shadow-of-the-fallen-towers-review/

An interesting review of the book describing a bit of the story and the art that is within the book. This can be a great short read for students before starting the book preparing them for what is to happen.

https://www.whitlpdesign.com/fallentowers

This link shows the opening pages of the book which can be a good introduction if students still have to get the book from the library. A discussion can be made from these opening pages and students can make hypothesis about what the story is about to be.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTZcTRGqjB0 

A video describing some events of 9/11 and what some family experienced either stress or loss. The whole video does not have to be shown—1 hour and 12 minutes—but it is good to show a story of the families to gain an understanding of the after effects they have gone through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8V9DEEx_cA

This is a video showing phone calls made from around and inside the tower as the events were taking place. The whole video does not have to be shown, around the 25 minute mark there are phone call which someone describes what is happening directly in the tower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr2a6VwPunU

This is a short four minute video on a dog who helped the police during the 9/11 events. It is described through the months and background on the dog, relating to one of the stories within the book with the animals in the world trade center.

http://www.historycomics.net/911

This is another review on the book explaining how the reading was and why it is so recommended. This can be read after finishing the book since it goes into more detail of the stories, but it would be good for students to discuss the importance of the event and a reminder of the stories when reading this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxUBlMPftGs

This is a video where the journalist talk about their experiences on the day, both in the studio and in person. Where 2:30 start up until 6 minutes is a good explanation of both in person and in studio experiences and can bring up more into the people who had to report on the event and work with other through this tragedy, like described in the book.

https://www.hbook.com/story/review-of-in-the-shadow-of-the-fallen-towers-the-seconds-minutes-hours-days-weeks-months-and-years-after-the-9-11-attacks

This horn book review can be shown at the end of the reading along with the other comic review, with it explaining the events and summed up experiences. The quote in the final lines can be a great discussion in class where students can find the underlining meaning of the final words of the book. 

Instructional Activity:

Preview:

The main theme of In The Shadow Of The Fallen Towers is Heroism. There are multiple illustrations displaying acts of heroism between first responders and civilians. The reason students are interacting with this graphic novel is because it allows the students to grasp national grief and the irrational fears that soon followed. The sacrifices and loss faced that day and the years after created not only a sense of patriotism but also an increased racial opposition that is still being delt with this to this day. This activity will take place over two days. The first day, students would be asked what they know about 9/11 and after this brief discussion the teacher will give a general overview presentation on the events of 9/11 and what possible trigger warnings the students will face when reading the graphic novel. The second day, the students will have finished reading the graphic novel and the students will have a 10-minute discussion on how the book made them feel, what they learned, what they liked about the book, and how the book could educate future generations. After this discussion students would be asked to create a booklet either in groups or on their own describing what it means to be a hero and what community means, how tragedy can affect everyone. This is to be completed by the end of class or if they need extra time, they can turn it in the next day.

California Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-History/Social Studies.RH.9-10.3
Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them. 

CCSS.ELA-History/Social Studies.RH.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas of conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-Reading Standards for Informational Text 9-10.2
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Resources and Preparation:

Students will hold a discussion on a discussion board online, which will lead into the booklet activity. This activity can be done online or on paper. In this booklet they will create their own graphic novel about 'What it Takes to be a Hero'. 

Instructional Plan:

Day One:

    The lesson the students will be focused on in this period will be the topic of 9/11. The instructor will begin class by asking the class what they know about 9/11 and see where their students lie within the topic. After a good discussion about what they know, the instructor will give a general PowerPoint of what happened on this day. Before and after pictures of the twin towers' aftermath can be given. 
Contents to Provide In The Power Point:

-trigger warning

    ~Xenophobia
    ~Violence 
    ~Racism
    ~Illustrations Of Guns
    ~Terrorism

-What Was 9/11

    ~A terrorist attack on the United States

    ~A total of 4 Planes Were Hijacked & Crashed 
        *Plane 1: North Tower of The World Trade Center

        *Plane 2: South Tower of The World Trade Center

        *Plane 3: The Pentagon

        *Plane 4: Crashed in a field in Pennsylvania 

-Who Was Involved

    ~Islamic extremist called al-Queda. 

    ~Led by Osama Bin Laden

-The After Math

    ~President Bush led an attack on Afghanistan.

    ~A museum and memorial is now in place of where the twin towers were.

-How Many Lives Lost in the Event

    ~2,996 were killed including the Hijackers.

After the PowerPoint the instructor will provide the graphic novel In the Shadow of the Fallen Tower and assign the class to read the book by tomorrow for class. 

Day two:

    Upon the next class meeting, students will then discuss the book they had read last night for homework. They will discuss questions like: what's something new they had learned? What did they like about the book? how do they think the effects of this event influenced the US? Once they have finished their discussion students will write down their answers in a discussion board. It will be critical for students to comprehend these events and grasp why they are such an essential part of American history. Once all answers are submitted the instructor will then explain the next activity. 

    The instructor will then prepare their students for a creative activity by letting them create their own graphic novel, depicting 'What it takes to be a Hero'. And informing the students that each individual would present in order for their classmates to show what they understand about "what it takes to be a hero." Students should also grasp the importance of what it takes to be a hero and what every student can do to be deemed a hero. The instructor will help demonstrate how their booklets should be folded if students choose to make it on paper. The instructor will then let the student either work on their own or in groups on their booklets. By the end of class students are to turn in their booklets, but if more time is needed then students are allowed to take them home and turn them in the next day. We would conclude this activity by having the students present. 

Bibliography

[ Use MLA format. You can list any sources used here. You may list your references for images here as well. I would suggest that you caption your images and then list their references here alphabetically by caption followed by a colon and then the reference. If you want you may divide your images from your other references]