In this gripping novel by Alan Gratz, two stories—set nearly two decades apart—intertwine around the events of 9/11. In 2001, Brandon is trapped in the North Tower after the first plane hits, struggling to survive and find his father. In 2019, Reshmina, a girl living in war-torn Afghanistan, must decide whether to help a wounded American soldier, risking everything. Ground Zero is a powerful story of survival, courage, and the lasting impact of a single day on two young lives.
 
In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear -- and the stunning links between the past and present.
September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive -- and escape?
 September 11, 2019, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help Taz -- and put herself and her family in mortal danger?
Two kids. One devastating day. Nothing will ever be the same