Book Review: September 11 Then and Now

September 11 Then and Now, Peter Benoit, Scholastic, New York, 2012.

This book, although written for youth, is a very good a succinct history of 9/11.  He tells the story of what happened with each of the four plains.  It also talks about the planning that went into this event, which started with a garage bombing I 1993.  The terrorists were hoping one building would topple into the other, killing everyone.  Ramzi Yousef was sentenced to life in prison, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to helping plan the event and being part of al-Qaeda. 

Osama Bin Laden and Mohamed Atta spear headed the attack in 2001 in which hijackers took control of planes with box cutters and knives.  They then flew the planes into the two World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon Building.  The fourth plane crashed into a field. 

In the World Trade Center he rescue effort got many people below the explosions out, but those above the explosions were doomed, except for a handful who found a way to the roof.  Most of the roof access was locked, and the smoke too heavy for helicopters to land. 

This book also talks about the consequences, going to war against the Taliban, the after effects to health to the rescue workers and others, and of the country coming together.