The 9/11 Report : A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobsen and Ernie Colon

Jacobson, S., & Colon, E. (2006). The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation. (p. 128). Hill and Wang.

ISBN:0809057387

Classification: graphic novel, nonfiction

Genre: nonfiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: current events, graphic novel, nonfiction, war

Reader's Annotation: This graphic novel adaptation of The 9/11 Report details the findings of the 9/11 Commission.

Summary: This adaptation of the report published by the 9/11 Commission is an attempt to bring the committee's findings to a new audience. The creators of the graphic novel took 99% of the text from the actual report and the drawings are extremely lifelike. The graphic novel covers the same scope as the original report, including a moment by moment timeline of the attacks on 9/11, a look at the preparation the terrorists made, a review of how government officials and first responders performed and what would make them better prepared in the future, and a suggested global strategy for preventing future attacks.

Reviews / Awards:

Washington Post Review

Author Info:
Ernie Colon at Comiclopedia

Potential Hotspots:

fighting, illustrations of war and hostage situations

Readalikes:

• In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman
• Persepolis and Persepolis II by Marjane Satrapi
• The Wall : Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Though the events of 9/11 will undoubtedly be taught in history classes for the next several decades, the 800 page report issued by the 9/11 committee will be inaccessible to most teen (and perhaps adult) readers. The graphic novel format is a good way to present this important material to young adults. Having this item in a teen collection says to teens that you want them to be informed, and you want to communicate in a way that is familiar to them.

Other:

Jacobsen and Colon talking about making the graphic novel on NPR.

Evaluation:

4.5 stars