Saved by the Boats

May 2, 2016
Author and editor Gassman (the Little Boost series) calls upon her firsthand experience of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in this frank account of the boat evacuation that carried thousands to safety. The narrative provides a grim, age-appropriate recounting of the Twin Towers’s destruction before describing how 500,000 people escaped Manhattan via the water: “Boats of all sizes sped into the harbor. Tugboats, ferryboats, private boats, party boats.... each vessel carried a captain and crew who were ready to serve.” Quotations from boat captains punctuate the story, while a limited color palette contributes to the somber tone. Newcomer Moors places his intricate line drawings against a stark gray-beige backdrop. The only vivid color is the turquoise of the clear sky, which is later used for the spotlights that shine upward in place of the towers. Survivors, subtly differentiated with their dusty gray coloring, wear expressions of shock and sadness. An author’s note details Gassman’s personal water-evacuation story, and a glossary (including victim and tragedy) rounds out this inspiring tale of how an impromptu flotilla offered refuge and hope, “a light on the city’s darkest day.” Ages 6–10.

August 1, 2016
Grades 1-4 Many stories of heroism came out of the tragedy of 9/11, and this stirring nonfiction picture book pays homage to those who answered the call and volunteered to evacuate 500,000 people out of Manhattan on a fleet of boats. The straightforward, simply told story doesn't gloss over the facts, while quotes from first responders, sea captains, and crewmen keep the focus on the people, rather than on terrorism. Where this book truly shines is in the illustrations, which are rendered in fine, delicate outlines and sepia tones, echoing the dusty, smoke-filled atmosphere that rescuers had to navigate that day. Deliberate bursts of colorpatches of blue sky, billowing black smoke, a red lifesaver on a boatpop amid the gray and khaki tones. Together with titles such as Maira Kalman's Fireboat (2002) and Carman Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah's 14 Cows for America (2009), this turns the focus of 9/11 away from horror and lands on the heartening ways humanity came together in a crisis.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

May 15, 2016
Meet some unsung heroes of the sea.On Sept. 11, 2001, the day the World Trade Center was attacked, more than 1 million people in New York were in need of evacuation. Subways, bridges, and tunnels were shut down, so the only way out was to cross the water. Firefighters and police rushed in to help, and Coast Guard officials put out a call for all available boats, leading to the largest evacuation by sea ever recorded, exceeding the Dunkirk boatlift by more than 150,000 evacuees. Detailed pictures show the buildings, the people, and the ships rendered in beige and gray, while a warm blue sky embraces the city despite its tragedy. Accessible, informative text presents the tragedy with relevant detail and explains how captains and crews worked together to bring almost 500,000 people to safety, traveling back and forth from New York City to the New Jersey shore, despite fear, smoke, crowding, and unidentified military jets passing overhead. Quotations from these heroic responders bring immediacy to the story, while the author's note offers an additional personal perspective. A glossary and source notes are included.This accessible, fact-based account of the boat evacuations that took place on 9/11 puts faces on some of the many heroes who stepped forward to help in a time of crisis. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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