From Terror to Hope

    The Twin Towers were iconic. They were part of a famous office and shopping center. It was called the World Trade Center. About 50,000 people worked there. To many people, the towers symbolized America’s power.

    But to Helaina, the World Trade Center was just part of her neighborhood. It was where she and her mom bought doughnuts and books. Now, she barely recognized it.

    Smoke stung Helaina’s eyes and nose. Crowds of people pushed past. They were covered with ash. To Helaina, they looked like ghosts. Then she saw her reflection in a window. She looked like a ghost too.

    The Twin Towers were built to last. But the fires burned too hot. The steel frames of the buildings melted.

    Seventy-three minutes after the first plane struck, the South Tower collapsed. Twenty-nine minutes after that, the North Tower fell. The smoke cleared. There was only sky.

    The Twin Towers were iconic. They were part of a famous office and shopping center called the World Trade Center. Approximately 50,000 people worked there. Many people felt the towers symbolized America’s power.

    But to Helaina, the World Trade Center was simply part of her neighborhood—the place where she and her mom bought doughnuts and books. Now, this familiar landmark was practically unrecognizable.

    As Helaina walked, smoke stung her eyes and nose. Crowds of people pushed past, their clothing and faces covered with ash. Helaina thought they looked like ghosts. Then Helaina caught a glimpse of her reflection in a window and was astonished to see that she looked like a ghost too.

    The Twin Towers had been designed to survive almost anything, but the fires burned so hot that the steel frames of the buildings melted.

    Seventy-three minutes after the first airplane struck, the South Tower collapsed. Twenty-nine minutes after that, the North Tower fell. When the smoke finally cleared, there was only sky.

    Helaina made it home safely. But many did not. Nearly 3,000 people died that day.

    The news was filled with stories of courage. Firefighters had rushed into the burning buildings. People had carried injured co-workers down stairs.

    The wreckage of the towers was huge. It stood 17 stories high. And it burned for months.

    Soon, the world would learn all that had happened that day. A group of terrorists called Al Qaeda had hijacked four planes.

    Al Qaeda followed a hate-filled form of the religion Islam. The group used violence to “punish” countries that did not share its views. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. Most Muslims do not agree with Al Qaeda’s (ahl KYE-duh) views.

    Al Qaeda members crashed two planes into the Twin Towers. They flew one plane into the Pentagon. That’s the headquarters of the U.S. military. It’s near Washington, D.C.

    The fourth plane was probably headed for the White House. But brave passengers fought the terrorists. That plane crashed in a field.

    Helaina made it home safely to her family, but not everyone was so fortunate. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on September 11.

    The news was filled with stories of incredible courage. Firefighters had rushed into the burning buildings. People had carried injured co-workers down smoke-filled stairwells.

    The wreckage of the towers was massive. It stood 17 stories high and burned for months.

    In the coming weeks, the world would learn everything that had happened on September 11. A group of terrorists called Al Qaeda (ahl KYE-duh) had hijacked four airplanes.

    Al Qaeda followed a hate-filled form of the religion Islam and used terrorism to “punish” countries with different views. Most Muslims—people who follow Islam—don’t agree with Al Qaeda.

    Al Qaeda members crashed two planes into the Twin Towers. They flew another plane into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States military near Washington, D.C.

    The fourth plane was probably headed for the White House, but courageous passengers fought back against the terrorists. That plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.

    The events of September 11, 2001, shaped the world we live in today. The U.S. government has worked hard to fight terrorism and protect against future attacks. New laws have been put into place. Airports and airplanes have been made much safer. 

    Recovering from September 11 has been a slow process for Helaina and many others. Three weeks after the attacks, Helaina returned to school in a temporary location. She and her family continued to live near the World Trade Center. Like so many, she struggled with intense sadness and nightmares.

    With hard work and treatment, Helaina is doing well today. She is now 29 and a journalist. Helaina often writes about people who are changing the world in positive ways. She also wrote a book called After 9/11.

    The events of September 11, 2001, shaped the world we live in today. The U.S. government has worked to protect against future attacks. New laws have been made. Airports and planes are now safer.

    Healing from September 11 has taken Helaina a long time. Three weeks after the attacks, she returned to school in a temporary location. She and her family still lived near the World Trade Center. Like so many, she struggled with sadness and nightmares.

    Helaina worked hard. She got treatment. She is doing well now. She is 29 and a journalist. She writes about people who are doing good in the world. She wrote a book too. It’s called After 9/11.

    The events of September 11, 2001, shaped the world we live in today. The U.S. government has worked hard to combat terrorism and protect against future attacks. New laws have been put into place. Security was tightened at airports and on planes.

    Recovering from September 11 has been a slow process for Helaina and many other people. Three weeks after the attacks, Helaina returned to school in a temporary location. She and her family continued to live in lower Manhattan. Like so many, she struggled with intense sadness and nightmares.

    With hard work and treatment, Helaina is doing well today. She’s now 29 and a journalist. Helaina often writes about people who are creating positive change in the world. She also wrote a book called After 9/11.

    The city of New York has also recovered.

    In lower Manhattan, the delicious smell of sizzling meat drifts from food trucks. Tourists snap pictures with selfie sticks. Cyclists weave through traffic. 

    A new skyscraper called the Freedom Tower rises just steps from where the Twin Towers once stood. It is the tallest building in the U.S. Every day, 5,000 men and women go to work there.

    Each year on September 11, two streams of light are beamed from lower Manhattan. They can be seen for miles around. 

    The lights rise into the sky and disappear into the night. They are powerful reminders of what New York lost that day 17 years ago. But they are also a symbol of the city’s strength. 

    New York is a beautiful, brave city that no act of evil can destroy. 

    New York City is doing well too. In lower Manhattan, rich smells rise from food trucks. Tourists snap pictures. People ride bikes.

    A new skyscraper was built near where the Twin Towers once stood. It’s called the Freedom Tower. It’s the tallest building in the U.S. Five thousand people work there.

    Every year on September 11, two streams of light are beamed from lower Manhattan. They can be seen for miles around.

    The lights rise into the sky and fade away. They remind us of what New York lost that day in 2001. But they remind us of the city’s strength too.

    New York is a great city. No act of evil can destroy it.  

    The city of New York has also recovered.

    In lower Manhattan, the delicious aroma of sizzling meat wafts from food trucks. Tourists snap pictures with selfie sticks, and cyclists weave through traffic.

    A new skyscraper called the Freedom Tower rises just steps from where the Twin Towers once stood. It’s the tallest building in the U.S., and 5,000 people work there every day.

    Each year on September 11, two streams of light are beamed from lower Manhattan and can be seen for miles around.

    The lights rise into the sky and disappear into the night. They’re powerful reminders of what New York lost that terrifying day 17 years ago—but they also symbolize the city’s remarkable strength.

    New York is a beautiful, brave city that no act of evil can destroy.