I thought this book was going to go in a VASTLY different direction that it did. (When I read that Alyssa's dad worked at WTC in NYC on 9/11....I just thought we would have sadness! BUT I was happy to be wrong.

This is a good coming of age story. Alyssa was not obnoxious at all. She has a good relationship with both of her parents. She really wants to figure out her heritage. And ultimately, she asks hard questions of faith.

We don't shy away from mentions of periods and pimples (typical teenage happenings.) But it also brings goes beyond the teenage crushes and friendship drama. Alyssa discovers things that are so so much more important.
I will recommend this to those who enjoy Shannon Hale and Raina Telgemeier. It fits the genre. ( )

Alyssa has a lot going on that she chronicles in her diary -- traveling between her divorced parents' homes, striving to do well in middle school to be accepted into a good high school, crushing on a new boy in her school, and more. As the dates in her diary inch closer and closer to the fateful day of September 11, 2001, the tension increases for the reader wondering how Alyssa's family and friends will fare.

This was a compelling read with a likeable character -- who is in fact the author! The book is based on her own diaries from the time period in question, although as with any memoir, some events and people are compressed, renamed, etc. Her struggles are therefore very relatable, even if some of her references might be a bit dated for today's young readers (e.g., specific boy bands).

The diary style makes the reader feel instantly connected to Alyssa and will appeal to those kids who enjoy books done in that style, even if this is a bit more serious than say, Dork Diaries. The illustrations are completely in blue-scale but still look vibrant and eye-catching. ( )

This book is told in diary entries of a girl 12 going on 13 over twenty years when the towers fell. The book is a bit long and overly drawn out, but I love how true to life it is/was. It’s a fictionalized biography of the author. It had a lot of heart. While not as funny as Dork Diaries, or Wimpy Kid, I think many readers who like those series will find a lovely story within these pages. ( )