The Memory of Things

Gr 7–10—For a generation of teens who have no memory of 9/11, this title will give context to a tragedy they may not fully understand. This work opens with the confusion and commotion of the morning of September 11, 2001. On the rush home from his evacuated high school, 16-year-old Kyle rescues a girl ready to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge wearing giant wings and covered in ash. Suffering from temporary amnesia, the girl develops an intimate relationship with Kyle in the chaotic week following the terrorist attack. The alternating narration between the two of them, with the girl's free verse aptly fitting her befuddled state, presents two different perspectives. Captured by the way Kyle keeps busy with mundane tasks like cooking and doing laundry despite the crisis outside, the feelings of restlessness and uncertainty that follow any catastrophe are well portrayed. Comparisons are drawn to the bodies found in Nazi concentration camps and the destruction of the Ugandan Bush War, which Kyle's best friend lived through. Newspaper headlines and pop culture references plant this tale firmly within the time period, while the imagery of the white ash and black smoke is effectively described. The story is told without dipping into sentimentality, although the author's voice does slide through occasionally when Kyle refers to the resilient spirit of New Yorkers. An author's note relays Polisner's personal connection to the story and her process in creating this ultimately hopeful offering.