Brandon
The reason Brandon is suspended from school and with his father at the World Trade Center on September 11.
What is punching a kid at school and ultimately breaking his Wolverine Gloves
The language Reshmina is trying to learn so she can become a translator or teacher instead of a housewife.
What is English
The connection between the character Brandon from 2001 and the character Taz from 2011.
What is they are the same person
The terrorist group responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Who is al-Qaeda
The character who says: "We have to help him. It's Pashtunwali. It's our law."
Who is Reshmina
The floor of the North Tower where Brandon's father works at the Windows on the World restaurant.
What is the 107th floor
The ancient cultural code of honor that obligates Reshmina and her family to protect anyone seeking refuge, even an enemy.
What is Pashtunwali
The reason why Reshmina’s village is attacked by both the Taliban and the U.S. military, mirroring the chaos Brandon experienced.
What is because she hid Taz in her home and Pasoon told the Taliban
The extremist group controlling parts of Afghanistan that Reshmina’s brother wants to join.
Who is the Taliban
The character who says: "I survived. But I didn't survive alone. We survived together."
Who is Brandon
The man that helps Brandon down the dark, smoky stairwell of the North Tower.
Who is Richard
The symbolism the snow leopard represents for Reshmina as she is running in the poppy fields.
What is strength and bravery
The tragic family event that motivates both Brandon and Pasoon to want revenge against their respective enemies.
What is the death of Brandon's father and the death of Pasoon's sister, Hila
The weapon that mistakenly hits Reshmina's sister's wedding, which Alan Gratz includes to show the complex reality of civilian casualties.
The clothing that Afghan women were required to wear that covered their bodies
What is a burqa
The specific stuffed animal Brandon "Taz" carries with him as an adult solidier.
What is a Tasmanian Devil
The reason Reshmina takes her family into the caves
What is to escape the Taliban attacking her village
The end of each chapter that leaves the reading wanting to know more
What is a cliffhanger
The global trading center building complex in Lower Manhattan that serves as the setting for Brandon's half of the book.
What is the World Trade Center
The use of an object to represent something greater such as an emotion or feeling
What is symbolism
The realization that Taz has at the end of the story about the American Soldiers and the war on Afghanistan.
What is a changed point of view that America isn't always the hero and that he thought he was fighting the good fight, but now he's not so sure who has won
The last thing Reshmina says and decides at the end of the story.
I've found another path
The problem between characters that results in differing opinions or struggles between self and society.
What is conflict
The time frame between Brandon's story and Reshmina's story
When the man on the escalator almost spills his coffee and says, "That almost turned out to be a very bad day..." is an example of what type of literacy device?
What is foreshadowing