Review: The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

I made the decision to read The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff this year. This was a difficult decision for me, as my 9/11 experience shaped my childhood and ultimately my entire life. It’s a really personal day for me. But I felt a possessive pull to read this book. And I’m very glad I did. I don’t think I can objectively rate this book based on what I liked and didn’t like, because this was more than a book for me. It was closure.

Synopsis: “The first comprehensive oral history of September 11, 2001—a panoramic narrative woven from the voices of Americans on the front lines of an unprecedented national trauma.” -From the publisher

Why this book is powerful: 
1. It is told in first person narrative, taking you through the events of 9/11 from the airports, to the Towers, to the firehouses, to the Pentagon, to a field in Pennsylvania. 
2. The audiobook has real recordings, from the plane passengers, to the 911 operators, to George W. Bush. 
3. If you weren’t close to anyone effected personally by 9/11, I think it’s a peak into what it’s like to live with the events of that Tuesday day after day after day for the last 19 years. •

It’s nearly impossible to “review” a book like this. It’s so personal and profound. It holds heart wrenching stories of loss, unlikely stories of heroism, and closure for an 8 year old little girl who has had a lot of nightmares and a lot of questions since.

CW/TW: Read at your own risk, we know this day was extremely brutal for physical injuries and mental health.

Overall Rating: 5/5