We All Fall Down

By Eric Walters

A novel from one of the country’s most prolific and popular YA authors, this book, set in New York City on September 11th, shows us how the experiences of that day profoundly changed one teen’s life and relationships.

Today is September 10, 2001, and Will, a grade nine student, is spending the day at his father’s workplace tomorrow. As part of a school assignment, all the students in his class will be going to their parents tomorrow, but Will isn’t excited about it–he’d rather sleep in and do nothing with his friends. His father doesn’t even have an exciting job like his best friend James’s father who is a fireman. Will’s dad works for an international trading company and has to wake up early every morning to commute to his office on the eighty-fifth floor in the south building of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Will doesn’t see his father very often because of the hours he puts in at the office. He doubts that his dad will bother making time for him tomorrow even when they are supposed to be spending the day together.

In this fast-paced and dramatic new novel by bestselling author Eric Walters, Will discovers a new side of his father during an event that continues to affect the world. As Will’s new teacher says, tomorrow “might be an experience that changes your entire life.”


From the Trade Paperback edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: May 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9780385673426

Eric Walters

Eric Walters, a former elementary school teacher, is a bestselling children’s author in Canada. He is the founder of Creation of Hope, which provides care for orphans in the Makueni district of Kenya. His recent books include The Rule of Three series and Nothing to Fear.

Reviews for We All Fall Down

[irenereads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is September 11th 2001. Will goes to his dad's office for Take Your Kid To Work Day. His dad works in one of the twin towers in New York.It started out like any other day in his dad's office. That is, until they witness the first plane crash into the other tower! At first they didn't know what happened. Then they see it on CNN. They find out that a plane had crashed into the tower and that all the passengers on board had died. Will's dad, being the fire warden of his floor, orders all the people to evacuate the building, even though it wasn't their building that was hit. Some people insisted on staying. They said that they are safe. That is, until another plane crashes into their building! Will and his dad prepare to leave, but they are above where the plane hit! Will they make it out alive? You will have to find out!

[tmorris353 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

***SPOILER ALERT***Ok, so here's the thing. Yes, this book was written with adequate descriptions of the events that could have happened to these fictional characters, and yes the events surrounding September 11, 2001 were extremely tragic. Having said that, I don't think that Eric Walters was really able to evoke the true emotion that was felt by so many on that fateful day with the ending that was written. It was far too happy. While I understand that a happy ending is what so many readers seek, it did not connect me emotionally in a way that really gave me an idea of what was being felt by those who lost loved ones in the attacks. Definitley not my favourite Eric Walters book.

[ambookgeek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just okay. Good adventurous treatment of a tough topic (for adult American readers), but not a wonderfully written book.

[isaacw_48 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is yet another great book by Eric Walters. It is about the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York. It is great yet scary at the same time. It makes you really think about what the people who worked in those buildings were thinking about at that time. After I read this book I was still nervous to go on any plane.This is a great book and actually was the first book I'd ever read by Eric Walters. I think it takes a very skilled author to write a book like this and Eric Walters definately has that skill!

[jensha_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

better than average book by walters ... boys goes to spend day at work with workaholic dad and it's 9-11 ... escape building, helping others and facing reality .. graphic without being gory ... good "what would you do" storyline; good father/son dysfunctional portrait