In the crystalline September morning of 2001, high school freshman Tyrell's biggest concern is navigating his second day of school and avoiding the embarrassment of his father walking him there. But in an instant, everything changes when a plane strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center just blocks from his school.

As Tyrell, his sister Jaylin, and their classmates flee through the streets of Lower Manhattan, the unimaginable happens again and again. Through clouds of dust and waves of confusion, this coming-of-age story captures the raw emotion of that pivotal day through the eyes of a teenager thrust into a historical tragedy.

With his firefighter father rushing toward danger while everyone else escapes, Tyrell must find strength he didn't know he possessed. Throughout the chaos, he discovers what his father meant that morning about staying grounded in reality even when that reality is almost too painful to bear.

Part of the "I'm American" series, this poignant novella honors the experiences of everyday Americans during one of the nation's darkest days. It's a story about family bonds, unexpected courage, and how even the youngest citizens process national trauma while holding onto hope for a changed world.

If you enjoyed The Memory of Things, Love is the Higher Law, and Towers Falling, you'll love I'm American: That September Day.