HISTORY

Once More to the Sky: The Rebuilding of the World Trade Center

S. & S. Aug. 2021. 352p. ISBN 9781982176143. $35. HIST
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New York City is constantly filled with construction projects. Raab (You’re Welcome, Cleveland: How I Helped LeBron James Win a Championship and Save a City) and photographer Woolhead tackle the history of one of the most famous and fraught building projects of them all—the “rebuilding of the World Trade Center” after 9/11. Their book makes clear that this construction project was incredibly personal for many of the people involved in it who were in New York on September 11, 2001. They saw the towers fall, they lost friends, and they lost family. They remember the feelings of helplessness. Then, in the wake of the attacks, they were responsible for working day after day at the site of unimaginable tragedy. Raab shares numerous details, from the pouring of the foundation for One World Trade (the tower completed in 2014), to the construction of the 9/11 museum and memorial at the site. Raab and Woolhead depict a project that was emotionally, politically, and generally fraught. This book contains interviews with several people involved in the rebuilding, including architects, construction workers, and families of 9/11 victims.
VERDICT Complete with extensive photographs of people and place, this is a comprehensive look at one of the most famous spots in the United States, from a different perspective. This book is meant for readers who like learning background details and want more than a surface-level look at landmarks and monuments.
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