The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

The Day the World Came to Town belongs to a nonfiction genre that explores the impact of September 11 from various viewpoints, both within and beyond the sites of the tragedy. The purpose of these books is to explore how individuals and communities experienced and responded to events rather than how governments and militaries did. In doing so, these books focus attention on the intimate and personal, highlighting human rather than political perspectives.

Other notable books in this genre include The Red Bandana: A Life, a Choice, a Legacy by Tom Rinaldi, 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, and Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog & the Triumph of Trust by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory. The Red Bandana tells the story of Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter who worked in finance on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC). Crowther is believed to have died in the tower’s collapse after rescuing many people who identified him as “the man in the red bandana” (3). As a child, Crowther received a red bandana from his father that he kept with him ever since. The book has three main sections: his upbringing, the events of September 11, and the search for closure after his death, which brings eyewitnesses forward who identify him as the person who helped rescue confused and frightened workers.

Likewise, 102 Minutes follows people in the towers, beginning at the start of the workday and following events up to the collapse of the second tower. Authors Dwyer and Flynn drew on eyewitness accounts, oral narratives, transcripts of phone calls, and other research methods to document escape, evacuation, and rescue attempts. The book humanizes the people who were in the towers while also documenting the miscommunication and chaos that ensued after the crashes.

Thunder Dog is a dual memoir of the author, Michael Hingson, and his guide dog, Roselle. Hingson and Roselle were on the 78th floor of the WTC’s North Tower when the first plane crashed into it. Despite being afraid of thunder, Roselle remained calm amid the noise, heat, debris, and terror around them, guiding Hingson down more than 1,400 steps out of the building and to safety. The book celebrates the values of trust and teamwork.

By telling the human stories of resilience, courage, and sacrifice, these books, like The Day the World Came to Town, provide an uplifting counterpoint to the tragic events of 9/11 and its far-reaching effects on families and first responders, offering hope.