ZOOM: America's Kids Remember

The events of September 11, 2001 affected kids as well as adults, and this special edition of the popular PBS series ZOOM brings together an articulate, race and age diverse group of young people in a discussion about issues surrounding the terrorist attacks. Participants talk about where they were when they first heard about the unfolding nightmare, how much more aware they are now of global events (especially regarding terrorism), and their perceptions of the prejudice that exists towards Arabs and Muslims in society at large and in their own classrooms. Intercut with short profile pieces featuring a girl living in TriBeCa, a young mural artist, and a boy whose father is in the Navy, the program also features book recommendations, poetry readings, and a segment on the value of peer mediation. Admittedly, this sounds a bit jumbled and wide-ranging, but somehow the strength of the unifying topic keeps it coherent. While this program's content is at this point somewhat dated, it's still a very affordable discussion starter for the classroom or home and is therefore recommended for comprehensive 9/11-related collections. Aud: I, J, P. (E. Gieschen)