Ground Zero Essay Questions

What role does revenge play in Ground Zero?

As one of the major themes in the novel, revenge plays a central role in Ground Zero. Defined as the act of causing harm or injury to someone in response to a perceived injustice, revenge first arises in the conversation Brandon and Leo have in the first chapter, when Brandon admits to retaliating against Stuart, a boy who targeted his friend, Cedric. Leo cautions Brandon against resorting to retaliatory violence, emphasizing that he risks becoming a bully himself, even if he believes his actions to be justified. Later in the story, driven by a desire for revenge against the terrorists responsible for his father's death and the tragic events of 9/11, Brandon enlists in the military. However, the novel highlights the unintended casualties of the War On Terror, such as Reshmina's older sister, whose wedding is bombed by Americans. As the narrative unfolds, Brandon, now adopting the name Taz, acknowledges to Reshmina that his military is responsible for extensive death and destruction carried out in the pursuit of avenging 9/11 victims. Ultimately, he concedes that he and his comrades have inadvertently become the oppressors, just as his father warned him.

What role does betrayal play in Ground Zero?

In Ground Zero, Alan Gratz explores the concept of betrayal as a prominent theme, particularly within Reshmina's narrative. Gratz's exploration begins with the ANA's and the Americans' raid of the villagers' homes. Failing to uncover any Taliban weapons, Taz, through a translator, implores Reshmina's family to view them as allies. However, Reshmina and her family vocalize their frustration, detailing their plight as defenseless civilians trapped in an untenable predicament. Both the Americans and the Taliban demand their loyalty, labeling them traitors if they fail to comply—a situation that leaves them vulnerable to punishment from either side. Gratz further delves into the theme as Pasoon makes the fateful decision to betray his own family by revealing to the Taliban that they are harboring Taz. This treacherous act aligns Pasoon with the Taliban at the expense of his family, whose imminent demise is assured unless Reshmina can return to the village in time to warn them.

What is the significance of the room full of old objects and weapons that Reshmina finds under her village?

While hiding from the Taliban in underground tunnels, Reshmina stumbles across the "shrine to failed conquerors," an assortment of antiquities and weaponry. This room serves as a symbol of the numerous historical invasions and unsuccessful occupations of Afghanistan. While seeking refuge, Reshmina is taken aback by the discovery of a room filled with coins, statues, and weapons of various foreign origins. To her, this collection represents a memorial to all the armies that have invaded and attempted to conquer Afghanistan, spanning Mongolian, Greek, Persian, English, and Soviet influences. Contemplating these artifacts, she foresees a parallel fate for Taz and the Americans, envisioning them following in the footsteps of previous failed invaders who learned that ruling Afghanistan is an insurmountable challenge. The discovery of the room emphasizes the fact that the United States invaded and occupied Afghanistan despite the lessons of so many recent and ancient historical examples of failed occupations.

What role does powerlessness play in Ground Zero?

Defined as a lack of influence over circumstances beyond one's control, powerlessness plays a major thematic role in Ground Zero. Brandon's narrative exemplifies this theme when he grapples with the impossibility of reuniting with his father, separated by the wreckage of the plane that has created insurmountable barriers between them. Despite Brandon's steadfast refusal to relinquish hope and his insistence that they can only survive if they are together, Brandon's father acknowledges their powerlessness in shaping their fate. As much as Brandon wants to believe he can reunite with Leo, Leo rationally makes arrangements with Richard to take care of Brandon in the likely event of Leo's death. This profound experience influences Brandon's eventual decision to join the army, driven by a desire to counteract the powerlessness he felt as a child by contributing to a safer world. However, he soon discovers the military's efforts against the Taliban are futile, trapping him in another situation where events unfold beyond his control. Similarly, Reshmina's storyline revolves around her attempts to safeguard and unite her family. While her courageous endeavors shield her immediate family from harm, she eventually confronts the reality that she is powerless to prevent the destructive actions of aggressive people hellbent on revenge.

In what ways do both Brandon and Reshmina lose their innocence?

Loss on innocence is a pivotal theme in Ground Zero that Gratz examines through both Reshmina's and Brandon's narratives. Brandon begins the book as a nine-year-old preoccupied with innocent concerns about winning back his father's approval and purchasing replacement Wolverine claws to patch things up with his friend Cedric. However, by the end of the day, the traumatic events of 9/11 have shattered his innocence, replacing his naive worries with haunting images and experiences that propel him toward a career in the army. In Reshmina's case, at the age of twelve, she is acutely aware that her and her brother's innocence is threatened by Pasoon's imminent recruitment into the Taliban and the societal expectation that she marry young and give up her education to become a housewife. Her efforts to delay Pasoon's radicalization result in him violently striking her for attempting to exercise authority over a man—a taboo action for a woman in their social context—and she discovers just how far gone Pasoon is. Reshmina ultimately abandons the naive belief that her brother can be saved, realizing she must forge her own path into adulthood without him.