The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers


1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerstein, Mordicai. 2003. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Connecticut: Roaring Brook Press.
ISBN 07613286688

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Imagine what it would have felt like to walk a tightrope between the Twin Towers of World Trade Center as it was constructed back in the 1970’s. The Man Who Walked Between Towers is based on a true story of the French aerialist, Philippe Petit who accomplished the feat of walking on a tightrope successfully between the towers on August 7th, 1974.

Philippe Petit attracts the attention of onlookers and the police as he walks between the towers. He is surrounded by police on both sides as he dangles, rests, and enjoys his exhilarating walk. Petit eventually gives himself over to police to be arrested when he has taken in all of the sights of the New York City Harbor and enjoyed his walk. Petit is spared serious punishment for the crime he committed being sentenced to perform in the park for children in New York City by a judge as repayment.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This historical account of Philippe Petit’s successfully tight rope walk across the Word Trade Center Towers in the 1970’s will evoke excitement and wonder in readers who will keep turning the pages as they eagerly follow Petit along his journey.

The illustrations that Gerstein paired with this story beautifully display the New York City skyline and the Twin Towers. Several fold out pages appear which add depth and texture to the magical images that appear below Petit as he walks across his tightrope.

Gerstein’s style of writing and reference to the fall of the Twin Towers at the end of the story will appeal to readers’ emotions, especially those children who remember the fall of the twin towers on September 11th, 2001.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Recipient of the Caldecott Medal - 2004
Publishers Weekly: “Gerstein's dramatic paintings include some perspectives bound to take any reader's breath away. Truly affecting is the book's final painting of the imagined imprint of the towers, now existing "in memory"-linked by Philippe and his high wire.”
School Library Journal: "Gorgeous oil-and-ink paintings capture the aerialist's spirited feat and breathtaking perspectives high above Manhattan harbor.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*This book can be shared to discuss the bravery and passion Petit displayed by attempting his great act.

*Older students may enjoy reading excerpts from Petit’s book To Reach the Clouds, which Gerstein referenced while writing this book. Gerstein’s other famous tightrope walking events are featured in this book.

*Depending on their age, some students may not remember the fall of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11th, 2001 and may have questions about why the towers are no longer there.
Students who are old enough to remember the event may want to discuss how they felt, images from the news, and may still have questions about the event.

2002. To Reach the Clouds. Written and Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. North Point Press. ISBN0865476519