Summary

In the Prologue, the narrator points out what a beautiful day September 11 was with its perfect temperatures and clear blue sky. The perfection of the day ended when the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Chapter 1 is set on September 9, 2001, in Chicago at the O’Hare International Airport. Sergio is waiting for his return flight to New York after receiving a math award. Sergio realized for the first time how homesick he was when he thought about his grandmother. He had only agreed to go because she was so proud of him. Another boy who had also received a math award pointed out a girl to Sergio. She was wearing a hijab. Sergio knew it meant the girl was Muslim. He realized the other boy might never have seen a person of the Muslim faith before.

Naheed was used to being...