One of the central images used in Dèja’s class is concentric circles containing social groups that get larger and larger as they progress from the innermost circle outward. For Dèja, the first circle is herself, and the second level has two circles, one for her family and the other for friends. Then, a larger circle goes around that one because both groups are a part of New York City. Around that circle is New York state, and then the country. The lesson at school is that connecting home and the relationships contained there with the bigger picture helps students understand the sense of nationwide tragedy that was felt both on September 11th and afterward. Part of this understanding comes from recognizing that, in these many layers, “it’s not the differences that matter—it’s what unites us, holds together our society” (125). Dèja begins to see a throughline in American history that shows how shared American values bring people together.

This theme pervades the book, as Dèja comes to understand what happened on 9/11 and as she realizes how interconnected it is to her own family. While she initially didn’t feel like it was important to study 9/11, she realizes that “America is my history.