“Thirty-eight planes landed there on September 11, depositing 6,595 passengers and crew members in a town whose population is barely 10,000.”–Jim DeFede, The Day the World Came to Town

If you ever get discouraged by the state of the world and the way people treat each other, take some time and read this book. This is the incredible true story of how the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, opened their homes and hearts to over 6,500 stranded passengers and crew members whose planes were not able to land in New York on September 11, 2001 due to the terrorist attacks.

I had never given much thought to what happened to passengers on international flights when the air space over the United States was closed for days after Sept. 11. This book sheds light on that as most of the planes landed at various airports in Canada, including Gander. Jim DeFede shares the stories and backgrounds of several of the passengers and crew members as well as the Gander townspeople they come to know. This book will reaffirm your faith in mankind and if you’re like me, it may make you want to take a trip to visit Gander.

Content Advisory: Terrorist attacks, death