Refugees by Catherine Stine

.Dawn is a teenager from San Francisco, who lives with her foster parents Louise and Victor. One day, Dawn hears her parent talking about her, and they are discussing the fact that they think Dawn is a difficult and terrible child. Later, Louise will leave for Afghanistan, where she will be working as a doctor.
Dawn emails a lot with Johar, a boy from Afghanistan, they have met while Dawn and Louise where in Afghanistan previously. Johar's life is also far from easy, now there is more and more Taliban restrictions and war. He has to flee with his little cousin Bija, and has to take care for her now she has lost her parents.
Dawn flees to, walks away from her parents home in San Francisco, and travels to New York City, where she is staying with her friend Jude, they are earning money as street musicians.
One day, when they are working, they hear a loud bang and the street shudders. The moment where the plane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center, and shortly thereafter, Dawn sees the second plane crashing in the second tower. Dawn feels frightened, and for the first time misses her foster mother.
Johar is soon becoming an assistant of Louise, because his English is good, and there are tolks needed. He still emails with Dawn, and because of this, their bond grows stronger, and Dawns relationship with Louise is getting better.7
Refugees is an impressive, outstanding and very original novel by Catherine Stine. Very realistic, and there aren't much great YA books about this subject, even about the horrible events of September 11. A must read for every young adult.