Index for September 11th

Index for September 11th was born out of a tumultuous adolescence spent in a rapidly changing world. It describes the transition from girl to woman that occurred between 2001 and 2011. During this decade, the author moved from Michigan to New York City, survived several bouts of major depression, graduated from college, and learned how to navigate the world as an adult. The index format of the text was inspired by a poem devised by the writer Ander Monson. For Howell, the index format felt well-suited to the subject matter -- it allowed her to categorize and classify disparate events, emotions, and encounters that occurred over an extended period of time. She comes to terms with her heritage, her family, and her own unending (and at times agonizing) search for personal and professional fulfillment. Major themes include the resilience of the female body, mental health, and the terrorist attacks of September 11th.