I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967

Name: I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967
Author: Lauren Tarshis
ISBN: 9780545919821

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lauren Tarshis

Illustrated by Scott Dawson

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection (JLG.)

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

This is the story of a kid who faced one of the most terrifying grizzly bear attacks ever recorded—and lived to tell the tale. When the wilderness turns wild and dangerous, bravery isn’t just a choice, it’s a must. Discover why surviving this attack changed everything.

Themes

Survival AdventureHuman-Animal EncountersComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Lauren Tarshis’s latest in the I Survived series brings to life the harrowing 1967 grizzly bear attacks in Glacier National Park. Geared towards readers ages 9-12, it blends historical events with gripping fiction to explore themes of survival and courage. Parents should note the book contains suspenseful scenes of animal attacks but handles them in an age-appropriate manner.

Why we rated I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 ME (Moderate)

I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 114 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 as ME (Moderate, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 explores survival, adventure, human-animal encounters, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about survival, adventure, human-animal encounters.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967 carries an award.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?