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I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

Lauren Tarshis

Cover of I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lauren Tarshis

I Survived · Book 24

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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.

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About This Book

Elsie races through the shadowy forest, heart pounding as she and her friend Humphrey stumble upon a chest bursting with stolen treasure. Suddenly, the ground feels colder, heavier — a deadly sickness is creeping closer, threatening everything. What will Elsie do when the Black Death comes for her?

Quick Assessment

Set during the devastating Black Death pandemic of 1348, this middle-grade historical fiction follows Elsie, a brave young girl who confronts illness, loss, and the harsh realities of medieval life. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book blends suspenseful storytelling with educational nonfiction back matter to provide historical context. Parents should note the presence of themes involving illness and death portrayed with sensitivity.

Why we rated I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) 9ME

I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 111 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) as 9ME ("Moderate — 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 — 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 Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) explores history, adventure, coming of age, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about history, adventure, coming of age.
  • Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 23 more books in the I Survived series.

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

9ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

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?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

5/10

Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
6

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Details

Book Length

111 pages
ISBN
9781338897661
Pages
111
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Published
2024-10-15
Type
Fiction

Genres