What reading level is I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919?

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 by Lauren Tarshis is at a Level 3 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 appropriate for?

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919?

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 is fiction. Part of the I Survived series.

Does I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 have any content warnings?

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 has a HootRating of 8LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919?

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 by Lauren Tarshis is 94 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Lauren Tarshis

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lauren Tarshis

I Survived · Book 20

Reading Level 3 8LE Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Sticky, sweet molasses floods the streets, splashing and swirling around the people of Boston. The air is thick with the smell of syrup as the wave crashes through homes and shops. In the middle of this strange disaster, courage and hope rise above the sticky flood.

Themes

Historical Survival Adventure Family

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade historical fiction book tells the story of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in Boston, focusing on the dramatic events and personal experiences of those affected. Suitable for children ages 9-12, it provides an engaging way to learn about a unique disaster with age-appropriate content and no graphic violence. The story emphasizes resilience and bravery amid unexpected challenges.

Why we rated I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 8LE

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 is written at a Level 3 reading level across 94 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

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

Thematically, I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 explores historical, survival, adventure, and family — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, survival, adventure.
✓ 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.