American Disasters Books in Order
American Disasters is a 4-book series by Michael D. Cole for ages 9–12, at a grades 7–8 reading level, with moderate to intense content (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5).
- Books
- 4
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate to intense
- HootRated 3–4 out of 5 · avg 3.5
American Disasters Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most American Disasters books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The L.A. riots Rage in the City of Angels 1999 | Level 7-8 | 9-12 | Intense |
| 2 | The siege at Waco Deadly Inferno 1999 | Level 7-8 | 9-12 | Intense |
| 3 | TWA flight 800 Explosion in Midair 1999 | Level 7-8 | 9-12 | Moderate |
| 4 | Apollo 1 Tragedy Fire in the Capsule 2002 · Paul Brubaker | Level 7-8 | 9-12 | Moderate |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. American Disasters (4 books by Michael D. Cole) lands at a grades 7–8 reading level, with average content intensity 3.5/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All American Disasters Books
The L.A. riots
Michael D. Cole
The L.A. riots
Michael D. Cole
The siege at Waco
Michael D. Cole
The siege at Waco
Michael D. Cole
TWA flight 800
Michael D. Cole
TWA flight 800
Michael D. Cole
Apollo 1 Tragedy
Paul Brubaker
Apollo 1 Tragedy
Paul Brubaker
Series Like American Disasters: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- In American History by David K. Fremon 11 books · Grades 6–9 · gentle to moderate content
- Importance Of by Eleanor H. Ayer 5 books · Grades 8–9 · gentle to intense content
- America the Beautiful, Third Series by Jean F. Blashfield 6 books · Grades 6–8 · gentle to very intense content
- Remember by Paul Robert Walker 3 books · Grades 7–8 · mild to moderate content
- Dune by Frank Herbert 7 books · Grades 7–9 · moderate to intense content
- Need to Know Library by Eleanor H. Ayer 7 books · Grades 6–8 · moderate to intense content
Questions about the American Disasters series
- What reading level is the American Disasters series?
- American Disasters books are at a grades 7–8 reading level (average grade level 7.5), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9–12. There are 4 books in the series.
- What order should I read the American Disasters books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most American Disasters books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: The L.A. riots (1999); The siege at Waco (1999); TWA flight 800 (1999); Apollo 1 Tragedy (2002).
- What age is the American Disasters series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends American Disasters for ages 9–12. Content is moderate to intense (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.