Dear America Books in Order
Dear America is a 2-book series by Ann Rinaldi for ages 9–12, at a grades 4–6 reading level, with moderate content (HootRated intensity 3/5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate
- HootRated 3/5
Dear America Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Dear America books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dear America:My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880 1999 | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Moderate |
| 2 | Survival in the Storm The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards Dalhart, Texas 1935 | Level 6-7 | 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. Dear America (2 books by Ann Rinaldi) lands at a grades 4–6 reading level, with average content intensity 3/5. 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 Dear America Books
Dear America:My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880
Ann Rinaldi
Dear America:My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880
Ann Rinaldi
Survival in the Storm The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards Dalhart, Texas 1935
Survival in the Storm The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards Dalhart, Texas 1935
Series Like Dear America: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- What Was.../What Is...? by Janet B. Pascal, Who HQ 6 books · Grades 5–6 · gentle to moderate content
- Great Illustrated Classics by Malvina G. Vogel 24 books · Grades 3–7 · gentle to intense content
- Dear Canada by Jean Little 6 books · Grades 4–6 · gentle to moderate content
- Wonder Women: Heroines of History by Nicole K. Orr 4 books · Grades 5–6 · gentle to moderate content
- Graphic Library; Women Warriors of World War II by Agnieszka Biskup 4 books · Grades 4–5 · moderate content
- Warriors: The Broken Code by Erin Hunter 6 books · Grades 4–6 · mild to moderate content
Questions about the Dear America series
- What reading level is the Dear America series?
- Dear America books are at a grades 4–6 reading level (average grade level 5.4), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9–12. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Dear America books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Dear America books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Dear America:My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880 (1999); Survival in the Storm The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards Dalhart, Texas 1935.
- What age is the Dear America series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Dear America for ages 9–12. Content is moderate (HootRated intensity 3/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.