What reading level is the From Sea to Shining Sea series?

From Sea to Shining Sea books are at a grades 4–7 reading level (average grade level 4.5), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9–12. There are 50 books in the series.

What order should I read the From Sea to Shining Sea books?

Series numbers aren't available for most From Sea to Shining Sea books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Georgia (1991); Illinois (1991); Massachusetts (1991); California (1992); Florida (1992); and 45 more.

What age is the From Sea to Shining Sea series appropriate for?

HootRated recommends From Sea to Shining Sea for ages 9–12. Content is gentle to intense (HootRated intensity 1–4 out of 5). Intensity varies from book to book, so check individual ratings in the list above.

From Sea to Shining Sea Books in Order

From Sea to Shining Sea is a 50-book series by Dennis B. Fradin for ages 9–12, at a grades 4–7 reading level, with gentle to intense content (HootRated intensity 1–4 out of 5).

Books: 50; By publication date
Reading level: Grades 4–7; Average grade level 4.5
Recommended ages: Ages 9–12; From HootRated age ratings
Content intensity: Gentle to intense; HootRated 1–4 out of 5 · avg 1.5

From Sea to Shining Sea Reading Order

Series numbers aren't available for most From Sea to Shining Sea books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).

#	Title	Reading Level	Ages	Content
1	Georgia 1991	Level 5-6	9-12	Gentle
2	Illinois 1991	Level 5	9-12	Gentle
3	Massachusetts 1991	Level 5-6	9-12	Gentle
4	California 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
5	Florida 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
6	Michigan 1992	Level 5	9-12	Gentle
7	Montana 1992 · Judith Bloom Fradin	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
8	New Hampshire 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
9	South Carolina 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
10	Tennessee 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
11	Texas 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
12	Virginia 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
13	Washington, D.C. 1992	Level 5-6	9-12	Gentle
14	Wisconsin 1992	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
15	Alabama 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
16	Alaska 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
17	Arizona 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
18	Colorado 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
19	Iowa 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
20	Kentucky 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
21	New Jersey 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
22	New Mexico 1993 · Judith Bloom Fradin	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
23	New York 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
24	Ohio 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
25	Utah 1993	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
26	Arkansas 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
27	Connecticut 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
28	Delaware 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
29	Hawaii 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
30	Indiana 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
31	Maine 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
32	Maryland 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
33	Missouri 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
34	North Dakota 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
35	Pennsylvania 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
36	Washington 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
37	West Virginia 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
38	Wyoming 1994	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
39	Idaho 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
40	Kansas 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
41	Louisiana 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
42	Minnesota 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
43	Mississippi 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
44	Nebraska 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
45	Nevada 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
46	Oklahoma 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Intense
47	Oregon 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
48	Rhode Island 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
49	South Dakota 1995	Level 4-5	9-12	Gentle
50	Minnesota 2003 · Judy L. Hasday	Level 7-8	9-12	Gentle

Content Intensity Across the Series

Varies

Content intensity ranges from Gentle to Intense across the series.

First book Latest book

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. From Sea to Shining Sea (50 books by Dennis B. Fradin) lands at a grades 4–7 reading level, with average content intensity 1.5/5. Intensity varies from book to book, so check individual ratings in the list above.

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 From Sea to Shining Sea Books

Georgia

Dennis B. Fradin

Georgia

Dennis B. Fradin

Level 5-6 Gentle

Illinois

Dennis B. Fradin

Illinois

Dennis B. Fradin

Level 5 Gentle

Massachusetts

Dennis B. Fradin

Massachusetts

Dennis B. Fradin

Level 5-6 Gentle

California

Dennis B. Fradin

California

Dennis B. Fradin

From Sea to Shining Sea Books in Order

From Sea to Shining Sea Reading Order

Content Intensity Across the Series

All From Sea to Shining Sea Books

Georgia

Illinois

Massachusetts

California

Florida

Michigan

Montana

New Hampshire

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington, D.C.

Wisconsin

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Colorado

Iowa

Kentucky

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Utah

Arkansas

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Missouri

North Dakota

Pennsylvania

Washington

West Virginia

Wyoming

Idaho

Kansas

Louisiana

Minnesota

Mississippi

Nebraska

Nevada

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Minnesota

Series Like From Sea to Shining Sea: What to Read Next

Questions about the From Sea to Shining Sea series