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Historical American Biographies Books in Order

5 books by Leila Merrell Foster. Reading level: Grades 6.6–8.5. Upper Grades (Ages 12+).

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. Historical American Biographies (5 books by Leila Merrell Foster) lands at reading level Grades 6.6–8.5, with average content intensity 2.2/5.

The reading-order table below lists every book with per-volume reading level and intensity badges 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.

5
Books
Grades 6.6–8.5
Reading Level
2.2/5
Avg. Intensity
UG
Upper Grades

Content Intensity Across the Series

Varies

Content intensity ranges from Gentle to Moderate across the series.

1
2
3
4
5
First book Latest book

Historical American Biographies Reading Order

# Title Reading Level Content
1 Benjamin Franklin, founding father and inventor
Leila Merrell Foster
Level 6-7 Gentle
2 Billy the Kid
Roger Bruns
Level 7-8 Moderate
3 Louisa May Alcott
Karen Clemens Warrick
Level 7-8 Mild
4 Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Hull
Level 8-9 Moderate
5 Susan B. Anthony
Kendall, Martha E.
Level 7-8 Mild

Questions about the Historical American Biographies series

What reading level is the Historical American Biographies series?
The Historical American Biographies series by Leila Merrell Foster is at a Grades 6.6–8.5 reading level (average Grade 7.5). Intended for Upper Grades (Ages 12+). There are 5 books in the series.
What order should I read the Historical American Biographies books?
The reading-order table above lists all 5 books with per-volume reading level and intensity ratings. Start with book 1 and read in publication order unless the table indicates a different recommended order for newer readers.
What age is the Historical American Biographies series appropriate for?
The Historical American Biographies series is recommended for Upper Grades (Ages 12+). The average content intensity is 2.2/5. Check the intensity trajectory above to see whether content gets heavier across the series — if it does, sensitive readers may want to stop earlier in the run.