Historical American Biographies Books in Order
Historical American Biographies is a 5-book series by Leila Merrell Foster for ages 9+, at a grades 6–9 reading level, with gentle to moderate content (HootRated intensity 1–3 out of 5).
- Books
- 5
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle to moderate
- HootRated 1–3 out of 5 · avg 2.2
Historical American Biographies Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Historical American Biographies books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Franklin, founding father and inventor 1997 | Level 6-7 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 2 | Susan B. Anthony 1997 · Martha E. Kendall | Level 7-8 | 13+ | Mild |
| 3 | Billy the Kid Outlaw of the Wild West 2000 · Roger Bruns | Level 7-8 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 4 | Louisa May Alcott Author of Little Women 2000 · Karen Clemens Warrick | Level 7-8 | 13+ | Mild |
| 5 | Mary Todd Lincoln 2000 · Mary Hull | Level 8-9 | 13+ | Moderate |
Content Intensity Across the Series
VariesContent intensity ranges from Gentle to Moderate across 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. Historical American Biographies (5 books by Leila Merrell Foster) lands at a grades 6–9 reading level, with average content intensity 2.2/5. 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 Historical American Biographies Books
Benjamin Franklin, founding father and inventor
Leila Merrell Foster
Benjamin Franklin, founding father and inventor
Leila Merrell Foster
Susan B. Anthony
Martha E. Kendall
Susan B. Anthony
Martha E. Kendall
Billy the Kid
Roger Bruns
Billy the Kid
Roger Bruns
Louisa May Alcott
Karen Clemens Warrick
Louisa May Alcott
Karen Clemens Warrick
Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Hull
Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Hull
Series Like Historical American Biographies: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- People at the Center Of by Gail Stewart 7 books · Grades 7–9 · gentle to intense content
- In Their Own Words (Grolier) by Judith E. Greenberg 4 books · Grades 6–8 · mild to moderate content
- Library of American Lives and Times; PowerPlus Books by Lisa DeCarolis 8 books · Grades 7–9 · gentle to intense content
- Essential Events; Essential Library by Charles E. Pederson 6 books · Grades 6–9 · gentle to intense content
- Countdown to Space by Michael D. Cole 28 books · Grades 5–8 · gentle to intense content
- People to Know (Enslow) by Michael D. Cole 11 books · Grades 6–9 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the Historical American Biographies series
- What reading level is the Historical American Biographies series?
- Historical American Biographies books are at a grades 6–9 reading level (average grade level 7.5), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9+. There are 5 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Historical American Biographies books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Historical American Biographies books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Benjamin Franklin, founding father and inventor (1997); Susan B. Anthony (1997); Billy the Kid (2000); Louisa May Alcott (2000); Mary Todd Lincoln (2000).
- What age is the Historical American Biographies series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Historical American Biographies for ages 9+. Content is gentle to moderate (HootRated intensity 1–3 out of 5). Intensity varies from book to book, so check individual ratings in the list above.