What reading level is the I Survived series?

I Survived books are at a grades 3–5 reading level (average grade level 4.1), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–12. There are 24 books in the series.

What order should I read the I Survived books?

Read the I Survived books in series order: Book 1: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1); Book 2: I Survived Collection; Book 3: I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005; Book 4: The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941; Book 5: I Survived: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906; and 19 more.

What age is the I Survived series appropriate for?

HootRated recommends I Survived for ages 5–12. Content is mild to moderate (HootRated intensity 2–3 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.

I Survived Books in Order

I Survived is a 24-book series by Lauren Tarshis for ages 5–12, at a grades 3–5 reading level, with mild to moderate content (HootRated intensity 2–3 out of 5).

Books: 24; In series order
Reading level: Grades 3–5; Average grade level 4.1
Recommended ages: Ages 5–12; From HootRated age ratings
Content intensity: Mild to moderate; HootRated 2–3 out of 5 · avg 2.9

I Survived Reading Order

All 24 I Survived books, numbered in series order.

#	Title	Reading Level	Ages	Content
1	I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1) 2011	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
2	I Survived Collection books 1-7 2014	Level 5	9-12	Moderate
3	I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005 2018	Level 3	9-12	Moderate
4	The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 2011	Level 3-4	9-12	Moderate
5	I Survived: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 2012	Level 3-4	9-12	Moderate
6	I Survived the Attacks of September 11 2001 2021	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
7	I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (I Survived #7) 2013	Level 3	9-12	Moderate
8	I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived #8) 2013	Level 3	9-12	Moderate
10	I survived the destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 2014	Level 4-5	5-8	Moderate
11	I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (Graphic Novel) 2023	Level 5	9-12	Mild
12	I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) 2015	Level 3	9-12	Moderate
13	I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster 1937 2016	Level 3	9-12	Moderate
14	I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
15	The American Revolution 1776 2018	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
16	I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888 (I Survived #16) 2018	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
17	I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (I Survived #17) 2018	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
18	I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (I Survived #18) 2019	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
19	I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (I Survived #20) 2020	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
20	I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 2019	Level 3	9-12	Mild
21	I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910 2022	Level 5	9-12	Moderate
22	I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (I Survived #21) 2021	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
23	I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 (I Survived #23) 2023	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
24	I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) 2024	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate
25	I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (I Survived #25) 2025	Level 4-5	9-12	Moderate

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

#11

#16

#21

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. I Survived (24 books by Lauren Tarshis) lands at a grades 3–5 reading level, with average content intensity 2.9/5. 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 I Survived Books

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived Collection

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived Collection

Lauren Tarshis

Level 5

I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3

The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941

Lauren Tarshis

The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3-4 Moderate

I Survived: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3-4 Moderate

I Survived the Attacks of September 11 2001

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Attacks of September 11 2001

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (I Survived #7)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (I Survived #7)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3

I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived #8)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived #8)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3 Moderate

I survived the destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

Lauren Tarshis

I survived the destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5 Moderate

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (Graphic Novel)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (Graphic Novel)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 5

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster 1937

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster 1937

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

The American Revolution 1776

Lauren Tarshis

The American Revolution 1776

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888 (I Survived #16)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888 (I Survived #16)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (I Survived #17)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (I Survived #17)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5 Moderate

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (I Survived #18)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (I Survived #18)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5 Moderate

I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (I Survived #20)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (I Survived #20)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Lauren Tarshis

I survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Lauren Tarshis

Level 3 Mild

I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910

Lauren Tarshis

Level 5

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (I Survived #21)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (I Survived #21)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5 Moderate

I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 (I Survived #23)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 (I Survived #23)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5

I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (I Survived #25)

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (I Survived #25)

Lauren Tarshis

Level 4-5 Moderate

Series Like I Survived: What to Read Next

Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.

Questions about the I Survived series

What reading level is the I Survived series?: I Survived books are at a grades 3–5 reading level (average grade level 4.1), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–12. There are 24 books in the series.
What order should I read the I Survived books?: Read the I Survived books in series order: Book 1: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived #1); Book 2: I Survived Collection; Book 3: I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005; Book 4: The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941; Book 5: I Survived: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906; and 19 more.
What age is the I Survived series appropriate for?: HootRated recommends I Survived for ages 5–12. Content is mild to moderate (HootRated intensity 2–3 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.