Life in the Thirteen Colonies Books in Order
Life in the Thirteen Colonies is a 2-book series by Deborah H. DeFord for ages 9–12, at a grades 6–8 reading level, with gentle to mild content (HootRated intensity 1–2 out of 5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle to mild
- HootRated 1–2 out of 5 · avg 1.5
Life in the Thirteen Colonies Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Life in the Thirteen Colonies books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts 2004 | Level 6-7 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 2 | Pennsylvania (Life in the Thirteen Colonies) 2004 | Level 7-8 | 9-12 | Mild |
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. Life in the Thirteen Colonies (2 books by Deborah H. DeFord) lands at a grades 6–8 reading level, with average content intensity 1.5/5. 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 Life in the Thirteen Colonies Books
Series Like Life in the Thirteen Colonies: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- In the Footsteps of Explorers by Adrianna Morganelli 4 books · Grades 6–7 · gentle to moderate content
- Cornerstones of Freedom by R. Conrad Stein 3 books · Grades 5–8 · gentle to moderate content
- California Missions (Cavendish Square) by Oscar Cantillo 17 books · Grades 6–8 · gentle to mild content
- Spirit of America; Our Thirteen Colonies by Jean F. Blashfield 4 books · Grades 6–7 · gentle to mild content
- Encyclopedia of First Ladies by Judith E. Greenberg 3 books · Grades 6–7 · gentle to mild content
- Career Biographies by Jean F. Blashfield 5 books · Grades 7–9 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the Life in the Thirteen Colonies series
- What reading level is the Life in the Thirteen Colonies series?
- Life in the Thirteen Colonies books are at a grades 6–8 reading level (average grade level 7.2), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9–12. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Life in the Thirteen Colonies books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Life in the Thirteen Colonies books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Massachusetts (2004); Pennsylvania (Life in the Thirteen Colonies) (2004).
- What age is the Life in the Thirteen Colonies series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Life in the Thirteen Colonies for ages 9–12. Content is gentle to mild (HootRated intensity 1–2 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.