The I Survived books: reviewed

Consisting of 28 books, author Lauren Tarshis’s I Survived is one of the longest series aimed at children. Besides great storytelling and characters, the books are unique in another way. Namely, each of the I Survived books belongs to the historical fiction genre and depicts a certain disaster from our past, with a boy or girl protagonist having to live through them.

From the events of the American Revolution to the Battle of Gettysburg to more recent tragedies like the attacks of September 11th or the Japanese Tsunami of 2011, every book teaches children history as well as moral lessons. Therefore, let’s check out some of Tarshis’s best books and analyze why you should consider getting one for your child.

What is the I Survived book series about?

Published by Scholastic Inc, the I Survived series can be perfectly described by its slogan “When disaster strikes, heroes are made.” And that’s just what the books are about. Young heroes who, despite all odds, come out alive from various situations, including wars, natural disasters, and even wild animal attacks.

The first book in the series came out way back in 2010. It’s titled I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912. It’s pretty obvious what it’s about, isn’t it? Nevertheless, the story is fun and captivating for its targeted audience—children in grades 3 to 5. The latest book as of now is I Survived The Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which was released in 2021.

Thanks to Scholastic, the I Survived series has Spanish translations too. Currently, there are six of them, including:

• I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916;
• I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912;
• I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906;
• I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005;
• I Survived the Bombing Of Pearl Harbor, 1941;
• I Survived the Attacks Of September 11th, 2001.

Some other books from this series include The Battle of D-Day, Great Molasses Flood, Joplin Tornado, and the Wellington Avalanche. Tarshi also wrote a spin-off series. The I Survived True Stories are about actual events that took place, and that inspired her fiction books., which are also great reads on their own.

How Lauren Tarshis’s unique writing style teaches us about the impact of historical events

Before we can dive into some of the I Survived books, we need to first talk a bit about the author—Lauren Tarshis. Her work ranges from fiction to non-fiction, and it has been translated into various languages. Tarshis found herself on the New York Times bestselling lists numerous times thanks to the I Survived series. She also edits the Storyworks magazine, published by Scholastic, Inc.

For those better informed about children’s books, Tarshis’s name should be familiar. She also wrote the Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree—Oprah’s book club pick—and its sequel Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. Both these books are well regarded, and it’s no secret that many schools use them in their anti-bullying programs due to them being the appropriate material.

Key takeaways from the I Survived book series

So, what can young readers take away from Lauren Tarshis’s I Survived books? Well, whether it’s the Hindenburg Disaster or California wildfires, there’s always hope. Those who are resilient can overcome any event, regardless of how bad the situation might seem. And luckily, we as humans are quite resilient. We move on from terrible events and come back stronger.

The most popular I Survived books

As a whole, both the I Survived books and their adaptations, the I Survived graphic novels, have received positive reviews. Still, some books in the series are just better than others. But that’s normal. Although an attack of the grizzlies might sound terrible, terrifying events that shook the world as we know it are simply more fascinating to young readers. So, let’s check the best ones out.

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

Killing more than 300 people and destroying well over 17,000 buildings, the Great Chicago Fire was an accident that occurred in the late 19th century. It almost destroyed the whole city, and its consequences were felt long after—both in what was left of the city and the mental state of the survivors. Tarshis talks about the incident in detail through the eyes of a young boy.

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

As the Mount St. Helens volcano erupts with great fury, an eleven-year-old girl named Jessie finds herself in a deadly situation. She has to find a way out and stay alive as one of the biggest environmental disasters of recent American history unfolds.

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

Taking place in a grim setting that was the Jewish ghettos in Poland during WWII, I Survived the Nazi Invasion is a story about Max and Zena—a brother and sister who are on the run from the Nazis. Without their parents, they make an escape into the forest, where they are found by resistant fighters. Unfortunately, as soon as they meet, bombs begin to fall, and all hell breaks loose.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001

9/11 marked the end of an era, and nothing was the same after it. Lauren Tarshis’s Attacks of September 11th is a story about a boy named Lucas who’s taking a trip to the city to meet up with his favorite uncle, who’s a firefighter just like his dad. However, as soon as he arrives in NYC, the alarm at his uncle’s station goes off.

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

With her frequent collaborator, Scott Dawson, the illustrator, Lauren Tarshi’s Titanic story is at least on par with James Cameron’s 1997 epic disaster movie. It’s a tale about ten-year-old George Calder and his little sister Phoebe, who are on the state-of-the-art cruise ship Titanic. However, after the boat hits an iceberg, the kids are on their own, trying to survive.

Listen to similar book series like I Survived with Speechify audiobooks

I Survived, written by Lauren Tarshis, is one of the longest book series that highlight the traumatic experiences of the youth. Her work, which includes both works of fiction and non-fiction, has been translated into a number of other languages. These books by Lauren Tarshis are truly one of a kind. All of the I Survived novels are also works of historical fiction, and each one shows a different catastrophic event from our nation’s history, with the main character, who is either a boy or a girl, having to endure it.

To read more historical fiction novels or books about history similar to the I survived series, sign up for Speechify Audiobooks and browse through over 70,000 titles across various genres. Plus, enjoy your first audiobook for free.

FAQ

What age are I Survived books for?

The books are for grades 3 to 5, meaning the ages of 8 to 11.

Are I Survived books true stories?

The I Survived books are historical fiction, meaning that the events on a larger scale are true, but the protagonists and their actions are made up.