I Survived Books in Order

As of October 2020, Lauren Tarshis has published 21 books for the I Survived series. “When Disaster Strikes, Heroes Are Made,” is the series’ motto. Lauren Tarshis opens her reader’s eyes by presenting the world in a way they’ve never seen before. They get a glimpse of the world from the perspective of a child who has survived a scary period in history. The Titanic, the September 11 attacks, the battle of D-Day, Pompeii, Pearl Harbor, and Hurricane Katrina. These are just a few of the stories that inspire and teach resilience and bravery. The protagonists survive incredible catastrophes.

The author is well-known for her warm delivery of these stories. The books have been well documented and mix creative narratives with real events. The readers can also enjoy graphic novel versions of these books. They bring a refreshing feeling to the high-action passages with colorful drawings.

When kids learn history from the perspective of characters their age, it becomes much more engaging. It’s an excellent approach to educating kids about historical events, and it can be done while keeping them focused. Noah and his father are spending the day in New York City in the book ‘I Survived the September 11th Attacks.’ But their expectations are soon altered by a frightening event.

The developing reader will link the story to factual history. I Survived True Stories: Courageous Creatures follows animals who faced their challenges.

I Survived Books in order 

1. I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (2011)
2. I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (2011)
3. I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (2011)
4. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (2011)
5. I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 (2012)
6. I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (2012)
7. I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (2013)
8. I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (2013)
9. I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (2014)
10. I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (2014)
11. I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (2015)
12. I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (2015)
13. I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 (2016)
14. I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 (2016)
15. I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (2017)
16. I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 (2018)
17. I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (2018)
18. I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (2019)
19. I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (2019)
20. I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (2020)
21. I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (2021)

Similar authors

• Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne follows Jack and Annie. They discover the tree house, filled with magical books, which let them time travel.
• Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd features a girl with allergies who wants to find the perfect pet.

See also: Keeper Of The Lost Cities Books in Order.

Most recommended books of the series

1. I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (I Survived, #18) (4.36 Goodreads score)
2. I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (I Survived, #6) (4.26 Goodreads score)
3. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (I Survived, #4) (4.26  Goodreads score)
4. I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (I Survived, #9) 4.25 (Goodreads score)
5. I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (I Survived #20) (4.24 Goodreads score)

Awards

Through her I survived series, Lauren Tarshis won the Golden Kite Award for Fiction.

Upcoming releases in the series

The next book in the “I survived” series is called I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910. It will be published on September 6th, 2022.

Book summaries

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (2011)

Ten-year-old George Calder can’t believe his luck — he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George’s life changes forever.

I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (2011)

Based on true events! It’s the summer of 1916 and the Jersey shore is being terrorized by a Great White shark. Can 10-year-old Chet and his friends survive a swim in the local creek?In the summer of 1916, ten year-old Chet Roscow is captivated by the local news: a Great White shark has been attacking and killing people up and down the Atlantic Coast, not far from Chet’s hometown of Springfield, New Jersey.Then one day, swimming with his friends, Chet sees something in the water. . .

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (2011)

The horror of Hurricane Katrina is brought vividly to life in this fictional account of a boy, a dog, and the storm of the century.Barry’s family tries to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when Barry’s little sister gets terribly sick, they’re forced to stay home and wait out the storm.At first, Katrina doesn’t seem to be as bad as predicted. But overnight the levees break, and Barry’s world is literally torn apart. He’s swept away by the floodwaters, away from his family. Can he survive the storm of the century — alone?

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (2011)

70 years later, the bombing of Pearl Harbor comes to life for a new generation of readers!History’s most terrifying moments are brought vividly to life in the action-packed fictional I SURVIVED series! Do you have what it takes to survive … the bombing of Pearl Harbor?Eleven-year-old Danny Crane is alone on his favorite beach in Hawaii when the world is torn apart and World War II officially hits the United States. Does he have what it takes to find his way home in the midst of the bombs, the smoke, and the destruction of the day that will live in infamy?

I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 (2012)

The terrifying details of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake jump off the page!Ten-year-old Leo loves being a newsboy in San Francisco — not only does he get to make some money to help his family, he’s free to explore the amazing, hilly city as it changes and grows with the new century. Horse-drawn carriages share the streets with shiny new automobiles, new businesses and families move in every day from everywhere, and anything seems possible.But early one spring morning, everything changes. Leo’s world is shaken — literally — and he finds himself stranded in the middle of San Francisco as it crumbles and burns to the ground. Does Leo have what it takes to survive this devastating disaster?The I SURVIVED series continues with another thrilling story of a boy caught in one of history’s most terrifying disasters!

I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (2012)

On the day that shocks the world, one boy just wants to find his dad. A powerful addition to the gripping I SURVIVED series.The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad’s best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas’s parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.So the next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It’s a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle’s firehouse, everything changes — and nothing will ever be the same again.

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (2013)

It’s 1863, and Thomas and his little sister, Birdie, have fled the farm where they were born and raised as slaves. Following the North Star, looking for freedom, theysoon cross paths with a Union soldier. Everything changes: Corporal Henry Green brings Thomas and Birdie back to his regiment, and suddenly it feels like they’ve found a new home. Best of all, they don’t have to find their way north alone–they’re marching with the army.But then orders come through: The men are called to battle in Pennsylvania. Thomas has made it so far . . . but does he have what it takes to survive Gettysburg?

I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (2013)

Visiting his dad’s hometown in Japan four months after his father’s death would be hard enough for Ben. But one morning the pain turns to fear: first, a massive earthquake rocks the quiet coastal village, nearly toppling his uncle’s house. Then the ocean waters rise and Ben and his family are swept away-and pulled apart-by a terrible tsunami.Now Ben is alone, stranded in a strange country a million miles from home. Can he fight hard enough to survive one of the most epic disasters of all time?’

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (2014)

In a Jewish ghetto, Max Rosen and his sister Zena struggle to live after their father is taken away by the Nazis. With barely enough food to survive, the siblings make a daring escape from Nazi soldiers into the nearby forest.Max and Zena are brought to a safe camp by Jewish resistance fighters. But soon, bombs are falling all around them. Can Max and Zena survive the fallout of the Nazi invasion?

I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (2014)

No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes — and always goes back to sleep.But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong — and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a cloud of fiery ash and rocks fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape — and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii?

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (2015)

Oscar Starling never wanted to come to Chicago. But then Oscar finds himself not just in the heart of the big city, but in the middle of a terrible fire! No one knows exactly how it began, but one thing is clear: Chicago is like a giant powder keg about to explode.An army of firemen is trying to help, but this fire is a ferocious beast that wants to devour everything in its path, including Oscar! Will Oscar survive one of the most famous and devastating fires in history?

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (2015)

Eleven-year-old Dexter has always wanted to see a tornado. So when he gets the incredible opportunity to go storm chasing with the famous Dr. Norman Rays, he has to say yes! Dr. Rays is the host of Tornado Mysteries, the show that Dex and his older brother, Jeremy, watched every night until Jeremy joined the U.S. Navy SEALs and left Joplin.Dex certainly knows how deadly tornadoes can be, but this one isn’t heading toward Joplin, and wouldn’t it be great to have a brave and exciting story of his own to tell Jeremy when he comes home? But when the tornado shifts direction, Dexter’s bravery is about to get seriously tested…

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 (2016)

The greatest flying machine ever build is about to crash…For eleven-year-old Hugo Ballard, flying on the Hindenburg is a dream come true. Hugo, his parents, and his four-year-old sister, Gertie, are making the thrilling four-thousand-mile journey across the Atlantic in a zeppelin as big as the Titanic.But as the zeppelin gets ready to land, a blast rocks the Hindenburg and fire consumes the ship. The entire disaster lasts a mere thirty-two seconds, but in those few seconds, Hugo finds himself separated from his family and in a desperate race to escape the flames. The Hindenburg is doomed. And so, it seems, is Hugo. Will he survive this historic disaster?

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 (2016)

Eleven-year-old Jessie Marlowe has grown up with the beautiful Mount St. Helens always in the background. She’s hiked its winding trails, dived into its cold lakes, and fished for trout in its streams. Just looking at Mount St. Helens out her window made Jess feel calm, like it was watching over her somehow. Of course, she knew the mountain was a volcano…but not the active kind, not a volcano that could destroy and kill!Then Mount St. Helens explodes with unimaginable fury. Jess suddenly finds herself in the middle of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. Ash and rock are spewing everywhere. Can Jess escape in time?

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (2017)

British soldiers were everywhere. There was no escape.Nathaniel Fox never imagined he’d find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life. He was only eleven years old! He’d barely paid attention to the troubles between America and England. How could he, while being worked to the bone by his cruel uncle, Uriah Storch?But when his uncle’s rage forces him to flee the only home he knows, Nate is suddenly propelled toward a thrilling and dangerous journey into the heart of the Revolutionary War. He finds himself in New York City on the brink of what will be the biggest battle yet.

I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 (2018)

Eleven-year-old John Hale has already survived one brutal Dakota winter, and now he’s about to experience one of the deadliest blizzards in American history. The storm of 1888 was a monster, a frozen hurricane that slammed into America’s midwest without warning. Within hours, America’s prairie would be buried under ten feet of snow. Hundreds would be dead, thousands terrified and lost and freezing.John never wanted to move to the wide-open prairie. He’s a city kid, not a tough pioneer! But his inner strength is seriously tested when he finds himself trapped in the blinding snow, the wind like a giant crushing hammer, pounding him over and over again. Will John ever find his way home?

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (2018)

No grizzly has ever killed a human in Glacier before . . . until tonight. Eleven-year-old Melody Vega and her family come to Glacier National Park every year, and it’s always been a place where she can forget her troubles. But this year is different. With Mom gone, every moment in the park is a heartbreaking reminder of the past.Then Mel comes face-to-face with the mighty grizzly. Now her only thought is one of survival. Mel will soon be a part of one of the most tragic seasons in the history of America’s national parks – a summer of terror that will forever change ideas about how grizzlies and humans can exist together in the wild.

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (2019)

A battle that would change the course of World War II…Eleven-year-old Paul’s French village has been under Nazi control for years. His Jewish best friend has disappeared. Food is scarce. And there doesn’t seem to be anything Paul can do to make things better.Then Paul finds an American paratrooper in a tree near his home. The soldier says the Allies have a plan to crush the Nazis once and for all. But the soldier needs Paul’s help.This is Paul’s chance to make a difference. Soon he finds himself in the midst of the largest invasion in history. Can he do his part to turn horror into hope?

I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (2019)

A deadly – and strange – disaster.It’s been four years since Carmen and Papa moved from Italy to Boston. Life here is exciting, but not always easy. And then there’s the massive metal tank that rises up over their crowded North End neighborhood. The ugly tank, filled with sticky brown molasses, has always leaked. But nobody imagined that it could one day explode apart, sending a tsunami of molasses into the streets.Caught in the flood, Carmen must fight for her life – the life that she and Papa built together in America. But where will she find the strength?

I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (2020)

California continues to be ravaged by devastating wildfires. Lauren Tarshis’s heart-pounding story tells of two children who battle the terrifying flames and — despite the destruction — find hope in the ashes.The people of Northern California were used to living with the threat of wildfires. But nothing could have prepared them for the devastating 2018 fire season, the deadliest in 100 years and the most destructive in history.In the 20th I Survived book, readers join eleven-year-old Josh as he leaves his New Jersey home for the rural northern California town where his cousins live. Still reeling from the life-changing challenges that propelled him and his mother across the country, Josh struggles to adapt to a more rustic, down-to-earth lifestyle that couldn’t be more different from the one he is used to.Josh and his cousin bond over tacos and reptiles and jokes, but on a trip into the nearby forest, they suddenly find themselves in the path of a fast-moving firestorm, a super-heated monster that will soon lay waste to millions of acres of wilderness and — possibly — their town. Josh needs to confront the family issues burning him up inside, but first he’ll have to survive the flames blazing all around him.

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (2021)

More than a century later, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is still America’s deadliest disaster. Lauren Tarshis’s story of one child surviving the horrible event churns with page-turning action and bold hope.The city of Galveston, Texas, was booming. Perched on an island off the southern coast of Texas, Galveston had been founded in the 1830s. By 1900, it was Texas’s richest and most important city. Boats loaded up with American cotton and wheat steamed from Galveston to countries around the world. Arriving ships were crowded with immigrants. The streets, paved with crushed oyster shells, sparkled like they’d been sprinkled with diamondsTrue, this glittering city was prone to flooding. But just a few years before, a weather forecaster had said the idea of a hurricane striking Galveston was absurd.So when a storm started brewing on September 8, 1900, no one believed it would be any worse than previous storms. They gathered on the beach to cheer on the wild waves. But what started as entertainment soon turned into a nightmare as those wild waves crashed into the city. By morning, hundreds of homes were destroyed. Eight thousand people were dead. The city had all but disappeared.