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series Reading Order

American Girls: Caroline Books in Order

9 Books
2012 – 2015 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

To experience Caroline Abbott's story as it was originally written, you should read the six core books in chronological order. This sequence allows you to watch Caroline grow from a carefree girl sailing on Lake Ontario into a courageous heroine protecting her family's shipyard during the War of 1812.

  1. Meet Caroline (2012) - Caroline's father is taken prisoner by the British, forcing her to step up and help keep the family shipyard running.
  2. Caroline's Secret Message (2012) - Caroline travels across Lake Ontario to deliver a coded letter to her father.
  3. A Surprise for Caroline (2012) - Caroline tries to keep her father's promise to a friend while facing scarcity during the war.
  4. Caroline Takes a Chance (2012) - Caroline sets a daring plan in motion to help her father escape.
  5. Caroline's Battle (2012) - The British attack Sackets Harbor, and Caroline must help make a heartbreaking choice to defend the shipyard.
  6. Changes for Caroline (2012) - While visiting her cousins on a farm, Caroline deals with a thief and learns about mercy.

BeForever Editions: The Two-Volume Relaunch

In 2014, American Girl rebranded its historical line as BeForever. Under this initiative, the six original slim volumes were compiled into two larger, comprehensive books. If you are reading the newer editions, they map to the original stories as follows:

  • Captain of the Ship: A Caroline Classic (Volume 1) (2014) - Combines the first three books: Meet Caroline, Caroline's Secret Message, and A Surprise for Caroline.
  • Facing the Enemy: A Caroline Classic (Volume 2) (2014) - Combines the final three core books: Caroline Takes a Chance, Caroline's Battle, and Changes for Caroline.

Standalone Mysteries & Interactive Spin-Offs

Once you finish the core story, you can explore Caroline's standalone mysteries and interactive adventures. These stories do not have a strict order but are best read after completing the core series, as they assume familiarity with Caroline's family and the Sackets Harbor setting.

  • Traitor in the Shipyard: A Caroline Mystery (2013) - When things begin to go wrong at the shipyard, Caroline suspects a British spy has infiltrated the workforce.
  • Catch the Wind: My Journey with Caroline (2014) - An interactive, choose-your-own-adventure style book where the reader travels back in time to the War of 1812 to help Caroline.
  • The Smuggler's Secrets: A Caroline Mystery (2015) - Caroline discovers a hidden stash of supplies and suspects someone in Sackets Harbor is smuggling goods to the British forces.

Frequently Asked

QWho is the author of the Caroline Abbott books?

The entire American Girls: Caroline series was written by award-winning historical fiction author Kathleen Ernst.

QIn what historical era is Caroline's story set?

Caroline's adventures take place in Sackets Harbor, New York, during the War of 1812.

QWhat is the difference between the original books and the BeForever editions?

The original series consists of six individual, shorter books. The BeForever editions compile these six stories into two larger volumes: Captain of the Ship (Books 1–3) and Facing the Enemy (Books 4–6).

QDo you need to read the mysteries in a specific order?

No. Both Traitor in the Shipyard and The Smuggler's Secrets work well as standalone mystery novels, though it is best to read the main core series first to understand the setting and characters.

QWhat is Catch the Wind: My Journey with Caroline?

This is an interactive "choose your own adventure" style book. The reader plays a modern-day character who is transported back in time to meet Caroline and make choices that influence the plot.

QAre the Caroline Abbott books still in print?

American Girl officially archived Caroline's collection in 2015, meaning the books are no longer actively printed by the publisher. However, they remain widely available through library networks and secondhand markets.