I Survived Books in Order

Where to Start Reading the I Survived Series

Because the I Survived books feature completely different characters, settings, and historical time periods, you do not need to read them in any specific sequence. Every book is a standalone story. However, if you are looking for the absolute best entry point, we recommend beginning with the book that started it all: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912. It perfectly showcases Lauren Tarshis's signature formula—high stakes, meticulous historical details, and a young hero you immediately root for.

Alternatively, a great strategy is to start with a historical topic your young reader is already curious about. If they love science or natural forces, I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 is an ideal match. For military history buffs, I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 or I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 will immediately draw them in.

Publication Order of the I Survived Books

Reading the series in publication order allows you to experience the books exactly as they were released and watch how Lauren Tarshis expanded her historical scope over time. Here is the complete list of the core novels in publication order:

1. I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (2010)
2. I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (2010)
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 (2012)
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)
22. I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910 (2022)
23. I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 (2023)
24. I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (2024)
25. I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (2025)
26. I Survived the Night of the Lions (2026)

Chronological Order of the I Survived Books

If you or your student want to read these books as a chronological tour of world history, reading them in order of the events depicted is an incredibly rewarding experience. This order highlights how human resilience has remained constant from ancient times to the modern era. Here is the chronological pathway:

1. I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (Book 10)
2. I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (Book 24)
3. I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (Book 15)
4. I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 (Book 7)
5. I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (Book 11)
6. I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 (Book 16)
7. I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (Book 21)
8. I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 (Book 5)
9. I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910 (Book 22)
10. I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (Book 1)
11. I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (Book 2)
12. I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (Book 19)
13. I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (Book 25)
14. I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 (Book 13)
15. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (Book 4)
16. I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (Book 9)
17. I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (Book 18)
18. I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 (Book 23)
19. I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (Book 17)
20. I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 (Book 14)
21. I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 (Book 6)
22. I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (Book 3)
23. I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (Book 8)
24. I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (Book 12)
25. I Survived The California Wildfires, 2018 (Book 20)
26. I Survived the Night of the Lions (Book 26)

I Survived Graphic Novels

Scholastic's Graphix imprint publishes comic book adaptations of the most popular I Survived titles. Adapted by authors like Georgia Ball and illustrated by various artists, these graphic novels are fantastic for visual learners, younger readers, or reluctant readers who find standard chapter books intimidating. They contain the same high-intensity plots and educational back matter. Here are the graphic novels released in their publication order:

• I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (2020)
• I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (2020)
• I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (2021)
• I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 (2021)
• I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 (2021)
• I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 (2022)
• I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (2022)
• I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (2022)
• I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (2023)
• I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (2023)
• I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (2024)
• I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (2024)
• I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (2025)
• I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (2026)

I Survived True Stories (Nonfiction Companions)

If your child is fascinated by the real events behind the fiction, Lauren Tarshis has also authored a spin-off nonfiction line called I Survived True Stories. These books feature multiple shorter, real-life accounts of people who survived incredible disasters, wild animal encounters, and extreme weather. They are perfect companion reading because they build comprehension and historical literacy. The collection includes:

• Five Epic Disasters (2014) — Covering the Great Boston Molasses Flood, the Henryville Tornado, the Joplin Tornado, the Children's Blizzard, and the Titanic.
• Nature Attacks! (2015) — Focusing on real-life animal attacks and dangerous encounters.
• Extreme Weather! (2016) — Compiling stories of historic blizzards, floods, and superstorms.
• Tornado Terror (2017) — Detailing the science and human stories behind some of history's deadliest twisters.
• Courageous Creatures (2021) — Highlighting stories of heroic animals and people who survived wilderness perils.

What to Know Before You Start

The I Survived series is carefully crafted for readers in grades 3 to 5 (ages 8 to 12), though it is frequently enjoyed by older kids as well. Despite dealing with intense and sometimes scary historical events, Tarshis maintains a safe and hopeful tone. While the characters encounter terrifying moments, the focus is always on resilience, bravery, and recovery rather than graphic details or tragedy. It is also worth noting that every book features an extensive "nonfiction back matter" section containing historical timelines, author notes, resources for further learning, and photos. This makes the series a favorite for school curriculums and classroom libraries.

Practical Reader Guidance and FAQs

Educators often use the series to introduce young readers to historical events like the American Revolution, the Holocaust, or the Civil War. Because the books are short (usually around 100 to 140 pages) and written at a Lexile range of 590L to 740L, they build confidence in early chapter book readers. There is no official overarching continuity across the series, so you can freely swap between the chapter books, graphic novels, and nonfiction spin-offs depending on what format fits your reader's learning style best.