42 pages 1 hour read

Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

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Background

Series Context: The I Survived Series

I Survived The American Revolution is just one of 22 books in Lauren Tarshis’s acclaimed I Survived series. Each of the novels follows a young protagonist (typically between the ages of 10 and 12) as they are faced with the dangers of a specific historical event. These dangers can either be natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina or the California wildfires, or a historical event, such as the sinking of the Titanic, or in this case, the Revolutionary War. In each of the books, the protagonist demonstrates immense courage in the face of adversity, providing an exciting and educational reading experience for young readers.

The series effectively teaches about each of these disasters from multiple angles. For natural disasters, Tarshis provides scientific context about how these disasters happen. In her historical books, such as I Survived the American Revolution, other aspects are explored, such as the geographical significance of where the historic event took place, and certain clothing or customs of the time. Illustrations are provided to supplement the educational material woven into the narrative, further aiding readers with important context.

Finally, Tarshis makes it a point to acknowledge key social issues of each time period that are often glossed over in other works of historical fiction intended for younger readers.