If you’ve read any I Survived books, you know before you start that the main character will suffer and that he or she will survive. It’s predictable, and that suits most upper elementary readers. What’s not predictable is how much you will enjoy reading a novel with a not-really-all-that-predicable ending, how passionately you will root for characters that feel like real people, and how much you will learn.

The latest offering from the series author, Lauren Tarshis, covers the Battle of Brooklyn, aka the Battle of Long Island. I won’t tell you how the battle turns out. I recommend that you read the book. Once you’ve read it for yourself, read it again with a kid and discuss its weighty questions.

I intend to find a fourth grade class with whom I can share the story.

Ms. Tarshis suggests you read the following books, as well:
The Seeds of America trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Fighting Ground by Avi
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
The Keeping Room by Anna Myers
Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen