Review Detail

I Survived #7: I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863

Middle Grade Fiction 361

We Were There at the Battle of Gettsyburg

January 26, 2013 (Updated: June 29, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

It's always great when there is historical fiction that children will read and enjoy. Years ago, there was a series called "We Were There" that placed children at the scene of many historical events, and the "I Survived" series is a nice update of that concept. The Civil War is always a topic that is popular, and this short book is a nice introduction.

Good Points

For short, easy-to-read books, this series packs a huge historical wallop. Tarshis mentions in a note the research involved in writing this book, and it shows. I loved the action and adventure, as well as the nice touches like the skunk throwing. These are perfect for elementary students, and certainly would have been something I order through the Scholastic book clubs when my own children were younger. For middle school students, these are fast, easy reads that also teach them a whole lot when they least expect it!