I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

89%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Forget sharks and volcanoes—a 25-foot wave of sticky, 1919 molasses is the real nightmare fuel your kid didn't know they needed.

I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919

book

2019

89%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Forget sharks and volcanoes—a 25-foot wave of sticky, 1919 molasses is the real nightmare fuel your kid didn't know they needed.

4.8

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4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Lauren Tarshis is basically the patron saint of the 'I hate reading' kid. She takes a bizarre historical footnote—a giant tank of molasses exploding in Boston—and turns it into a legitimately gripping survival story.

It’s short, punchy, and actually educational without being preachy. The 1919 setting is well-realized, and while the 'I Survived' books follow a very specific formula, this is one of the stronger entries. It’s a great way to sneak some history and empathy into a kid’s brain while they think they’re just reading about a disaster.

If you have a kid who prefers YouTube to books, hand them this (or the graphic novel version). It's fast enough to compete with a screen.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 7-12 crowd. It's written at a 3rd-grade level but the high-stakes drama keeps even 6th graders turning pages. If your kid is younger, read it with them—the molasses physics are wild.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The story centers on Carmen, a young Italian immigrant, and emphasizes family loyalty, bravery, and community resilience. It avoids cynicism and models genuine courage in the face of a terrifying, real-world disaster.

Imaginative

While grounded in history, the book forces kids to visualize a surreal 'sticky tsunami.' It invites readers to inhabit a 1919 Boston that feels visceral and high-stakes, though it follows the established 'I Survived' formula.

Safe

It's a disaster book, so there is peril and death—people are swept away and killed by the flood. However, it's handled with middle-grade sensitivity. There's no profanity or inappropriate subplots, just the inherent intensity of a historical tragedy.

Enriching

This is a history teacher's secret weapon. It covers the 1918 flu pandemic, the immigrant experience, and the physics of the flood itself. The back matter includes 'The Real Story' which provides excellent context for curious minds.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Reluctant reader gold: Tarshis knows how to hook a kid in the first three pages and never let go.
It makes history feel like an action movie rather than a dusty textbook assignment.
The immigrant perspective adds a layer of empathy, showing the grit required to survive more than just a flood.
The 'Wait, this actually happened?' factor is huge for kids who love weird-but-true facts.

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What to Watch For

The 1918 flu pandemic is a major backdrop; if your kid is still sensitive about 'sickness' themes, this might hit close to home.
It doesn't sugarcoat the tragedy—people die, and the description of the 'black wave' can be intense for very sensitive 6 or 7-year-olds.

Conversation Starters

"If you saw a giant wave of molasses coming at you, what would be your first move?"
"Why do you think the company ignored the leaks in the tank for so long?"
"How was Carmen’s life as an immigrant in 1919 different from how people move to America today?"
"What would be harder to survive: a flood of water or a flood of sticky syrup?"

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