Dickens & Rumi

book

I Am Benjamin Franklin

Brad Meltzer · 2020

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for I Am Benjamin Franklin by Brad Meltzer. This book is content notes include Alcohol or drugs, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Educational value.

Book 21 · Ordinary People Change the WorldSource checked

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsAlcohol or drugs 1/5 · Death of a character 1/5 · Frightening scenes 1/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 5/5 · Educational value 5/5
Series positionBook 21 · Ordinary People Change the World
Recommendation4.3/5

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Alcohol or drugs 1/5
Recommendation 4.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
12Scored categories
12Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth12 scored categories12 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs1/5
  • Death of a character1/5
  • Frightening scenes1/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Educational value5/5
  • Positive messages4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 22 · I AM ANNE FRANKStrongest cautions: Death of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN
    Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · I AM AMELIA EARHARTAges 5+
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 3 · I AM ROSA PARKSAges 5+
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  4. Book 4 · I Am Albert Einstein
    Gets gentler
  5. Book 5 · I Am Jackie Robinson
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  6. Book 6 · I Am Lucille Ball
    Gets gentler
  7. Book 7 · I Am Helen Keller
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  8. Book 8 · I AM MARTIN LUTHER KING, JRAges 5+
    Death of a character2/5Religious themes2/5Violence2/5Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets more intense
  9. Book 9 · I AM GEORGE WASHINGTONAges 6+
    Death of a character2/5Violence2/5Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5
    About the same
  10. Book 10 · I AM JANE GOODALLAges 5+
    Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets gentler
  11. Book 11 · I AM JIM HENSONAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  12. Book 12 · I AM SACAGAWEAAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 13 · I AM HARRIET TUBMANAges 6+
    Frightening scenes3/5Religious themes2/5Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  14. Book 14 · I AM GANDHI
    Religious themes2/5Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  15. Book 15 · I AM NEIL ARMSTRONGAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  16. Book 16 · I AM SONIA SOTOMAYORAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · I Am Billie Jean King
    LGBTQIA characters2/5Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  18. Book 18 · I AM WALT DISNEYAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  19. Book 19 · I Am Marie Curie
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  20. Book 20 · I Am Leonardo da Vinci
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5
    About the same
  21. Book 21 · I Am Benjamin Franklin
    Alcohol or drugs1/5Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  22. Book 22 · I AM ANNE FRANK
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Religious themes2/5Violence2/5Romance1/5
    Gets more intense
  23. Book 24 · I Am Frida Kahlo
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets gentler
  24. Book 25 · I Am I.M. Pei
    Gets gentler
  25. Book 26 · I Am Oprah Winfrey
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  26. Book 27 · I Am Malala Yousafzai
    Frightening scenes3/5Violence2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  27. Book 28 · I Am Muhammad Ali
    Religious themes2/5Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  28. Book 29 · I AM DOLLY PARTONAges 5+
    Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  29. Book 32 · I Am Temple Grandin
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  30. Book 33 · I Am John Lewis
    Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes2/5Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  31. Book 35 · I Am Mister Rogers
    Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  32. Book 36 · I AM RUTH BADER GINSBURGAges 5+
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  33. Book 37 · I Am Stephen Hawking
    Death of a character1/5Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  34. Book 38 · I Am Sally Ride
    Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets gentler
  35. Book 39 · We Are the Beatles
    Products & advertising1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

What’s in it?

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Historical discussion may acknowledge death or loss in passing, but grief and death are not central.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Franklin’s beliefs or the religious setting of colonial America may receive brief historical mention.

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

Experiments, storms, electricity, or historical risks may create brief tension, without sustained frightening scenes.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

As an eighteenth-century biography, it may briefly reference tobacco or alcohol, without promoting use.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Historical references may mention conflict, war, or public dangers, but violence is not a central feature or depicted intensely.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Franklin’s willingness to experiment, pursue ideas, and take on public challenges models constructive courage.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

Inventions, experiments, questioning, and inventive problem-solving are central and strongly encourage imagination.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The biography centers on one historical man and may offer limited representation of varied identities or backgrounds.

Educational value5/5
Why this rating?

Its central purpose is to introduce Benjamin Franklin, his inventions, public work, and contributions to American history.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Helping the community and improving everyday life are likely emphasized, though kindness is not the sole subject.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strongly encourages curiosity, learning, persistence, practical problem-solving, civic responsibility, and helping others.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Franklin is presented as an inventive, hardworking historical figure, though a simplified biography may not explore all of his flaws.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in I Am Benjamin Franklin would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in I Am Benjamin Franklin, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.