Forbes's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Paul Revere and the World He Lived In, details the life of the famous silversmith and his activities before and after the American Revolution. While writing this biography, Forbes became intrigued by the roles that the apprentices had played in the revolutionary activities, an interest that inspired Johnny Tremain. Unlike Johnny Tremain, Paul Revere is specifically geared to an adult audience, but could be used by teachers to supplement classroom use of Johnny Tremain.

Walt Disney Studios filmed an excellent adaptation of Johnny Tremain in 1957 that starred Luana Patten, Jeff York, Sebastian Cabot, Dick Beymer, and Walter Sande. In addition, a movie was made of Forbes's The Running of the Tide (1948); a ballet was based upon A Mirror for Witches; and a musical entitled Come Summer was adapted from Rainbow in the Road and produced in 1969.