43 Books for 5th Graders (That Our Kids Recommend)

This classic children's chapter book by Madeleine L'Engle is a space adventure story about Meg Murry and her little brother, who travel through space and time to rescue their father, a scientist who disappeared while working on a secret government project.

Alexandra F. said:  This was my introduction to science fiction as a child and I remember being absolutely captivated and drawn to fantasy and sci fi ever since. I was thrilled when my daughter finally agreed to give it a try. It was an unmitigated success!

Beth Wood said:  Serafina and the Black Cloak is the first in a series about a girl who lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate with her grandfather, the maintenance man, in secret. Serafina and a friend go on quite the adventure to solve a mystery at the estate when children start disappearing. These are wonderful and entertaining books for 5th graders interested in mystery and magic!

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  My 5th grade boy read this book in school and he loved it so much he wanted his own copy to read to me at home. It's a mystery about sixth-grader Miranda and her best friend Sal who live in New York City. One day Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason and Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes. Whoever is sending them seems to know a lot about Miranda and even things that haven't happened yet. She begins to believe only she can prevent a tragic death until the final message has her wondering if it is too late...

Beth Wood said:  Adventurous story about a boy with a stutter who finds it difficult to communicate with others. Then he befriends an animal at his father's zoo and figures out he has a very special gift.

This Newbery Medal winner is all at once an animal adventure tale, a page turner, and a good introduction for kids to mystery reading. The book centers around the mouse Mrs. Frisby, who needs help from the rats of NIMH to save her son.

Kelly R said:  This fun series from Neil Patrick Harris showcases the adventures of a group of friends with unique abilities in magic. The writing is funny and suspenseful and the characters are diverse. The books are true page turners in our house! They're also peppered throughout with instructions for magic tricks that kids can learn at home.

Brittany Kozielski said:  The Dork Diaries series is written from the diary perspective of eighth grader Nikki Maxwell, and are funny, light and quick books for fifth graders.

A creative children's classic that stands the test of time, a girl and her younger brother run away from home to live in Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum of Art and become swept up in solving a mystery.

Kristy Pepping said:  My 5th grade girl loved this book! The main character, Julia, is very short for her age. She is cast as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz and befriends Olive, an adult who has dwarfism. It's a great book about building self-esteem and realizing that being different is not only good but makes you special.

Danielle Tobin said:  Each year 5th graders read this series by Stuart Gibbs. Some 4th graders read it too.

Erika Roh... said:  Bridge to Terabithia is a beautiful book about friendship, imagination and loss that many kids can relate to. Katherine Paterson tells the story of two unlikely friends who find themselves outcasts at school and at home. They create a safe haven in the imaginary world of "Terabithia" in their backyards, where they spend a lot of their time. This story takes a sad turn, but offers opportunities for meaningful conversations with your child about friendship and loss.

Kelly R said:  My kids loved this one in fourth and fifth grade. A famous game maker designs a town's new library and opening night is celebrated with an escape room-style challenge.

Kelly R said:  A funny and heartfelt middle school story from Gordon Korman. When a challenging class of misfits is paired with a burned-out teacher counting the days until retirement, they come through for each other in surprising ways.

Asia Beltran said:  I recommend the School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani for 5th graders.

Orphan Jeffrey Magee runs away from life with his difficult aunt and uncle, and finds himself homeless in a racially-divided town. "Maniac" Magee achieves legendary status for his athleticism and bravery, and his struggle to find out where he fits in will challenge kids to think about racism, homelessness and poverty.