Welcome to a new series on finding books for reluctant readers! This four-part series will be divided by grade level, from kindergarten through sixth grades. For books for K-2, click here. For books for grades 3-4, click here. by Elizabeth Cossick, M.Ed.
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Fifth grade is the grade when I discovered my first true literary love: The Babysitter’s Club. For the next three years, this series would provide my staple reading material; I seldom went anywhere without a copy in hand! The list of books below will hopefully provide the same love-at-first-read experience for a fifth-grader in your life. (Tip: This might be a good list to share with parents or send home for recommended summer reading, as well.)
Favorite Titles:
Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves by Carol Hughes
Perloo the Bold by Avi
Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulson
The Janitor’s Boy by Andrew Clements
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques
Flight of the Eagles by Gilbert Morris
Door to the Dragon’s Throat by Frank Peretti
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
School Story by Andrew Clements
Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? By Jean Fritz
The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars Blue
Willow by Doris Gates
Jason’s Gold by Will Hobbs
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
Dear Levi: Letters from the Overland Trail by Elvira Woodruff
Call Me Francis Tuckett by Gary Paulsen
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
Because of Winn Dixie by Katie DiCamillo
Series/Authors:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Trailblazer fictionalized biography series by Dave and Neta Jackson
The Seven Sleepers series by Gilbert Morris
Dear America and My Name Is America series by various authors
Star Wars and The New Jedi Order young adult fantasy series by Paul Davids and various authors
Any children’s books by:
• Katherine Paterson
• C.S. Lewis
• Gilbert Morris
Coming next in the series~ Part IV: Sixth Grade Book Picks
A Learning Experience 