12 Appropriate Books for 5th Graders that Your Child Will Love

I’ve been an elementary school reading teacher, a reading interventionist, and now a reading instructional coach. I’ve had so much fun compiling this list of the best, most appropriate books for 5th graders. Some are timeless treasures and others are modern winners. Most are likely to inspire some social emotional learning and expand the imagination.

Of course, you may have a struggling reader who is not on grade level, or a kiddo who is a year or more advanced. I have tried to include a range of options. Not to worry; I have lists for other grade levels and topics, too.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from your clicks. Check out my full disclosure here.

Finding Fifth Grade Books for Kids Who Already Love Reading

These are some of my favorite appropriate books for 5th graders. If your child is reading below grade level, don’t be afraid to check out my lists for the lower grades; you’ll still find some that will interest an older child. 

If a child is super interested in the content of a book, they’ll sometimes be able to access books that are one reading level higher than you’d expect. 

The reverse is also true, if the content bores them completely, they may not be able to read as well. That’s because motivation plays an important part in reading endurance and decoding ability. 

For example, my daughter’s current guided reading level is an S. She’s a strong reader who will be entering 2nd grade soon. She’ll make quite a few decoding errors if she attempts to read a book on a guided reading level T.

However, she absolutely loves fiction with a female protagonist and an element of fantasy or magic – books like Matilda by Roald Dahl, for example. She will push past her decoding mistakes and manage to have strong comprehension with books that fit this niche. 

On the other hand, if she’s got to read nonfiction about animals like crocodiles or sharks, she will sometimes comprehend less of what she’s reading, even if it’s technically on grade level. This is normal behavior.

In other words – prioritize interest in the content over exact reading level, whether you use Guided Reading levels, Lexile scores, or any other metric. The goal is to be in the ballpark on the reading level, and then choose the highest interest books for your child. This will foster a love of reading for your kiddo!

How to Inspire a Reluctant Reader

All three of my own children love to read, but I’ve encountered plenty of reluctant readers at the school where I teach and lead. Here are some ways to inspire reading at home. 

1. Remember that the foundations for reading are speaking and listening. If your child isn’t exposed to tons of language around the home, they’re already at a disadvantage with regard to vocabulary and general comprehension. There are ways to increase the language around your home steadily over time.
2. As I mentioned before, prioritize content and interest level over matching to an exact reading level. If there’s a book your child can’t read independently that you know they’ll love, read it to them, even in middle school. My favorite class was 8th grade reading, and our teacher read us tear-jerkers even as we were approaching high school. We all still remember it like it was yesterday.
3. If you know your child will love a book but they’re put off by the cover or description, read with them for at least the first few chapters. Most kids long for more independent time with their parents, even if they don’t realize it. My daughter told me she would have never picked up Hatchet or Holes if I hadn’t read them with her at first, because she thought they were “boy books.” We alternate pages and she has learned from how I read with expression.
4. Also, please let your kid pick out any books they love at the library, without regard for whether or not you think it’s technically a “good” book. Ramp up the love of reading and of the experience of choosing a book independently, because the demands of school will expose them toward harder books anyway.
5. Never turn up your nose at a graphic novel; these are legitimate books that can challenge kids and push them to really develop in their ability to understand different perspectives. Graphic novels can be great! 
6. Let kids quit on books they’re not enjoying. Great readers of all ages give themselves permission to not trudge through a book that doesn’t spark interest.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope you found something to read with your kiddos from this book list! Whether your child loves graphic novels, historical fiction books, or even popular books that do a great job teaching social skills, there’s something for every child out there. But it takes some patience, a bit of hand-holding, and some relationship building to grow great readers. Good luck, parents and teachers!