Do you have a fifth-grader in your home and wonder which books they should focus on reading? The fifth grade reading difficulty will be similar to the fourth grade level however, the books will significantly extend in their page numbers (to over 200 pages). The genre will mainly include historical fiction, long novels and non-fiction books with greater depth. Your child will most probably be selecting books by themselves based on their personal interests, but we suggest you still be very actively involved in the types of books your child is choosing.
In order to help you with some of the options that are available on the market, we have put together a list of wholesome titles with both Christian and non-Christian themes that have brought much enrichment to our home.
[Note: Some of the book descriptions below are copied directly from the publisher.]
Are you wondering how to encourage your not-so-keen-on-reading child to spend time in the world of books? We have you covered! Check out our
8 Ways to Encourage Your Children to Read.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Marty will do anything to save Shiloh. When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it’s love at first sight — and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun — and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty’s secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd’s anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Peter Lundstrom never thought he would become a hero. But that bleak winter of 1940 was like no other. Nazi troops parachuted into Peter’s tiny village and held it captive. Nobody thought they could be defeated – until Uncle Victor told Peter how the children of the village could fool the enemy. It was a dangerous plan. Peter and his friends had to slip past Nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. It meant risking their country’s treasure – and their lives.
Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo
During World War II, the Germans move into Vichy, France to establish an outpost. Only young Jo knows of another outpost where a Jewish man and his Christian mother-in-law are gathering Jewish children for an escape across the border. Opposed by some of his family, watched by soldiers and collaborators, Jo intends to help in this movement.
Noah Webster: A Man Who Loved Words
This biography will give students a detailed look at the life of Noah Webster, one of America’s greatest Christian educators.
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson recounts a story of a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Australia goes off course and is shipwrecked in the East Indies. Their new world will test their courage, endurance, and faith as they struggle to survive and create a civilization of their own in the wilderness.
Star of Light by Patricia St. John
Hamid does not want his little blind sister, Kinza, to be sold to a beggar, by their stepfather, so he decides to rescue her. Together they escape from their mountain village to a town where there may be a new home for Kinza. But this is only the start of their adventures.
Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
Annette and Lucien are enemies. After Annette gets Lucien into trouble at school, he decides to get back at her by threatening the most precious thing in the world to her: her little brother Dani. But tragedy strikes. Annette is so filled with rage she sets out to alienate and humiliate Lucien at every turn. As Lucien seeks to repent and restore, light floods both of their dark hearts and Christ proves that He makes all things new.
Sunshine Country by Kristina Roy
The boy Palko loves his rugged mountain home, and he enjoys serving old Pablo Juriga. But why is he living with and working for an old mountaineer who is neither his father nor his grandfather? And what is on the other side of the mountain, where the sun seems to disappear every afternoon? Is it the rumored valley where the sun never goes down? Go with Palko on his explorations to find answers. Thrill with him at the treasure that he does find on the other side of the mountain, a treasure that changes the lives of everyone it touches. Feel with him the beautiful moments when the mystery of his life unfolds and he finds real family.
The Three Comrades by Kristina Roy
The three boys expected to find the cottage vacant, but to their surprise a large, white cat was sitting by the open window. So Palko and his friends discover a lonely lady who needs their help and who needs, most of all, to know the Lord Jesus as her Savior.
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
Ever since he can remember, Robin, child of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin’s destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him, and Robin is left alone. A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Mark’s, where he is taught woodcarving and patience and strength. Says Brother Luke, “Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it.” Robin learns soon enough what Brother Luke means. When the great castle of Lindsay is in danger, Robin discovers that there is more than one way to serve his king.
The Perilous Road by Willam O. Steele
Chris Brabson hates Yankees, plain and simple. Not only are the Union troops down in Tennessee where they don’t belong, but they helped themselves to all the supplies his family had saved for winter. And to add to it all, his brother joined up with the Union Army. How could he betray the south, Chris wonders. Chris wants to prove his loyalty to the Confederate cause, any way he can. When he sees a Union wagon train cutting through the valley, he has his chance. He tells a spy where and how the Confederates can attack. But then he finds out that Jethro could be driving one of those Yankee wagons! Has he just caused the death of his own brother?
Adventure and Faith by Linda Finlayson
Martin Luther, David Brainerd, William King, Brother Andrew, Nehemiah, and Stephen were all willing to take risks. They faced danger and difficulties. Some even died for what they believed in. While reading their exciting stories, you will learn about why they did what they did and who it was that helped them.
The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks by Nancy McArthur
Michael’s room was always a disaster area, strewn with all kinds of litter–heaps of papers, piles of crumpled clothes, and dirty socks everywhere. And that was just the top layer! The trouble was, half the room belonged to Michael’s brother Norman the neatness nut. It was the battle of the bedroom–with Norman fighting to keep his spotless territory free from the invasion of Michael’s mess. But that was before the appearance of the most amazing plants ever! Suddenly Michael’s junk heap disappeared and the room was taken over by the two giant plants that gobbled up socks faster than anyone could supply them! And their appetites were growing bigger every day!
Living Together – Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers
This book is the 5th grade reader in the Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers. It includes 526 pages of wholesome stories and poems that your children will enjoy reading. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading.
In the Reign of Terror (A Story of the French Revolution) by G. A. Henty
Return to the tumultuous days of the French Revolution with this captivating tale of adventure and courage. Join Harry Sandwith, a young Englishman, as he accepts a job as a companion to the sons of a French marquis. Follow Harry and his aristocratic friends as they’re swept from their idyllic life at a country estate to the riotous streets of Paris and the very gates of the Bastille. Can Harry rescue the marquis’ family from imprisonment and certain death at the hands of the merciless mob?
Mary of Plymouth by James Otis
Storms, starvation, strangers—travel with Mary on the Mayflower as she and her family find a new home in Plymouth. Mary tells the account of her journey of finding food, friends, and faith. By following Mary and her adventures, your child will learn about daily life in the early American colonies and see that God can supply all of our needs.
Helen Keller, The Story of My Life (A Watermill Classic)
For the first nineteen months of her life, Helen Keller is a normal child who laughs and plays and explores her surroundings. But a high fever robs Helen of her sight and hearing, leaving her alone in a dark, silent world. Until the day Anne Sullivan comes into her life, Helen’s only means of communication are crude signs and gestures. With the help of her new teacher and friend, Helen learns to read and write. Slowly, she begins to triumph over her handicaps.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper The Boston Observer and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events of the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington.
Sounder by William H. Armstrong
The boy knows that times are tough for his family. Every night, his father goes out hunting with their great coon dog, Sounder, to try to put food on the table. But even with the little they bring back, there is still never enough for the family to eat.
When the boy awakens one morning to a sweet-smelling ham on the table, it seems like a blessing. But soon, the sheriff and his deputies come to the house and take the boy’s father away in handcuffs. Suddenly the boy must grow up fast in a world that isn’t fair, keeping hope alive through the love he has for his father’s faithful dog, Sounder.
Born to Fly by Shane Osborn
From the age of three, Shane Osborn dreamed of being a pilot. He began learning the skills he would need to fly as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, a branch of the U.S. Air Force, when he was just twelve years old. But it wasn’t until he graduated from the naval ROTC program at the University of Nebraska and joined the navy that his dream became a reality. Five years later, all Lt. Osborn’s flying skills were put to the test when a Chinese F-8 II fighter jet collided with his EP-3E ARIES II plane during a U.S. surveillance mission through international airspace. With almost certain disaster looming, Osborn managed to gain control of the crippled plane and land it safely on the Chinese island of Hainan–saving the lives of his twenty-three crewmates.
In Born to Fly, Shane Osborn describes these terrifying events in vivid detail, along with the years of dedicated training that made the emergency landing possible. This is the inspirational story of a boy with a dream, and of the extraordinary discipline and courage that made him a hero.
Do you have any 5th grade books recommendations? Please let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
RELATED: 4th Grade Reading List: Books for Ages 9-10
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