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There are so many books out in the world and, if you are like me, it can be difficult to decide what to read next.  I usually go with my friends' suggestions so below are some recommendations of my own!  These are all books I have read and loved and are somewhere around a 5th grade reading level.  More will be added as I continue to read amazing books!

The 39 Clues Series
By Various Authors



This series focuses around two siblings, Amy and Dan, who are thrust into a game once their grandmother (and guardian) passes away.  The siblings travel to different countries while researching and learning history simultaneously.  Students will enjoy this series because they may be able to solve the mystery before the children do.  Also, there is a lot of action and suspense to keep readers' attention.


Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series (or any book by this author)
By Rick Riordan



Percy Jackson's life changes once he learns that he has magical powers that relate to ancient Greek history.  Not only is Percy getting used to his powers, but he has many challenges to defeat along the way.  Students will like this series because the character is very relatable to children at this age as well as includes lots of action.  Students may also enjoy learning about Greek mythology which is mentioned throughout the story.  Other books by Rick Riordan include The Kane Chronicles series and Heroes of Olympus series.  All are engaging and  while including historical/geographical elements.


The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins



Katniss, the main character in this story, is a strong willed and stubborn child who has grown up in poverty 100s of years after the present time.  Katniss is chosen to play in The Hunger Games, a game created by politicians where the last person to survive will bring back food to their "district" of the country.  Will Katniss survive and become a hero while going against her moral code?  While reading this book, you don't know who to root for, or who will win.
*Warning*  This book is for students in 7th grade and up but I feel that many 5th graders would enjoy it.  There are some scenes with violence.


Holes
By Louis Sacher



Stanley Yelnats is in the wrong place at the wrong time when he gets sent to juvenile detention in the desert.  Not only does he meet friends in this difficult environment as well as try to clear his name, but tries to solve a mystery about his past.  This book has great characters, and after reading, students can watch the movie made by Disney which is also great!


Magyk (And the entire Septimus Heap series)
By Angie Sage



This magical story is about a boy, Septimus Heap who, at birth, is carried away for dead, and his father, Silas Heap, is entrusted with a baby girl. When the villainous Supreme Custodian tries to assassinate the now 10-year-old Jenna, who, it turns out, is the daughter of the murdered queen, the girl flees to the Marram Marshes along with some family members, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and a young army guard known only as "Boy 412."  This is very Harry Potter-like with lots of magic and fantasy.  This is the first book in the series so students can look forward to more adventures when they are finished.


A Series of Unfortunate Events
By Lemony Snicket



Make no mistake. The Bad Beginning begins badly for the three Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny), and then gets worse. Their misfortunes begin when Mr. Poe tells them that their parents perished in a fire that destroyed their whole house.  Due to this unfortunate event, the kids have to move in with their uncle, Count Olaf, who is actually only adopting them to inherit the money left to the kids by their parents.  Through twists and turns, adventures and suspense, the students battle Count Olaf while trying to assert their independence and live in their own.  While this story is humorous and written by an ecentric writer, the series continues with 13 other books.

 

Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception (as well as the other Sammy Keyes books)

By Wendelin Van Draanen

 

 

 

 

In this mystery story, Sammy Keyes, a rambunctious, outspoken middle schooler, tackles a thief who tries to break up the an art gala with a stickup. Now the patrons of the arts are glad she has a lot of nerve. Or are they? Sammy may have stopped a criminal, but the real crime has yet to be discovered. This series includes a fabulous character in Sammy who is a real-life teenager with the same problems that others her age would have to deal with, as well as a mystery that she does an excellent job of solving.  This book is recommended for 6th graders but if your child is mature academically and socially, this is a great read!

 

 
 
Lunch Money (or any book by this author)
by Andrew Clements
 
 

Greg Kenton has two obsessions - making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbor, Maura Shaw. So when Greg discovers that Maura is cutting into his booming Chunky Comics business with her own original illustrated minibooks, he's ready to declare war.  This is a creative story that also teaches about money, responsibility and the economy.  Students will be motivated to write their own comics or start their own business after reading this story.  Other Andrew Clements books include Extra Credit, Lost and Found, and A Week in the Woods.  All are enticing to students and perfect for 5th graders.

 
 
The Tail of Emily Windsnap
By Lizz Kessler
 
 
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father she's never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water's surface. This fantasy novel is an exciting, suspenseful, fun and imaginative read.
 
 
Wonder
By PJ Palacio
 
 
 
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. This storybegins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.  This should be a book that every person reads.
 
 
My Life as a Gamer and others
By Janet Tashjian
 
 
 
My Life as a Gamer is a part of a series of books surrounding a boy, named Derek's, life.  Derek's father works on movie sets and designs storyboards for production companies.  This artistic ability has rubbed off on his son, who loves to draw and illustrate.  Derek has a reading disability and in order for him to remember the content he learns in school, he draws.  I enjoyed reading this book because it has the humor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid but had a more complex plot with many more words and less pictures.  Still, there are pictures on every page's margin, focusing on difficult vocabulary within the text.  The illustration and content of the novel are laugh-out-loud funny that both girls and boys will definitely find entertaining.
 
 
The Charlie Joe Jackson series
By Tommy Greenwald
 
 
 
The Charlie Joe Jackson series by Tommy Greenwald is for students who enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a more complex plot.  The chapters are longer and there are less pictures than Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but still contains the hilarious adventures of a boy who gets into some minor trouble, all with good intentions in mind.  Charlie Joe has an outgoing, mischievous personality and unique friends that help him on his adventures.  It also includes some middle school academic and relationship drama to add to the hilarity.  An entertaining and humerous book all around.