Good Books for 5th Graders

Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Allison

During the summer before ninth grade, intrepid Gilda Joyce invites herself to the San Francisco mansion of distant cousin Lester Splinter and his thirteen-year-old daughter, where she uses her purported psychic abilities and detective skills to solve the mystery of the mansion's boarded-up tower.

Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money by Curtis

Flint Future Detective Club members Steven Carter, his friend Russell, and Russell's huge dog Zoopy solve the mystery of a quadrillion-dollar bill with the image of James Brown on it.

Revenge of the Witch by Delaney

Young Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, starts work as an apprentice for the village spook, whose job is to protect ordinary folk from "ghouls, boggarts, and all manner of wicked beasties."

Nicholas by Goscinny

The adventures of Nicholas, an irrepressible French schoolboy.

Double Identity by Haddix

Thirteen-year-old Bethany's parents have always been overprotective, but when they suddenly disappear, leaving her with a long-lost aunt, Bethany uncovers shocking secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

Introducing: Sasha Ambramowitz by Halpern

When eleven-year-old Sasha tries to ignore the fact that her brother has Tourette's Syndrome, it takes a classmate to help her understand and accept the situation.

Permanent Rose by McKay

While trying to reconnect with her friend Tom, who has returned to the United States without leaving a forwarding address, eight-year-old Rose inadvertently discovers the identity of her adopted sister Saffy's father.

Mister Monday by Nix

Arthur Penhaligon is supposed to die at a young age, but is saved by a key that is shaped like the minute hand of a clock. The key causes bizarre creatures to come from another realm, bringing with them a plague. Arthur must enter a mysterious house to bring the cure back to the real world.

Project Mulberry by Park

While working on a project for an after-school club, Julia, a Korean American girl, and her friend Patrick learn not just about silkworms, but also about tolerance, prejudice, friendship, patience, and more.

Drift House by Peck

Sent to stay with their uncle in a ship-like home called Drift House, twelve-year-old Susan and her two younger stepbrothers embark on an unexpected adventure involving duplicitous mermaids, pirates, and an attempt to stop time forever.

Olivia Kidney by Potter

Twelve-year-old Olivia explores her new apartment building and finds a psychic, talking lizards, a shrunken ex-pirate, an exiled princess, ghosts, and other unusual characters

Only You Can Save Mankind by PratchetTwelve-year-old Johnny endures tensions between his parents, watches television coverage of the Gulf War, and plays a computer game called Only You Can Save Mankind, in which he is increasingly drawn into the reality of the alien ScreeWee

Varjak Paw by Said

Guided by the spirit of his legendary Mesopotamian ancestor, Jalal, Varjak Paw, a pure-bred cat, leaves his home and pampered existence and sets out to save his family from the evil Gentleman who took their owner, the Contessa, away.

Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family by Schirripa

While his parents are on a cruise, twelve-year-old Nicholas spends his summer in Brooklyn with his grandmother and uncle and learns, with unintended results, about his Italian-American heritage.

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Springer

Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, must travel to London in disguise to unravel the disappearance of her missing mother.

Bella at Midnight by Stanley

Raised by peasants, Bella discovers that she is actually the daughter of a knight and finds herself caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life and the kingdom forever.

The Last of the Sky Pirates by Stewart

Rook Barkwater, one of the apprentices chosen to make a dangerous journey to study in the Deepwoods, joins the sky pirate Captain Twig in opposing the Guardians of the Night and learns more about his own past.

The Coastwatcher by Weston

While eleven-year-old Hugh, his family, and his cousin Tom are spending the summer of 1943 on the South Carolina shore to escape the polio epidemic, Hugh uncovers clues that point to a German plot to sabotage a nearby naval base.

Each Little Bird that Sings by Wiles

Comfort Snowberger is well acquainted with death since her family runs the funeral parlor in their small southern town, but even so the ten-year-old is unprepared for the series of heart-wrenching events that begins on the first day of Easter vacation with the sudden death of her beloved great-uncle Edisto.

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Yee

After flunking sixth-grade English, basketball prodigy Stanford Wong must struggle to pass his summer-school class, keep his failure a secret from his friends, and satisfy his academically demanding father.