Book Recommendations
By Ms. Perkins
Short story collections:
Guys Read- This is a collection of short stories edited by Jon Scieszka. He is a great author himself and he has put together collections of short stories in many different genres. This can be appealing because the stories are short and can be read in one sitting.
Knucklehead - this is Jon Scieszka's short stories from childhood. (they are embellished, but hilarious!)
Flying Lessons and Other short stories
Funny Girl- Funniest short stories
Fantasy series:
Historical Fiction:
Bud, Not Buddy By Christopher Paul Curtis
The Mighty Miss Malone. By Christopher Paul Curtis
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Books by Jennifer A Nielsen
Books by Alan Gratz
Survival/Adventure stories:
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (lots of Gary Paulsen’s books are adventures)
Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood
Novels in Verse:
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (and other books by him!)
Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Popular authors:
Jason Reynolds (Ghost is the first book in his “track” series)
Kelly Yang (Front Desk Series)
Nonfiction:
Steve Sheinkin books (history)
Graphic Novels:
New Kid by Jerry Craft. (Newbery Award)
Mysteries:
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (series)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein (series)
Other resources:
Scholastic book wizard: It can let you know the level of a book. Or do a “book alike” that can give you suggestions for books that might be similar.
Common Sense Media- website that gives book reviews and recommendations. (It also reviews movies, apps, games, etc.)
Massachusetts Children Book Award (MCBA) A new list of great books every year!
Recommendations from Fifth Grade Students:
Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine
Blended by Sharon Draper
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
Out of my Heart by Sharon Draper
Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt
Shouting at the Rain by Linda Mullaly Hunt
Black Brother Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams
The Miraculous journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Operation Do-over by Gordon Korman
Everest (trilogy) by Gordon Korman
Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulous
Bhai for Now by Maleeha Siddiqui
Books that we will read for book clubs that you might want to avoid until we’ve done those clubs (and then enjoy after if you haven’t read the in a book club):
Historical Fiction:
Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Riley Giff
A Night Divided by Jennifer Neilsen
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Fantasy book club books:
Gregor the Overlander is the fantasy book written by Suzanne Collins (she is the author of the Hunger games, but this series I feel is much less violent).
Poppy by Avi
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Realistic Fiction book club books:
Track Series by Jason Reynolds (first book is Ghost)
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley
More to the Story by Hena Khan
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Cyclone by Doreen Cronin
Schooled by Gordon Korman
No Talking by Andrew Clements
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
Wild River by PJ Petersen