My 5th grade son is assigned more reading homework than my 8th grade daughter. He is supposed to read 30 minutes a day; my daughter just 2 hours a week. At my son’s Curriculum Night, his teacher explained that reading just 20 minutes a day dramatically increases a child’s vocabulary. Hence, she assigns them 30 minutes a night.
From Educator’s Briefing
It’s not easy to get kids reading. My son will always choose screens over books so it’s helpful to assign reading. I think it’s also important to make reading pleasurable so it becomes a lifelong habit. I choose a shortlist of books carefully for my son that he then selects from.
I also read out loud to my son every night. Reading aloud has the same benefit as independent reading but with an added incentive. I get to quiz my son as he reads, just to make sure he’s paying attention. Usually, I ask him about a vocabulary word in the book. One easy way is to give him a pair of opposites and have him pick the word’s meaning.
I hope your son can find books from my son’s list. Tell him that my son recommends them! It’s more convincing when it’s a peer recommendation so I have my son reviewing his book list.
15+ Book Recommendations from 5th Grade Boy
Rising 5th Grade Summer Reading
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks a Lot by Dav Pilkey
When Smart Fart explodes a piece of zygo-gogzille 24, it falls in the group-therapy ward in Piqua Valley. Mr. Meaner eats it and turns extremely smart. He then makes a spray that makes kids do whatever adults want. [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]
Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan
Percy summarizes twelve Greek heroes in his own words. [Greek mythology chapter book, ages 8 and up]
My Life as a Gamer by Janet Tashjian
Derrick Fallon is worried about his school tests. Then he and his friends sign up to test a video game. So he uses video games to help him with the tests. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
A Mango Shaped Space is about a girl with Synesthesia and it’s like. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Artemis and his family used to be rich but then his father leaves and his mother goes crazy. To regain his fortune, Artemis copies a fairy book to try to take their gold. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
It really sucks you into the book and makes you feel like you’re there. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
The Unofficial Holy Bible for Minecrafters: A Children’s Guide to the Old and New Testament by Christopher Miko
A very cool and creative way to tell people about religion. [graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
5th Grade Book Group
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
A very funny story about two people who aren’t like others. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
5th Grade Classroom Read Aloud
Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington
A very funny book that we’re only a few chapters in. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
5th Grade Independent Reading
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
A very suspenseful book. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Another hilarious, interesting book by Rick Riordan. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
Timmy Failure: Sanitized for Your Protection by Stephan Pastis*
*Stephan Pastis has been accused of sexual misconduct.
It’s very funny just like all the other books in the series. [notebook novel, ages 8 and up]
365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts by R. J. Palacio
It’s hard to explain. It’s emotional. [like a calendar quote book with short stories, ages 8 and up]
More 5th Grade Books for Boys
Savvy by Ingrid Law
An interesting story about a family with magical powers. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl has to work with the fairy folk to rescue his father who is being held hostage by the Russian mafia. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Novel in verse about family, twin siblings, growing up, and basketball. [novel in verse, ages 8 and up]
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Great post. I’m pinning this on our Great Middle Grade Reads board on Pinterest.
Thanks so much for sharing S.W.!! I really appreciate it!
Great list to highlight books for boys who often are reluctant readers . The list is just in time for holiday shopping. Have pinned it to my board.
Thanks so much for pinning Sue!
Interesting information about reading. Also enjoyed your list for reluctant readers. 20 minutes a day is a great. It’s also good quiet time too.
Hi Patricia,
Thanks so much! It’s a struggle to get him to focus to read but once we start, he really enjoys it! It’s hard to compete with screen time!
Give JG’s by M.D.Marrone a try…written specifically for 5th graders and it’s sure to please…available on Amazon as well as Createspace…
Thanks for the heads up Maria!
Heavy collection.. great you are doing. 🙂 my sizy is great reader for these kind of books..i will share this with my sizy.Great to be here.. 😉
Thanks so much for sharing Sneha!
Hey, do you have any science-fiction books that your son like? I’m looking ideas for good s-f books. Any recommendations?
Hi 5th Grade Books,
What a great idea! I will have to wrack my brain and research a little! I’ll make you a list! Let’s see A Wrinkle in Time series. City of Ember series. I Am Number Four. The Giver. It seems like there is overlap between Dystopian and Science Fiction. Let me figure out how to differentiate if there is a true difference.