We have a very avid reader in our house. In this post, I’m sharing some of our favorite books for 10-year-old girls (and boys!) These are 5th-grade reading level books that our daughter has loved and would be great books to add to your child’s library.
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Finding great books for young readers can be tricky. Our daughter is an avid reader and writer. She has piles of earmarked books throughout the house, despite my best efforts to encourage her to read one book at a time. This year, she has read dozens of books and fallen in love with several of them.
Reading has not always been easy for her. She began as a reluctant reader and struggled until 2nd grade. I’ll always be so thankful for the teacher she had when we lived in Ireland, she was devoted to helping Claire become a more confident reader. So if you’re little one is struggling with reading, I want to encourage you that there is hope and before you know it, you too could have a bookworm in your house!
Find the Right Book for Your 5th Graders
- Historical Fiction
- Fairy tales
- Fantasy
- Non-Fiction books
- Classic Novels
- Historical Fiction
- Science Fiction
- Graphic Novels
Take a trip to your local library and let them pick out a few from these categories to see what they like. Reading aloud helps reluctant readers to get into a good book. We’ve had great luck with book series, once they get into the first book, they will have another book to jump right into. Don’t forget one of the best ways to find a great book for your child, ask your librarian for good book recommendations to find some different options.
Great Books for Fifth Graders
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- Pax by Sara Pennypacker,
- Esperanza Rising By Pam Muñoz Ryan
- The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1 by John A. Flanagan
- Mr. Lemoncello’s Library By Chris Grabenstein
- Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs
- Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
- Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis
- The Stars Beneath our Feet by David Barclay Moore
- The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkin
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
- Big Nate Seriess by Lincoln Peirce
- Any Judy Blume Book! (Be sure to review “Are you There God, it’s Me Margaret” – has some mature content)
- Stuart Little by E.B. White
5th-Grade Classic Books Reading List
Below is a list of classic books that are appropriate for kids around 10 years old. These classic novels are a great place to start and an important part of literary history.
- Anne of Green Gables
- Roald Dahl books
- Where the Red Fern Grows
- Secret Garden
- Wizard of Oz
- The Swiss Family Robinson
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- The Twenty-One Balloons
- Old Yeller
- Little House on the Prairie
- Heidi
- The Hundred Dresses
- Treasure Island
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Our Favorite 5th-Grade Reading Level Books
Our daughter loves fantasy books, as you can tell from this list. If you have struggling readers I encourage you to help them discover the right book to get them excited about reading. She is a bit of an advanced reader, so these books might be a bit above grade level.
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Story Thieves by James Riley
Story Thieves follows the adventures of a young girl that travels into books to find someone special. Our daughter loved this story, it was full of great adventure and exciting moments. She can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
Claire thought the characters in this story were interesting and that the story was encouraging. The book has many funny parts but also tells a great story of good versus evil.
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
This was a great find and she loved the adventure! Half Upon a Time is the story of a boy being trained to be a knight (but not a very good one!) when suddenly a girl falls from the sky. This book is sure to make you laugh!
Harry Potter by J.K. Rawling
After a year of pleading, we finally let Claire read Harry Potter. Before she started I listened to the first book just to review it and make sure I knew the content and could talk with her about it. We may not be super conservative about book choices, but I have heard that the Harry Potter books can get dark (later in the series) so I wanted to be sure that I was reading along with her.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
This graphic novel introduces us to Cece Bell, who is deaf, as the main character, portrayed as a bunny. Cece struggles to embrace who she is and to fit in. Wearing a hearing aid, Cece is often treated differently or unkindly. She copes with her struggles by treating her hearing aid as a superpower, adopting the secret nickname “El Deafo.” Along her journey, she learns to open up to new friends and stand up for herself, eventually learning to embrace who she is.
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
This book is about a 9-year-old orphan boy with lots of troubles. He has an unfortunate-looking nose, narcolepsy (he falls asleep constantly!), and many enemies. This book follows Nicholas in his adventures as he tries to find the mysterious treasure.
– Buy The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict Here –
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
A gripping mystery that takes us along a young girl’s search for the truth about her father, who she has never met. Imprisoned for a crime he says he did not commit, Zoe is determined to find the truth. She hides her investigation from the rest of her family who thinks she is focused on her bakery internship. Along the way she questions everything and does what she believes is right
The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolken
Originally written in 1937, The Hobbit remains popular even today and is recognized as a classic in children’s literature. This book takes its reader on a quest that is both entertaining and intense with Bilbo Baggins to win a share of a guarded treasure. Along the way, your young reader is introduced to new creatures and places while the main character grows in maturity and wisdom.
These are just a few of our favorite books! Are you surprised to hear that I just read Harry Potter for the first time this year? I think it’s easy to say we’re hooked!
