12 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Fourth and Fifth Grade Readers
Finding the right book is a challenge for many kids. It can be especially hard for young, advanced readers who are capable of reading significantly above their grade level. Students in 4th or 5th grade who can read at a 7th, 8th, or even high school level may gravitate towards the latest Young Adult sensation like books by Colleen Hoover or Sarah J. Maas that cover themes or topics that are not necessarily a good fit for upper elementary school readers.
Here are 12 books recommended as “must reads” by other advanced 4th & 5th grade readers on Bookopolis.com, an online community for young readers. These stories are engaging, thought provoking, and encourage young readers to learn more about the world — in an age appropriate way. Plus, they are great reads for adults, too. Read along with your young reader and help them dig deeper by making connections from the books they read to current events, history, and their own lives.
PSA for parents: Every reader and every family is different. If you’re not sure if a book is appropriate or feel uncomfortable about a book your child may have read, check out reviews on sites like Bookopolis or Common Sense Media, and then engage in a healthy discussion about anything that may be mature or controversial.
This list originally appeared on ReadBrightly.com.
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1
Add to BookshelfThe Alchemyst
by Michael Scott
This first book in a much-loved fantasy series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, follows the adventures of Sophie and Josh Newman as they track down the greatest legend of all time, the elixir of life. Kai, 10, says “It is a classic fantasy book. It keeps you hanging on every page.”
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2
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The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster
This fantastical tale of Milo and the watchdog, Tock, and their escapades in the Lands Beyond makes a great read aloud for the whole family. According to Beck, 8, “It’s funny, adventurous, and the puns are pure awesomeness.”
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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3
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The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat
This seafaring adventure story set in a Thai-inspired fantasy land is filled with excellent plot twists and endearing characters. It tackles deep themes such as the search for identity and the ethics of humans exploring new lands. Olivia, 11, says, “It hooked me in the moment I read it. I recommend this book to anyone [who] enjoys reading realistic fiction, fantasy, and adventure!”
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4
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The Twenty-One Balloons (Puffin Modern Classics)
by William Pene du Bois
Imagination and science blend perfectly in this classic adventure tale. Professor Sherman has been found three weeks after he embarked on a hot air balloon trip over the Pacific Ocean. He recounts the adventures he experienced with the eccentric inhabitants of the fantastical land of Krakatoa. Emily, 12, exclaims, “I loved this book! It was definitely an adventure and I couldn’t put the book down.”
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5
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The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
by Sheela Chari
Based on an award-winning podcast, this sci-fi series follows rule-breaker Mars Patel and his group of loyal friends as they try to figure out why so many kids have recently gone missing from their school and around the world. It raises important questions about whether the benefits of futuristic technology are worth the potential risks. Prarthana, 11, adds that this book is good for “anyone who loves mystery and adventure.”
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6
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My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)
by Jean Craighead George
Tired of living in a small NYC apartment with his eight siblings, 12-year-old Sam runs away to his great-grandfather’s property in the Catskills with only a handful of supplies. Perfect for fans of adventure-filled survival stories like Hatchet. Winnie, 11, raves, “This is a book for those who really like nature and the beauty of animals. I recommend [it] to anyone who is looking for a book that you just can’t take you’re eyes off of!”
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7
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The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
A gripping, adventurous journey centered around Buck, a dog who must find his true nature in the wild. George, 10, says, “If you are into survival stories and action, this is the book for you. This is a fascinating book about survival and determination told through the eyes of a dog.”
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$16.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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8
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Where the Red Fern Grows
by Wilson Rawls
This emotion-filled classic about the deep love between a boy and his dogs holds up today. Anna, age 9, highly recommends it, “Omg! I bawled my eyes out right in the middle of reading! Even though it is a sad book it is still a wonderful story, and anyone who likes sad books will absolutely love this!”
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9
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A Place to Hang the Moon
by Kate Albus
Set in England during World War II, four siblings find themselves orphans after their grandmother passes away. They are thrown in with a group of children who are being evacuated from the city to the country due to the German bombings in London. As they bounce from home to home, they learn the value of family, home, and kindness from strangers. This is a great pick for fans of The War That Saved My Life.
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10
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Brother’s Keeper
by Julie Lee
This is an intense and gripping story about the harrowing journey taken by 12-year-old Sora and her 8-year-old brother in 1950 as they attempt to escape from their home in the oppressive regime of communist North Korea to a more open-minded, capitalistic South Korea during the Korean War. It offers powerful insights into what many Koreans experienced during the “Forgotten War.” Sensitive readers should know that is contains some gruesome survival scenes as well as the deaths of a few characters.
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11
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Brown Girl Dreaming
by Jacqueline Woodson
This captivating novel in verse shares the authors’ experience growing up as an African American in the 1960s and 70s in a racially charged community in South Carolina and a diverse, urban neighborhood in New York City. It spotlights the impact of family, race, religion, and societal prejudices on one’s search for identity and purpose. Morgan, 11, shares, “This book was so touching. It was well written, and it really made me think. I loved every minute of reading it!”
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12
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Any books by this Newbery Medalist author are a good fit for advanced readers to learn more about important moments in history. Riley, 9, loved, the story of a middle-class black family who move from Michigan to Birmingham in the middle of 1963. She says, “I like this book because there are a lot of funny moments, as well as sad ones, and sweet ones.”
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