RISING FIFTH GRADE SUMMER READING
Summer 2024
Dear Families,
The fifth grade teachers would like to assist you in helping your child develop a love of reading. We recommend that each child read at least 5 books of their choosing over the summer. We have provided a list of books as suggestions, but your child is not required to read the listed titles; they are only suggestions. The books they read may be print or e-books. Please allow your child a great deal of input in choosing books. Children are usually able to tell what is appropriate and interesting for them. In addition to reading the five books, you might consider listening to audio books as a family. Engaging in literature discussions as a family can be fun. We wish you and your family a wonderful and literacy rich summer!
REALISTIC FICTION
The Labors of Hercules Beal
The newest from local author Erin Entrada Kelly
Here is a fun coloring sheet to accompany the book: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:00a0f3fc-cbcf-4fb9-af50-ab17dadadb27
First Time for Everything
Another win from Kelly Yang!
The Elephant in the Room
Good Different
Turtle boy
A Must Read!
To Night Owl from Dogfish
Watch the trailer.
Sequel to Front Desk
Lila and Hadley
COMING THIS SUMMER!
The Green Bicycle
Simon Sort of Says
When Friendship Followed Me Home
Sticks & Stones
Pie in the Sky
Posted
Wish by Barbara O'Connor
Twerp
Ms. Bixby's Last Day
Other Realistic Fiction Titles
The Whole Story of Half a Girl
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White
Almost Home by Joan Bauer
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli - Watch Book Trailer
"My Life" Series by Tashjian
Anything but Typical by N. Baskin
Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by G. Choldenko
The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going
Paperboy by V. Vawter - Watch Book Trailer
Eight Keys by S. LeFleur
Listening for Lucca by S. LeFleur
Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord
Five, Six, Seven Nate!
Summer Reading Discussion Questions
We have also included some questions that you can use to discuss books with your children if you are looking for guidance.
What did the book/text make you think about?
Did you enjoy the story? Why?
What was the problem in the story?
What is the book about, such as a theme?
For fiction text: Can you predict what is about to happen? Can you identify something in the book that helped you to make that prediction?
For non-fiction text: In addition to what you have read so far, what do you think the author wants you to know or learn at this point in the text?
What questions do you have now about what you read?
Are there some parts of this text that are more important than the others? Which ones? Why do you think they are the most important?
What do you think the author thinks is most important so far in this text? What signals or clues did the author use to make you think that was important?
If you were to tell another person about the text you just read and you could only use a few sentences, what would you say?
What do you understand now that you didn’t understand before?
What opinions and ideas did you form about the text during and after reading it?
ADVENTURE STORIES
Small as an Elephant
Abandoned by his mother in an Acadia National Park campground, Jack tries to make his way back to Boston before anyone figures out what is going on, with only a small toy elephant for company.
Higher Institute of Villanous Education
Theodore Boone: The Activist
Other adventure reads:
If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch
39 Clues Series : Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
NERDS Series by M. Buckley
The Hypnotist by Gordon Korman
The Postcard by T. Abbott
Heat by Mike Lupica
Remarkable by L. Foley
Alibi Junior High
Capture the Flag by K. Messner
Dead End in Norvelt by J. Gantos - Watch a video interview with author
SPORTS READS
Football Series by Tim Green
Another hit by Jacqueline Woodson
Track Series by Jason Reynolds
Other Sports titles you may enjoy:
Books by Mike Lupica
Books by Cal Ripkin, Jr.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor- watch the Book Trailer
Hothead and other books by Cal Ripken, Jr.
Humorous Reads
The Superteacher Project
Cartboy & the Time Capsule
Better Nate than Never
THE SCHWA WAS HERE
Other humorous reads:
Timmy Failure: Now Look at What You've Done
Charlie Jackson Series
Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog by T. Watson
FANTASY
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Meddlestone
Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth
No Passengers Beyond this Point
Other Fantasy Titles:
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm See Amazon reviews!
The True Meaning of Smekday See the website and ten reasons to read the book!
Cosmic by F. Boyce
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Rides Again
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Parachute Kids
Jerry Craft's Newest Graphic Novel
Camp Average
When Stars are Scattered
Watch a video of Newbery winning author/illustrator Jerry Craft
Stargazing
Cardboard Kingdom
Revisit Some Classics
Historical Fiction
The Stars in April
The War that Saved My Life
What the Moon Said
Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam
Other Historical Fiction
The Secret School by Avi
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Year of the Bomb by Ronald Kidd
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
Fever 1793 by Laura Halse Anderson
Elephant Run by Roland Smith
Breaking Stalin's Nose
MIDDLE SCHOOL READS
Will Trev use his hands for his artistic talent or to help protect his mom and sistyaers from his stepdad?
Shape of Thunder
Despite living next door to each other, they exist in separate worlds of grief. Cora is still grappling with the death of her beloved sister in a school shooting, and Quinn is carrying the guilt of what her brother did.