Mrs. Cabral's Class: Top Ten
Our 10 "Must Reads" for Every Fifth Grader
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
All that a boy remembers about his childhood is a flash of green light, but when he starts getting mysterious letters that his aunt and uncle keep hiding from him, he realizes that he was born to be a wizard. On exactly his 11th birthday, a half-giant comes into his house and brings him to Hogwarts School of Wizardry. Harry, Hermoine, and Ron learn about a monster sitting over a trapdoor. To find out what is under the trapdoor, read this book!
Reviewed by Sam and Raelin
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Wonder is a book about a child who is going to school for the first time. He'll be going to fifth grade instead of being home schooled again. He is a perfectly regular boy on the inside. But a mutant gene carried from his parents has given him a facial deformity. This is a story of how he makes it through a complicated school year. Read this book to find out how he makes friends, gets bullied, but above all, learns the true meaning of love and makes it through fifth grade.
Reviewed by Sam and Matthew
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
In the book The One and Only Ivan, Ivan is a gorilla who has worked his whole life at the Big Top Mall performing and drawing for hundreds to see. But Ivan's life is starting to take a huge turn. Horrible things are happening and the mall owner, Mac, is starting to abuse the animals. But then Ivan's life takes a turn and suddenly he has somebody to protect: a baby elephant named Ruby. Ivan's best friend dies and he's left with just his friend Bob and the new baby elephant Ruby. What's going to happen to the Big Top Mall when money is tight? Will Ivan ever see other gorillas or a natural habitat again? Find out in the life changing book The One and Only Ivan.
Reviewed by Abby and Jagger
Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst
"I'm gonna get a bronto, bronto, brontosaurus, saurus, saurus for a pet!" Lulu is a brat and yells and freaks out a lot. She freaks out at her parents and leaves her house. She journeys through a nearby forest, facing many dangers. When she is in the woods she actually finds a brontosaurus. Will the brontosaurus come back to see Lulu or will he leave?
Reviewed by Nadie, Alivia, and Isabel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
This book is about a kid named Greg who relieves on a Magic 8 ball, and some decisions are not very good. Greg has a crush on Holly Hills. Greg is going through some tough times with his friend Rowley. Rowley finds a new best friend. Greg is trying to get to school without getting killedwith a stick because there are boys who live in the woods like monkeys. Rowley is ditching him. Will Greg Heffley survive middle school? Find out in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck.
Reviewed by Ellie, Luke, and George
Amulet: The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi
When Emily and her friends head to Cielis to find other stonekeepers they find out something is not right. The townspeople that are left in the deserted city now live in great fear. Eventually Emily will be taken to the Academy where she will fight for a spot on the guardian council. The council is fitted with the most gifted stonekeepers Emily may encounter. During this action-packed battle, she will discover a terribly unjust secret. If left unknown, everything Emily has ever known and fought for may be destroyed.
Reviewed by James and Sadie
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick Allen, a kid in fifth grade, decides to turn on his teacher who loves dictionaries. He creates a new word: frindle. A war begins. Will he ever survive?
Reviewed by Raelin
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka
In this book in the Lunch Lady series a lunch lady is a secret agent. She is suspicious about a substitute teacher in the school. She investigates him and she finds out he is not human. Will she be able to crack this case without any kids finding out her identity?
Reviewed by Brett and Cole
I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis
In the book I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 Lucas is in a very bad situation. he has had too many concussions and because of them, his parents won't let him play football. He is very disappointed because he loves it. The day after he finds out he can't play anymore, he skips school and goes to NYC to talk to Uncle Benny (who is a firefighter) about not playing football. He would never forget what happened that day.
Reviewed by Cole, Brett, and Ethan
Big Nate: On a Roll by Lincoln Peirce
The book Big Nate: On a Roll is about a boy named Nate Wright and his friends Teddy Ortiz and Francis Pope. This book is mostly about Nate and how he asks out a girl like 50 times, and how he has to try to beat Artur at raising money for their scout troop.
Reviewed by Michael and Tom