5th Grade Books
Ghost in the Machine (Skeleton Creek Series)
Author: Patrick Carman
Overview: Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek…and Ryan and Sarah are trying to find out why. Ryan writes down everything in his journal, and Sarah records everything on her videocam. The two move deeper into the mystery they’ve uncovered, determined to discover the secrets buried in Skeleton Creek, in the conclusion to Patrick Carman’s thrilling series.
Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Overview: Nicholas Allen is not a troublemaker — he’s just creative. When he decides to liven things up in Mrs. Granger’s fifth grade language arts class, he comes up with the greatest plan yet. He invents a new word for a pen — frindle. It doesn’t take long for frindle to take root and soon the excitement spreads beyond the school and town and unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control.
The Wednesday Wars
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Overview: Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood has a tough year ahead of him. First of all, his teacher Mrs. baker, keeps giving him the evil eye. Second of all, the class bully keeps threatening to do Number 167 (and you don’t even want to know what Number 167 is). Third of all, his father keeps calling him the Son Who is Going to Inherit Hoodhood and Associates. But things are changing, and while reciting his favorite curses from Shakespear’s plays, Holling might just find the true meaning of his own story.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Author: Mildred D. Taylor
Overview: A black family living in Mississippi during the Depression of the 1930s is faced with prejudice and discrimination which its children do not understand.
