Fifth graders are at a crossroads. They're too old for early chapter books but might not be ready for full YA content. They're developing their own tastes, dealing with more complex social dynamics, and starting to think about bigger questions—but they're still kids who want adventure, humor, and characters they can root for.

This is also the age where many kids stop reading for pleasure. Screens are more accessible, social lives get more complicated, and reading starts to feel like something you do for school rather than for fun. The books on this list are specifically chosen because they compete with screens—they're page-turners, conversation starters, and gateway drugs to reading as a genuine hobby.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan — If your kid hasn't read these yet, start here. Greek mythology meets middle school humor meets genuine heart. Percy is dyslexic and has ADHD, which makes him relatable to a huge range of kids. The action is non-stop, the humor lands, and suddenly your kid knows more about Greek gods than you do.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — Controversial take: most 5th graders can handle this. Yes, it's about kids killing kids, but it's also about survival, sacrifice, and questioning authority. The violence isn't gratuitous, and the themes are incredibly relevant. That said, know your kid—some are ready, some aren't. Here's how to know if your kid is ready for The Hunger Games.

Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger — If Harry Potter and Percy Jackson had a baby, this would be it. A girl discovers she's an elf and gets whisked away to a magical world. It's long (great for kids who devour books), has strong female characters, and the mysteries keep them hooked across multiple books.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio — This one's everywhere for a reason. A boy with facial differences starts mainstream school for the first time. It's empathetic without being preachy, funny without undermining the serious stuff, and told from multiple perspectives so kids see how the same events look different to different people. Bonus: it sparks amazing conversations about kindness and perspective.

Refugee by Alan Gratz — Three kids, three time periods, three refugee experiences (Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, modern-day Syria). It's intense but accessible, and it helps kids understand that refugee crises aren't abstract history—they're about real kids making impossible choices.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds — A kid who's naturally fast joins a track team and has to figure out how to channel his anger and trauma into something productive. It's short (great for reluctant readers), authentic, and the main character's voice is so strong you can hear him in your head.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney — Yes, they're technically below 5th grade reading level, but they're still wildly popular with this age group. Sometimes kids just want something easy and funny, and that's okay. Greg Heffley is kind of a terrible person, which makes him hilarious and relatable.

The Terrible Two series by Mac Barnett and Jory John — Two master pranksters team up. It's like Ocean's Eleven for elementary school. Fast-paced, genuinely funny, and celebrates cleverness without being mean-spirited.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin — A classic mystery that still holds up. Sixteen people are invited to the reading of a will and must solve the mystery of who killed Sam Westing. It's clever, twisty, and rewards careful readers.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus — Five students walk into detention, only four walk out alive. It's Breakfast Club meets murder mystery. Heads up: this is firmly YA territory with some mature themes (references to drug dealing, some language), but many 5th graders—especially strong readers—are ready for it. Preview it first.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier — A girl deals with dental drama, friend drama, and middle school drama. Telgemeier's books are gateway drugs to reading for so many kids. They're funny, relatable, and the graphic novel format makes them feel less intimidating.

New Kid by Jerry Craft — A Black kid navigates being one of the few students of color at his fancy private school. It's funny and insightful, and it won a Newbery Medal (which is basically the Oscar for kids' books).

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry — A girl helps her Jewish best friend escape Nazi-occupied Denmark. It's a gentler entry point to Holocaust literature than something like The Diary of Anne Frank, but still powerful and important.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan — A wealthy Mexican girl loses everything and has to start over as a migrant farm worker in California during the Great Depression. It's about resilience, family, and what really matters.

Reading level ≠ interest level. Just because your kid can read something doesn't mean they should or will want to. A 5th grader reading at an 8th grade level might still prefer books about 5th graders because that's where they are emotionally and socially.

Series are your friend. Once a kid finds a series they love, they'll often tear through the whole thing. Don't fight it. Series reading builds stamina, confidence, and genuine love of reading.

Graphic novels count. Full stop. If someone tells you they don't, they're wrong. Graphic novels require sophisticated reading skills (visual literacy, pacing, inference) and they get reluctant readers hooked.

Rereading is valuable. If your kid wants to read Percy Jackson for the third time instead of trying something new, that's fine. Comfort reading is real, and rereading builds fluency and deeper comprehension.

Audiobooks count too. Especially for kids with dyslexia, ADHD, or processing issues. The goal is engagement with stories, not just eyeballs on pages. Many kids do best with a hybrid approach—listening while following along with the physical book.

Don't assign books. Offer choices. "I heard this one's really funny" or "A lot of kids in your grade are reading this series" works way better than "You need to read this."

Make books accessible. Library trips, Kindle downloads, audiobook subscriptions—whatever removes barriers. The best book is the one your kid will actually read.

Read what they're reading. Not to quiz them, but to have conversations. "What do you think Percy should do?" is way more engaging than "What's the main theme?"

Respect their taste. If they want to read Captain Underpants or Dog Man instead of Newbery winners, that's okay. Snobbery kills reading motivation faster than anything else.

The best reading list for your 5th grader is the one they'll actually read. This list gives you options across genres, reading levels, and interests—but your kid's enthusiasm is the ultimate guide.

Fifth grade is when kids either become readers or decide reading isn't for them. The stakes are higher than we think. But here's the good news: there are more amazing books for this age group than ever before. Books with diverse characters, authentic voices, and genuine respect for what kids can handle and care about.

Your job isn't to force them to love reading. It's to help them find the books that make them want to keep reading. Everything else follows from there.

Not sure where to start? Ask our chatbot which book on this list matches your specific kid's interests. Want to explore more age-appropriate media? Check out our guide to the best shows for 5th graders or games that aren't just brain rot.

And if you're trying to balance screen time with reading time, we should probably talk about that too.