5th Grade Chapter Books
These Books are the best chapter books, suitable for the fifth grade reading level. This list is intended for independent readers.
[1]
Homesick
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
A poignant (fictional) story that takes place during the Joplin Tornado. It deals with quite a few heavy themes: divorce, hoarding disorder, coming of age, and natural disasters. It is amazing that all these serious topics fit into a children's book with a happy, funny ending.
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[2]
Tumtum and Nutmeg (Series)
illus. Price, Nick
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
Tumtum and Nutmeg are mice who live in a mansion that happens to be located the the cupboard of a human house. The writing is clear and to the point, and I like it much more than most British works which I feel often ramble on a bit. The vocabulary is a little sophisticated, though I didn't need to take out my dictionary in order to define the words for my child.
[3]
The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy (Series)
illus. Gilpin, Stephen
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
The hero is an ordinary boy (no superpowers) in a world where everyone is literally a superhero. The book is written with a lot of educational points and is enjoyable, though the plot is a little bit weak.
[4]
The Name of this Book is Secret (Series)
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
An entertaining adventure series. Two kids investigate the disappearance of several people, leading them to the classic evil-want-to-live-forever-villains. The narrator is very funny, though sometimes a little obtrusive. However, the narrator sort of gives a lesson on how to write fiction, pointing on various plot twits and pitfalls. All in all, this book is quite original and with a teacher or parent as a guide, many lessons on writing can be learned.
[5]
NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society (Series)
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
I think the title pretty much says it all. Nerds save the day. The book starts out with the main character, Jackson, as the most popular kid in school. He mercilessly torments the school nerds until unfortunate circumstances turn him into a nerd. But these NERDS are cool, working to save the world. The writing is flawless and extremely funny.
[6]
Artemis Fowl (Series)
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Don't expect Artemis Fowl to be Harry Potter's younger brother. In fact, Artemis is a young evil genius. Though Artemis does not have magical talents, his intellect is almost magical. Magic does come into the book by way of a very untraditional representation of fairies and elves. At parts, the book is hilarious, and witty. I would give the first book a try.
[7]
Bud, Not Buddy
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Curtis is a really great author. I would rank him up there with Samuel Clemens. In fact, his stories remind me of Huck Finn. Bud is a young black boy growing up during the depression, searching for his father after running away from an orphanage.
[8]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
illus. Blake, Quentin
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
A great book for beginning read-aloud chapter books. Charlie wins a ticket to visit the most spectacular chocolate factory in the world.
[9]
James and the Giant Peach
illus. Blake, Quentin
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
A great book for beginning read-aloud chapter books. James escapes from a wretched life (being raised by his two aunts) in a giant peach, along with some rather large, but friendly, insects.
[10]
The Tale of Despereaux
illus. Ering, Timothy Basil
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Most people hate books where the narrater is obtrusive. Not so with this book. The narrater makes a complicated story accessible to a young listener. Despereaux is a young mouse who is in love with a princess. It sounds absurd, but it really is a neat story.
[11]
The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys
illus. Schindler, S.D.
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
A story about abandoned stuffed animals who end up in a garbage dump. The story is familiar: a lost toy tries to find its owner, other toys try to deal with being thrown out. The writing is british. The vocabulary is extraordinarily complicated for an illustrated novel. So be prepared to define a lot of words, often 2 or 3 words in a single sentence. It is a great opportunity to increase your child's vocabulary. The illustrations are good, almost every page has one.
[12]
Operation Redwood
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
Ever since I have read Lord Of the Rings, I have loved trees. Redwoods are especially fascinating, living over 2000 years and being the tallest trees of the world. This realistic fictional story shows how a group of determined kids could save an old growth redwood grove from logging. For more on the subject, see non-fiction work: The Wild Trees, by Richard Preston, an excellent book and author.
[13]
Old Yeller
illus. Polson, Steven
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Probably one of the best children's books I have ever read. It is the coming of age story of a boy, and his dog. Just to warn you, before you read it aloud, you and your child will probably cry for the last 30 pages. I could read about people dying, but it is not half as affecting as when this dog dies. It is really a magical book.
[14]
King of the Wind
illus. Dennis, Wesley
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
This is a famous Newberry award wining novel about a legendary race horse named Godolphin Arabian. One of the enduring traits of this book is that is tackles the prejudice that accompanies non-noble birth. Godolphin is not a purebred, and even though he is the fastest horse in the universe, he can not compete in the European races, because of his origins.
[15]
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery
illus. Daniel, Alan
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
Bunnicula is a vampire bunny who sucks the juice right out of vegetables.
[16]
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
illus. Bean, Jonathan
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
A rat with the ability to shrink people helps Emmy escape from a witch-like nanny.
[17]
Charmed Life
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
What should you read after finishing Harry Pottter? Charmed Life is a good choice. It is the story of two orphans (a boy and his sister) in a magical, parallel world.
[18]
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
A child goes on a fairy tell adventure, rescuing a dragon along the way, with the hope of finding the Old Man of the Moon (a personification of destiny); set in the far east in the distant past.
[19]
Moon Pie
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
This ultra modern story explores what happens when a young child's only guardian, in this case, a father, starts to lose his mind as he suffers from mental illness. The writing is poignant, yet simple and clear.
[20]
Winnie the Pooh
illus. Shepard, Ernest H.
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
The language reads a little old fashioned, and Pooh's interesting form of grammar can be a little strange, but Pooh's little adventures are fun. I would recommend you read Pooh to experienced chapter book listeners. Don't start with Pooh since it can get a little confusing for a small child.
[21]
Shiloh
illus. Moser, Barry
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
This is a great introduction to the subject of abuse; whether it be child abuse or animal abuse. Both are dealt with here. A child develops a bond with a beagle who is mistreated and tries his hardest, even though he must break some laws, to protect the dog.
[22]
Nim's Island (Series)
illus. Millard, Kerry
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
A father leaves his daughter alone on a tropical island while he goes off to study plankton. Well, she is not completely alone: a sea lion, iguana, and sea turtle keep her company.
[23]
Wonder
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
I think that if every child read this book, the world would be a much kinder place. Kids who are different are often ostracized by their peers. This book takes this to an extreme: the protagonist has a hideously deformed face. The book largely chronicles how he and his classmates, grow up over a year of middle school.
[24]
A Single Shard
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Magic Tree house is a great series to teach basic history, but books like A single Shard go three times as deep into the subject. Taking place in the 1200s, in Korea, it tells the story of a young orphan with a love for pottery.
[25]
Hatchet
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
This extremely popular book is based on the true story of a teenager who survives a plane crash, and then survives on his own in the Canadian Rockies, all thanks to his hatchet.
[26]
Holes
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
audiobook CD
Holes is a really neat, original book. A young teenager gets sent to a juvenile detention camp after being falsely convicted of steeling a pair of used sneakers. At camp, they must, in the hot dessert, dig a 5 foot diameter, 5 foot deep, hole each day.
[27]
A Series of Unfortunate Events
illus. Helquist, Brett
chapter book
Grade Reading Level 5
The book starts off with a three siblings who find out they have just been orphaned. In a humorous and exaggerated Harry Potter sort of way, they are mistreated by their foster father, who plots to steal their family fortune. Though there was no magic in the first book, it does have a fantasy feel to it. The narrator constantly defines vocabulary words, which makes it a little annoying for an older reader, but great for young ones.