My Daughter’s Summer Reading Picks–the Best Books for Fourth and Fifth Grade Girls

Here in Tennessee, the kids have been done with school for over a month.  I know some of y’all are just finishing up for the year, but don’t be a hater–remember, we’ll be back to school in early to mid-August, and you won’t have to worry about it until after Labor Day!

In the interest of preserving everyone’s sanity this summer, I asked my daughter to give me her list of top book picks for all the other rising fifth grade girls out there.  Be aware as you read this list that my kids both love to read.  They each check twenty books a week out from the library (yay library!).  My husband and I read all the time, and we clearly passed that gene along to the kids.  I used to get into trouble in elementary school for hiding a book in my desk and reading during class!  My friends still tease me about how I would read a book at lunch and recess instead of playing.  So, yes, I am a proud book geek, and my kids are, too!

Some of these books are perfect for nine-and ten-year-old kids.  Some might be at a higher reading level.  Some might be right at their reading level, but have content that’s a bit grown-up.  We went over her list together and tried to make notes for you, so you can be aware and prepared.  I have no problem with my kids reading things that challenge them, as long as I know that we need to discuss it later.  If you prefer a more sheltered approach, then just avoid the more controversial books until your children are ready.    Also, I still read to my kids every night before bed.  That’s when we cover high-school or adult-level books (Pilgrim’s Progress) or books with tough content (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry).  We’ll read a few chapters and discuss them.  And, since we homeschool and use a heavily literature-based curriculum, we do a lot of reading (and discussing) aloud during the day.

This is obviously not a complete list, since summer is only so long, and there needs to be plenty of time at the pool, too :), but please add your personal favorites in the comments below.  My son (a rising eighth grader) promised me he’ll write a boy-friendly list, too, so stay tuned {Update:  see that list here}!

Annabelle’s Summer Reading List  (in no particular order)

1. All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (the entire series is great, but the first book is the absolute best).
2. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell (there are five so far in this series and she’s still writing).
3. Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow–check out the picture below with the author; we met her at Barnes and Noble last month!  (In this series, one of the girls has two dads, so if you’re ready to start that discussion with your daughter, this series will pave the way.  Otherwise, save it for later.).     
4. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
5. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
6. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards (yes, The Sound of Music Julie Andrews!)
7. Little House–the whole series–by Laura Ingalls Wilder
8. Smile: a Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier
9. A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt by C. Coco DeYoung
10. Meet Rebecca (American Girls Collection) by Jacqueline Greene (the whole series–this is her favorite, next to Kit)
11. Lincoln:  A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (for some reason, when we were studying the Civil War, both of my kids loved this book!)
12. Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
13. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
14. The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum
15. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (the whole series–the best ever!)
16. Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
17. Ally Finkle’s Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot (the series)
18. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
19. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (free on Kindle here)
20. Secret Sisters series by Sandra Byrd (these are Christian fiction)
21. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
22. The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warren
23. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield
24. A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) by Lemony Snicket

(Update:  You can see my daughter’s list for 5th and 6th graders here)

Don’t forget to go to the pool in between all that reading!

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