Realistic or historical fiction for a 5th grader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she can take a fair bit of gore, the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series is fantastic -- except for the last one, "Blades of Freedom" -- too gory even for my 11-year old son.

My 10 year old DS has read a few of these and enjoyed them! They are fairly morbid though. I read Donner Dinner Party and found it graphic but not inappropriate.

He and several of his classmates enjoyed Allies by Alan Gratz (WWII).

For realistic fiction, Carl Hiassen writes children’s books.

[Anonymous]

I survived series
girls survive series
Summer in the Woods
Boy Who Harness the wind
History smashers
Long walk to Water
Island of the Blue Dolphin
Black Ships Over Troy
Refugee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Johnnie Tremaine

+1, my 4th grader just read it and loved it. I read it when I was a kid, and felt the same. My mom (retired ES teacher) just recommended it to him, and a few days later his school librarian did. It’s a Newbery winner.

[Anonymous]

Was also going to suggest Johnny Tremain

Also the True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, or pretty much anything else by Avi

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old has loved all the Alan Gratz books, nathan hales hazardous tales, and the war that changed my life books.

[Anonymous]

How about Chains? By Laurie Halse Anderson

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416905863/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_QSBW8SWHVASF5X976400

[Anonymous]

Island of the Blue Dolphins
Call It Courage
The Westing Game
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Ally Carter (maybe start with Gallagher Girls series)
Misty of Chincoteague
Trixie Belden mystery series
Cheaper by the Dozen (warning - the Dad dies at the end)
The Great Brain
Pollyanna
Tom Sawyer
Beverly Cleary
How to Eat Fried Worms
Frindle
The Secret Garden
A Little Princess
Betsy Byars - The Pinballs, Summer of the Swans (as I recall, these are emotionally rough)
Strawberry Girl
Blue Willow
O. Henry short stories
Sarah Bishop
Nancy Drew mystery series

Victory by Susan Cooper
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Holes by Louis Sachar

I read children's versions of these. I don't know if they were edited for content or just illustrated:
Heidi
Swiss Family Robinson
The Three Musketeers

[Anonymous]

Blood on the river
Calpurnia Tate
Island of the blue dolphins

She might also like some biographies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s not exactly historical fiction, but there’s a graphic novel based on Little women and even one based on just the character Jo from Little women that my fifth grade daughter really enjoy it.

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Meg-Jo-Beth-Amy-Retelling/dp/0316522864/ref=nodl_

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s not exactly historical fiction, but there’s a graphic novel based on Little women and even one based on just the character Jo from Little women that my fifth grade daughter really enjoy it.

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Meg-Jo-Beth-Amy-Retelling/dp/0316522864/ref=nodl_

Or this one?
https://smile.amazon.com/Little-Women-Sisters-Dani-Jones/dp/1544201516/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Little+women+the+march+sisters&qid=1613918584&sr=8-3

[Anonymous]

My side of the mountain is an older book about a kid who runs away and makes a life on a mountain for a year or so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked the Dear America books at that age.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My side of the mountain is an older book about a kid who runs away and makes a life on a mountain for a year or so

I loved this book as a kid

[Anonymous]

My son that age recently enjoyed Stars Beneath our Feet by David Moore.

[Anonymous]

Historical fiction recs:

My daughter loves Fever (about a pandemic in 1739, DD was assigned it right before the covid pandemic and it gave her an interesting perspective on 2020).

https://www.amazon.com/Fever-1793-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/0689848919

Also The Witch of Blackbird Pond