Great Reading Suggestions for 5th & 6th Graders

Choosing the perfect book to read can be a daunting task, even for the most avid reader. Even more difficult can be deciding what book is a good match for your child. I like to suggest the 5 finger rule when deciding on a book that is suitable for your student.

Have your students select a book that they may be interested in. Instruct them to read the second page of the book. Your student should put one finger in the air for every word they come across on the page that they do not know. If they have 5 or more fingers in the air by the end of the page- the book is probably not a good match!

Below I have compiled a list of 20 books that I would recommend for a 5th or 6th grader. This list is filled with classics, as well as books I have read myself and enjoyed. There is a mix of fantasy, drama, comedy, and more! If your student is in the market for new books to read, try out one on the list below. Happy Reading!

1. The Hobbit

2. Bridge to Terabithia

3. My Side of the Mountain

4. Holes

5. Number the Stars

6. The Phantom Tollbooth

7. James and the Giant Peach

8. Where the Red Fern Grows

9. Maniac Magee

10. Hatchet

11. Wonder

12. Missing May

13. Tuck Everlasting

14. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

15. The BFG

16. Shiloh

17. The Series of Unfortunate Events

18. Freak the Mighty

19. Fish in a Tree

20. Counting by 7’s