Epiphany Library Summer Reading List
From the American Library Association: 2008 Notable Books
From the Seattle Public Library: Children's Reading Lists
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For parents: books to help raise readers
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Fifth
Grade’s Best Ever Book List
(Alphabetized by titile)
I have no idea why,
but this book fascinates me. It just is a flat out good book. My
favorite part is probably when Professor William Waterman Sherman
discovers the amazing island. I like the theme of
this book and how the story ends up. I love meeting characters in
the beginning and watching them change so much by the ending. This
is also an excellent page-turner and leaves you with questions that
will not be answered forever. It makes you want to chase and try and
find the answers until the book is finished. It’s very fun. I think
the characters are fascinating because of how real they seem while
still encountering many random things. I recommend this book to
everyone.
This biography is one
of the best biographies I've ever read. It is very easy to
understand, has great pictures, and there is a very handy timeline
at the bottom of each page. Of course, it has a very sad ending, but
that doesn't stop it from being an amazing book. I think both boys
and girls will love it. These books are great
for people who like thrilling, action-packed books with teenage
geniuses and high-tech fairies. The author does an amazing job of
keeping you interested throughout the series and you never want to
put the book down. The author creates an amazing setting, cool
characters, and a great plot.
The action begins on the first page
of the first book and continues through to the last page of the last
book.
A great read!!
This book is funny,
with talking ferrets and three girls with completely different
personalities, but is still full of action and has friendship woven
into the story. There are 5 sequels to this book and then another
series that is a sequel to the first. Babar is a book that
is always going to be a favorite in the little kid's category. My
favorite part is when Babar, the elephant, gets dressed up in
clothing and lives the life of a human. I have read many
wonderful books, but the books I found most interesting were the
books in the De Granville Trilogy.
Nothing is better than a great historical novel, and I
recommend these books to everyone for fun and you’ll learn something
about the Crusades and life during the Middle Ages.
Book of A Thousand Days by
Shannon Hale This book is about a
girl named Dashti who is maid to Lady Saren.
The adventure begins when Lady Saren refuses to marry the man
that her father wants her to so he locks her in a tower for seven
years with, whom else, but Dashti.
This book is about their lives in the tower and their
adventures after they leave it.
I recommend this book to fans of the Princess Academy because
they have similar themes and because they are by the same author.
Ages 10 & up.
Bud, not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis This is my all-time
favorite book. It’s a
funny page turner about a boy who is looking for his so-called Dad.
All he has are the flyers advertising his Dad’s band to help
him in his search.
During his quest, he is also determined to come-up with rules to
make his life funnier.
The Cat Ate My Gym Suit
by Paula Danziger This fun-filled book
is about a girl named Marcy who starts a club at school.
Along the way, she learns that being true to your self is the
best.
The
Children of the Lamp Series
by P.B. Kerr The Children of the
Lamp series is one of the most engaging fantasy books I've ever
read. It has great action, comedy, settings, and characters. The
settings include Cairo, Great Britain, the North Pole, and New York.
This book has tons of fun and surprising tricks up its sleeve. I
can't wait to read the next one.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
is about a twelve-year old kid named Greg Hefley.
His middle school is filled with bullies who all hate him.
His brother, Rodrick is one of the bullies. He writes all the time
in a diary that his Mom gave him. This is not a girly book, and it
is not all a “dear diary” this and that. It is an hilarious book
about an unpopular kid who makes plans to become popular.
Diary of a Worm by Doreen
Cronin The title basically
sums it up. This book is very funny and creative with amazing
illustrations! Anyone from Pre-K to Fifth Grade will love it!
A
Dog’s Life by Ann Martin This dog had a long
life filled with abuse and hardship. Whether it was her mother
leaving, or her friend dying, she stood strong.
Encyclopedia Brown by
David Sobol Encyclopedia Brown is
a young sleuth who, along with his friend Sally, has his own
detective business. Encyclopedia's dad is the Chief of Police and
sometimes Encyclopedia helps his dad on some of his cases.
Encyclopedia is so good that from then on not one man, woman, or kid
has gotten away with any crime. The mysteries are fun to try and
solve. I recommend this
book to 4th and 5th graders.
Fairy Blue Stone
by Carman
Hayward It’s fun to read and
you learn about interesting, sparkly rocks.
The illustrations are amazing and it’s easy to relate to the
main character Felicia whose best friend moves away.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald
Dahl This book is about a
fox that upsets some crazy farmers so they plot to kill Mr. Fox so
they can prevent him from stealing from them anymore.
After a few failed attempts, the farmers start to dig down to
the foxes’ home. Mr.
Fox’s family digs down deeper to escape the farmers and meanwhile,
Mr. Fox, with a few of his crazy friends, robs the farmers of their
food for a huge animal feast.
This laugh-out-loud funny book will make even Professor Snape
laugh (if that’s possible).
Ages 7 & up.
A
Fish Out of Water by Dr.
Seuss
A
Fish out of Water is a classic. It's a funny story that I used
to always read with my parents. Doctor Seuss does a splendid job
adding all the laughs and giggles possible into this book. The
illustrations are wonderful, and the story is great for all ages.
A Fish Out of Water is one
of the best picture books out there.
Flush by Carl Hiaasen The characters’ personalities are really clear. I liked the main character because he is a lot like me. This book is a great page turner.
The
Ghost's Grave by Peg
Kehret This book is about a
teenage boy who meets a ghost who was buried without his leg.
Now, the ghost wants all of his bones back together. The
ghost convinces Josh to dig up his leg and bury it with the rest of
his body. When Josh does the deed, the story just becomes more
interesting. This book is very suspenseful and a definite page
turner. I recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries and suspense.
The
Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree is a
great book that I used to read all the time. It's about a boy who
grows up visiting a tree that lets him climb on it and sit
underneath it. When the boy is older he never visits the tree
anymore, and the tree becomes very lonely.
I suggest this for Pre-K or Kindergarten students.
Half Magic by Edward Eager Half Magic is funny
and refreshingly short.
It’s a great book to read if you are lounging out in the sun. The
author did a good job of writing a story with a theme nobody had
written about yet, magic, where you only get half.
The
Harry Potter Series
by J.K. Rowling One of my all time
favorite books is Harry Potter. I love how the characters seem to
come alive and how the story is so clever and fun. I think J.K.
Rowling is an amazing author. I hope everyone at some time will read
Harry Potter.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen This book is at the
top of my list. The main character in this book is very brave and
has to survive all alone in the wilderness after his plane crashes.
The book is a page-turner because of its non-stop action and drama.
It's like no other book. It is a perfect book.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri Heidi is a classic
that I love because the author is so descriptive.
You’ll feel like you are in the mountains and sometimes you
can even feel the wind on your cheeks. Heidi is a five-year old girl
who goes to live with her grandfather in his lonely hut high up in
the Alps. She is at first uneasy about living with him, but as time
goes by, Heidi and her grandfather become very close. When Heidi's
aunt decides that she must go live in the town, she cannot bear
being sent away and is determined to return to the happiness of life
with her Grandfather.
For all ages.
Holes
by Louis Sachar
Holes
is one of my favorites because it is filled with adventure. Kids and
adults will like it!
Holes by Louis Sachar There is non-stop
action in this book. It
is definitely a page turner and it inspired me to write my novel.
Holes
by Louis Sachar Louis Sachar’s
well-written book is not only an adventure story, but a fun
puzzling/exciting/wonderfully detailed book. When Stanley is put in
a discipline camp he meets a cast of strange characters some of whom
may have a mysterious connection. I’ve read it a billion times, and
I recommend this book to people of all ages.
Hoot
by Carl Hiaasen
You’ll love
Hoot if you’re either an animal lover or a person who loves the
environment. The story follows the adventures of an average kid
named Roy Eberhart as he discovers burrowing owls living on a vacant
lot. Unfortunately, the
lot is scheduled to have a pancake house constructed on it. Roy and
two other friends will have to convince the owners not to build the
pancake house if the endangered birds are to be saved. The story is
exciting and funny – a great read!
If You Take a Mouse to School
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
A great book!
I can still remember all the details. For instance, the mouse
climbs into the backpack of the little boy and rides the bus to
school. I recommend this book for kids Pre-K through 2nd.
This book is the sequel to If
you Give a Mouse a Cookie.
Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook
by Barbara Park. This great book is
about a girl named Junie B. Jones who loses her attractive black
mittens. She learns
through the course of the book that finders-keepers isn’t always the
best way to go, and that it’s good to return things.
Even though it’s about a Kindergartener, it’s a great book
for everyone.
Kavik the Wolf Dog
by Walt Morey This a truly
inspirational book that will keep your eyes glued to the pages
starting with page one. I think it really kept me captivated because
so much happens in one page that you just really want to know what's
going to happen next. Because it’s all so great, it’s hard to choose
my favorite part but it’s got to be when the hunter is following
Kavik and his wife. This is an extremely well written book.
Kira-Kira by Cynthia
Kadohata Kira-Kira means
glittery. This book is about two Japanese-American sisters whose
parents struggle to provide for the family. I liked this book
because the author writes the story as if the two girls were right
in front of her and when one becomes ill with cancer, you feel as if
you are right there.
This book is a page turner with a lot of emotions. I recommend this
book to 4th and 5th graders and up.
The Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davis This
is a great book! The main characters are a brother (Evan) and a
sister (Jessie). They
make a bet about... Lemonade? I felt like I was there. This book is
truly a page turner.
London Calling
by Edward Bloor I liked this book
because it takes place during World War II and it is a great page
turner.
Milkweed by
Jerry Spinelli
Milkweed
is a sad, but great book. It is set during
the Holocaust and tells the story of
a boy trying to survive in the Warsaw ghetto without parents.
He lives by his wits, his speed, and by stealing from people.
He even stumbles into a band of thieves and they let him live with
them. The Holocaust was during World War II when the Germans treated
the Jews very badly. This book is emotionally powerful because it
does not have the happiest ending.
Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism
by
Georgia Byng
This book has a lot of
action and I can picture everywhere Molly goes because the
descriptions are so good. If you like stories about ordinary people
who can do extraordinary things, Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of
Hypnotism and its sequels are right for you.
The
Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Stewart This book is about
four children that pass a series of extremely difficult tests.
They are then directed by a man called Mr. Benedict to go
undercover at a school whose principal wants to, what else, but rule
the world. This book has
humor, action, adventure, mystery, plot twists, and big surprises.
Ages 8 & up.
The
Nancy Drew Series
by Caroline Keene I love mysteries and
Nancy Drew’s hobby is solving mysteries. Once you finish one book,
you just want to read another.
I suggest this book to 3rd, 4th, and 5th
graders.
The
Pendragon Series by D. J.
MacHale The Pendragon series
is a great, fast paced, action/adventure packed series. It feels
like a rollercoaster ride the whole time. From fighting jungle
beasts to jumping out of airplanes, this book has it all. It even
has sprinkles of laughter along the way. The Pendragon series is
well written and very hard to put down. It's definitely a favorite.
Ages 11 & Up.
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series
by Rick Riordon You’ll think this
series is amazing if you like Greek myths, Greek gods, or even if
you don’t know anything about them. The author creates rip-roaring
action throughout the books and will keep you on the edge of your
seat. Rick Riordon does a great job of incorporating Greek myths
into the series and you’ll find all the characters life-like and
exciting! Ages 10 & Up.
The Ranger’s Apprentice Series
by John Flanagan
This is the next Harry Potter
series. It’s a great
page turner with exciting twists and turns and well- developed
characters. The main character is a boy who really wants to be a
warrior but ends up having to be a look-out.
I especially loved the first book of the series,
The Ruins of Gorlan.
I recommend it to Fourth
Grade and up.
The Real Thief
by William Steig The main character in
this story, a goose, was brave and very smart. He protested that he
was not guilty when he was falsely accused and he stood up for his
rights.
The Seem Series:
A Glitch in Sleep
by John Hulme and Michael Wexler This book is all about
a teenage kid who becomes a “fixer.” A fixer is not a plumber or an
electrician, rather, in this story, they save the Earth from being
messed up. The kid, Becker Drane, had a typical, boring life before
he applied for a mysterious job. He gets the job and immediately has
to save our world from an insane amount of glitches all while trying
to figure out who is responsible.
A Glitch in Sleep is a great short read for everyone. If you liked
Harry Potter, try this new, fun series.
The
Shakespeare Stealer by
Gary Blackwood This book had a topic
that was not too fascinating to me, but that did not stop me from
enjoying it at all. There was deception, chase scenes, and lots of
drama. The main character had a lot of personality in him. He seems
so real and similar to common boys. Add some adventure and it makes
a fantastic book. I recommend this to anyone.
Stay!
Keeper’s Story by
Lois Lowry
This book touched me.
I love animals and this story is about a courageous dog that went
through many things to find her sister.
The T.F. Letters
by Karen Ray A fantastic book about
a 3rd Grade girl named Alex that gets letters from the
Tooth Fairy. The Tooth Fairy helps Alex through a lot of changes in
her life. This is a good book for kids big and small.
Temping Fate
by Esther Friesner Temping Fate is an
amazing fantasy book and a huge page turner! If you enjoy Greek
mythology at all you will love this book too. It is about a girl
named Illana who gets a job as a temporary worker, “temp”, at DR
Temps. She doesn’t know that everyone working there is actually
working for the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece. This is a
fantastic book about a girl who makes some amazing new friends.
I suggest this to 5th graders.
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeline L’Engle This book takes you
into a very detailed and puzzling new world. It makes your brain
hurt a bit. You have to read it!
It’s wonderful!
I recommend it to everybody.
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