Library Reading Suggestions from Mrs. Kar (our YIS Librarian)

Grade 5

Please see THESE suggestions on Pinterest

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea.  Seven kids in the fifth grade narrate their experiences in the classroom with an energetic first-time teacher.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by  Choldenko, Gennifer. Moose Flanagan, who lives on Alcatraz along with his family and the families of the other prison guards, is frightened when he discovers that noted gangster Al Capone, a prisoner there, wants a favor in return for the help that he secretly gave Moose. 
The Atlantis Complex by Colfer, Eoin. When an army of fairy space probes programmed to destroy Atlantis returns to Earth, Artemis Fowl attempts to stop the destruction of the city while dealing with his own delusional and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex (known as Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex in Europe) is the seventh book in the Artemis Fowl series.

Chained by Kelly, Lynne. To work off a family debt, ten-year-old Hastin leaves his desert village in India to work as a circus elephant keeper; but many challenges await him, including trying to keep Nandita, a sweet elephant, safe from the cruel circus owner.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Lin, Grace.A magical story of a young girl who wishes for fortune and happiness for her village and leaves her family to find the mysterious Old Man of the Moon. **Read also Where the mountain meets the sea

The Cabinet of Wonders by Rutkoski, Marie. Twelve-year-old Petra, accompanied by her magical tin spider, goes to Prague hoping to retrieve the enchanted eyes the Prince of Bohemia took from her father. Series
Drawing from Memory by Say, Allen. Using watercolor paintings, original cartoons, vintage photographs, and maps, Caldecott medalist Allen Say chronicles his experiences as an artist during World War II and describes his relationship with his mentor Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist.

Glory Be by Scattergood,  In the summer of 1964 as she is about to turn twelve, Glory’s town of Hanging Moss, Mississippi, is beset by racial tension when town leaders close her beloved public pool rather than desegregate it. Based on real-life events, this is a story of family, friendship, and some of life’s tough choices.

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me  by Marino, Nan. Set in 1969, Tammy has a difficult summer when her best friend suddenly moves away and a new, know-it-all boy moves into the neighborhood.
11 Birthdays by Mass, Wendy.  Best friends since their mothers met at the hospital when they were born, Amanda and Leo always celebrate their birthdays together. However, now that they are turning 11, they are no longer speaking to each other and everything is not as normal as it may appear. This is one birthday that does not seem to end!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams, and histories.


Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.


Grade 4

Born to fly by Michael Ferrari. Bird McGill, an eleven-year-old tomboy obsessed with flying in 1942, withholds judgement while her classmates maintain that new Japanese American student Kenji Fujita is a spy, but she realizes Kenji is just as American as she is when they find evidence of real spy activity during their research for a class project.

Sophie Simon solves them all by Lisa Graff. Third-grader Sophie Simon ignores her parents’ concerns over her lack of friends and continues to focus on getting a graphing calculator so that she can study calculus on the bus to school.

Emily’s fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. While traveling to her aunt’s home in Redbud by train and stagecoach, quiet young Emily and her turtle, Rufus, team up with Jackson, fellow orphan and troublemaker extraordinaire, to outsmart mean Uncle Victor, who is after Emily’s inheritance.



Alvin Ho: allergic to girls, school, and other scary things by Lenore Look. A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.

Banjo of destiny by Cary Fagan. Jeremiah Birnbaum, an obedient boy from a very wealthy family, attends a private school where he takes classes in etiquette, ballroom dancing, watercolor painting, and classical piano, but his soul is stirred when he hears a banjo being played, and though his parents forbid it, he decides to learn anyway.

Trouble with chickens by Doreen Cronin. A hard-bitten former search-and-rescue dog helps solve a complicated missing chicken case.

Charlotte’s web by E.B. White. Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer’s Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.

Big Nate series

Spy dog series

39 clues series

Dragonbreath series

Who was.. series


Grade 3

The BFG by Roal Dahl. Kid snatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts with him a plan to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants.

James and the giant peach by Roald Dahl. James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house…..

Henry and Beezus by Beverly ClearyHenry Huggins, his dog Ribsy, and his friend Beezus, busy themselves with trying to earn enough money for Henry to buy a bicycle.

Kenny and the dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Bunnicula by Deborah and James HoweThough scoffed at by Harold the dog, chester the cat tries to warn his human family thaat their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Dragonbreath, ahoy! by Ursula Vernon. Danny Dragonbreath and his friend Wendell get an up-close underwater tour of the Sargasso Sea from Danny’s sea-serpent cousin, encountering giant squid and mako sharks–and learn about standing up to bullies in the process.

***Dragonbreath series

Heidi hecklebeck is ready to dance by Wanda Coven. Feeling totally untalented, Heidi resorts to her book of spells to come up with a dazzling act for the school talent show.

***Heidi Heckelbeck series

Ferno, the fire dragon by Adam Blade. Strange things are happening in Tom’s village. First, the horses were attacked. Then, the river dried up. Now, the last of the crops has mysteriously burnt to the ground. Everyone is terrified. But Tom isn’t afraid. He’s always dreamed of a quest-a real quest!-and vows to go to the king and bring help for them all.

****Beast quest series







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