Below are some ideas of inspirational books that your children might enjoy reading!

Please encourage your child to share books they have particularly enjoyed so we can update the list regularly. 

In Year 5 we encourage reading for pleasure, alongside our guided reading timetable. 

Every adult in Year 5 is a keen reader; here are some of their favourite books this half term:

Mrs Barac: Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer

In the midst of war, a mysterious figure is performing acts of kindness in a Lake District village. Can Tarn find out who it is? An excellent addition to fiction about World War II. 

Mr Trice: Shiver Point by Gabriel Dylan

This book links nicely to when we did our suspense unit. With tension rising from the beginning, this horror book begins with nothing happens here  and ends with a tense final chapter.

Miss Wright: A Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman

This book follows the main character Isaac and how his life is thrown into disarray when his dad dissapears when working on Big Ben. Isaac and his friend Hattie uncover a sinister plot while searching for his father.

Mrs Turner: Malamander by Thomas Taylor

The story is of two parentless children and their quest for the Malamander's magical egg, which is only laid on a particular winter's night once a year and is then devoured by the monster when it's mate doesn't appear. This quest story keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Mrs Millington: Scrap by Guy Bass

This heartwarming book follows the adventure of a robot who learns to care for two humans who need their help. Going from hating humans to being their greatest companion; this book will rbing a tear to your eye.

Nrs Nagar: Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie

If you've ever aspired to be a Tiktok star or a famous youtuber; this book lets you in on the secrets and pressures of it all. 

Mrs Brewer: Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

Set in India, this finding tale showcases the arts and the importance of family. The main character Lena goes on a journey to find her missing brother, but uncovers secrets along the way.

Ms Doran: Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces by Carlos Sánchez

The two main characters - Chiri and Dai - discover a hidden world filled with secrets and magic. After discovering their own hidden powers, the pair team up with a group of unlikely heroes to take on the sinister Shadow King. 

Mrs Pusey: Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson

If you're scared about taking the jump into secondary school, this book is for you. It tells the gossip and worries of a group of friends who are stepping into year 7.

We are often asked to recommend books for particular children, to try to encourage them into reading more or to stretch and broaden their reading tastes and experience, and we are always happy to talk to individuals and help them find a few new books to try.  We also encourage the children to share what books they are reading and recommend books to each other.  It's always great to see a book passed between pupils or being read by several children at the same time and hearing children discussing the book!

We don't produce a definitive list of 'books you should read in Year 5' as, with fantastic books being published all the time, such as list would soon get out of date.  There are of course classic authors such as Tolkien, Dodie Smith, C S Lewis, Ian Serailler, Alan Garner, Joan Aiken, Roald Dahl, Eva Ibbotson, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Nina Bawden, E. Nesbit and books such as Stig of the Dump, Goodnight Mr Tom, Carrie's War, The Secret Garden, Treasure Island, The Machine Gunners, Swallows and Amazons, Black Beauty, Charlotte's Web, The Sword In The Stone, Kidnapped!, The Borrowers, The Phantom Tolbooth and many many more - everyone will have a different list!

There are some brilliant, more modern authors, such as Michelle Paver, Eoin Colfer, Anthony Horowitz, Philip Reeve, Philip Pullman, Katharine Rundell, David Almond, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, JK Rowling and Cressida Cowell to name just some. 

Comic strips (Asterix, Tintin...) and graphic novels, non-fiction books, magazines and newspapers such as The Week Junior and First News are also great to read.  

For more inspiration, look at sites such as the leading online children's book magazine booksforkeeps.com  or  booksfortopics.com , as well as booksellers' and independent bookshops' sites.