Primary level 5 min read

Recommended reading - Year 5

Thought-provoking adventures, timeless classics, and captivating worlds for Year 5 readers.

Curated by LiteCapsule Reading Vault

Table Block

Title Author Synopsis Rating
The Last Shot First published 1994
Alan Baillie The close of a century invites both retrospection and prognostication. As a period of transition, it also brings a sense of uncertainty, finality, and apocalypticism. These feelings stem from various events, such as political turmoil, scientific... -
The Wild Children First published 1983
Felice Holman Left behind when his family is arrested by soldiers during the dark days following the Bolshevik Revolution, twelve-year-old Alex falls in with a gang of other desperate homeless children, but never loses his hope for a better life. -
Eye to Eye First published 1997
Catherine Jinks Science fiction novel for teenagers. A boy finds a damaged starship which can think and talk. They become friends and together face a destructive force. The author's other publications include 'Pagan's Vows' which was awarded the CBC Book of the... -
Kiss the Dust First published 1991
Elizabeth Laird Her father's involvement with the Kurdish resistance movement in Iraq forces thirteen-year-old Tara to flee with her family over the border into Iran, where they face an unknown future. Suggested level: Junior secondary.
★4.0Open Library (3)
Foxspell First published 1995
Gillian Rubenstein Twelve-year-old Tod's mystical links with a spirit, half man and half fox, and with the natural world surrounding his grandmother's house in the Australian countryside challenge his attempt to adjust to the real world. -
Frontier Wolf First published 1980
Rosemary Sutcliff 'We are the scum and the scrapings of the Empire. They tipped out the garbage-bin of the Eagles to make us what we are.' In disgrace after a mistake that cost the lives of half his men, Alexios arrives in Castellum. It's his first command, but it... -
The True Story of Lilli Stubeck First published 1984
James Aldridge Living in squalor in an abandoned shack with her large family, one day Lilli is taken in by a wealthy old woman who helps to civilise her. But there's an ongoing battle between Lilli and Miss Dalgleish, seemingly for possession of Lilli's very... -
Are You there, God? It's me, Margaret First published 1970
Judy Blume Life isn't easy for Margaret. She's moved away from her childhood home, she's starting a new school, finding new friends – and she's convinced she's not normal. For a start she hasn't got a clue whether she wants to be Jewish like her father or...
★4.2Open Library (39) ★3.5Google Books (3)
Boy, The Tale of Childhood
Roald Dahl Presents humorous anecdotes from the author's childhood which includes summer vacations in Norway and an English boarding school.
★5.0Google Books (2)
Eleanor, Elizabeth First published 1985
Libby Gleeson A new edition of multi-award-winning author Libby Gleeson's powerful first novel, Eleanor, Elizabeth. This new editions features a new introduction by the author, and is illustrated with sensitive black and white line drawings by Beattie Alvarez. -
The Other Facts Of Life First published 1988
Morris Glietzman Ben stared at the images on the TV screen half in fascination, half in horror. He had never seen anything like this. It was incredible. It was aweful. He needed answers . . . There are some things Ben doesn't understand, so his dad is sent in to... -
All in the Blue Unclouded Weather First published 1991
Robin Klein All in the Blue Unclouded Weather begins the story of the Melling sisters, four girls growing up in an Australian country town in the post war years. Vivienne is the youngest, always the last to wear the hand-me-down clothes - after Grace and... -
Talking in Whispers First published 1983
James Watson When his father, a well-known musician who supports the people's choice for president, is taken away by the Security forces of the military government in Chile, sixteen-year-old Andres Larreta becomes a wanted man himself as he continues his... -
The Stones of Fire First published 2000
Rick Wilkinson When Japara and Wahn set off with Guruk to search for a missing uncle, they know little about the secret he has uncovered. Dark forces work against them as they are drawn deeper into the mystery of the Stones of Fire. -
The Monster Garden First published 1988
Vivien Alcock Using a tissue sample she believes is from one of her father's experiments in genetic engineering, Frankie accidentally creates a baby monster, which begins to grow at an alarming rate.
★4.0Google Books (6)
The Dark is Rising First published 1972
Susan Cooper YA. An eleven-year-old boy searches for six magical signs in order to save the world from the threatening evil of the Dark.
★4.0Open Library (20) ★5.0Google Books (1)
Fade First published 1988
Robert Cormier IT IS THE summer of 1938 when young Paul Moreaux discovers he can “fade.” First bewildered, then thrilled with the power of invisibility, Paul experiments. But his “gift” soon shows him shocking secrets and drives him toward a chilling act....
★5.0Google Books (1)
The Witches First published 1983
Roald Dahl "One child a week is fifty-two a year. Squish them and squiggle them and make them disappear." This is a story about REAL WITCHES. Real witches dress in ordinary clothes, have ordinary jobs and look very much like ordinary people. But they are far...
★4.2Open Library (94) ★4.5Google Books (7)
Momo First published 1973
Michael Ende Weaves a magical tale about an orphan girl named Momo whose unstinting goodness nurtures wisdom and happiness in the people around her and who becomes the prey of sinister figures.
★4.5Open Library (35) ★4.0Google Books (15)
A Kind of Dreaming First published 2001
Julie Ireland Migrating with her family from England to Adelaide, Christie discovers letters from an unknown relative who also migrated in the middle of the last century, and who shared her own gift for music. What had happened to Charlotte? Christie, with the...
★4.0Open Library (1)
Del-Del First published 1991
Victor Kelleher Shrugging off his jacket, he grabbed the headstone and began tugging at it. 'Open,' he wailed. 'Open!'Possession is a chilling phenomenon and Beth's family are rocked into this nightmare world when her younger brother becomes inhabited by a spirit...
★5.0Open Library (1) ★5.0Google Books (1)
Master of the Grove First published 1982
Victor Kelleher The story of a young boy's quest for truth--and a sorcerer's misuse of knowledge. -
A Wizard of Earthsea First published 1968
Ursula LeGuin A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard.
★3.9Open Library (118)
The Tombs of Atuan First published 1971
Ursula LeGuin "With a new afterword from the author"--Jkt.
★3.9Open Library (58)
The Farthest Shore First published 1972
Ursula LeGuin When the prince of Enlad declares the wizards have forgotten their spells, Ged sets out to test the ancient prophecies of Earthsea.
★3.9Open Library (48)
Ella Enchanted First published 1997
Gail Carson Levine In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
★3.8Open Library (38)
The Book of Wizards First published 2001
Ruth Manning-Sanders The Wizard imparts his secret wisdom on everything a wizard needs, including how to create essential wizard gear, room decorations, magical concoctions, and spells for good luck.
★5.0Open Library (1)
The Journey First published 1988
John Marsden A book for all people. And all who read it will be changed by the experience. ". . . an extraordinary book. . . I would commend it to everybody." Terry Lane, ABC Radio The Journey is a story of young people in a world so different and yet so like...
★5.0Open Library (1)
Gilbert's Ghost Train First published 1998
David Metzenthen Tom's life is full of trouble; at home and at school. His major love is windsurfing, where he is an expert, and his deep friendship with the old fisherman, Gumby, whose livelihood is threatened by the bigger, faster boats. When Gerry enters his life... -
Mandragora First published 1994
David McRobbie The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is the inspiration for this story. Adam and Catriona are affected by old Celtic magic when they discover remnants of a shipwreck. Tiny coffins contain dolls which call up ancient good and evil. Adam has to avert a... -
Five Children and It First published 1905
Edith Nestbit When four brothers and sisters discover a Psammead, or sand-fairy, in the gravel pit near the country house where they are staying, they have no way of knowing all the adventures its wish-granting will bring them.
★4.0Open Library (7)
The Borrowers First published 1952
Mary Norton Miniature people live in an old country house and provide for themselves by "borrowing" things from the humans until they are forced to emigrate from their home under the clock.
★3.9Open Library (10)
Boy in Darkness First published 1997
Mervyn Peake Six stories written across a range of genres and settings, including a macabre ghost story, and wry character studies drawn from the author's life in London and on the island of Sark in the Channel Islands. -
Empty Frame First published 1997
Ann Pilling A ghost-story from award-winning novelist, Ann Pilling. Sam, Floss and Magnus spend their holidays with cousin Maude at the Abbey. On their first night, Magnus hears a woman crying. Investigating, he discovers the 16th-century portrait of Lady Alice... -
Dragons Nest Deltora Quest 3 First published 2003
Emily Rodda Lief and his companions Barda and Jasmine look for the origins of four vile creations of sorcery with the help of a map and the last of Deltora's dragons.
★4.0Open Library (1)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix First published 2003
JK Rowling Harry is furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursleys' house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally being...
★4.2Open Library (317) ★4.0Google Books (9)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire First published 2000
JK Rowling It is Harry s fourth year at Hogwarts and there are spells to be learnt, potions to be brewed and Divination lessons to be attended. Harry is expecting these: however, other quite unexpected events are already on the march
★4.2Open Library (350)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban First published 1999
JK Rowling 'Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go.' When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in...
★4.2Open Library (637) ★4.5Google Books (47)
Space Demons First published 1988
Gillian Rubenstein Twelve-year-old Andrew, bored with life, becomes obsessed with a mysterious new computer game, which has the power to zap him and his friends into a dangerous world of menacing space warriors.
★5.0Open Library (2)
Beyond The Labyrinth First published 1988
Gillian Rubenstein Winner of the 1989 Children's Book of the Year Award for older readers.
★2.0Open Library (1)
Dragon Summer First published 1996
Helen Boswell Smith It began as a normal summer holiday for Amy, Scott and Su Lin: long, lazy days at the beach, visits to their special island, meeting sin their secret cubby-house ... But, the discovery of the huge, heavy 'rock' changed everything - dramatically! Who... -
Dicay's Song
Cynthia Voight Now that the four abandoned Tillerman children are settled in with their grandmother, Dicey finds that their new beginnings require love, trust, humor, and courage. -
The House That Was Europa
Nadia Wheatley Children's publishing is a huge international industry and there is ever-growing interest from researchers and students in the genre as cultural object of study and tool for education and socialization. -
Fly a Rebel Flag, the Battle at Eureka
Robyn Annear A fictionalised account of the Eureka stockade battle. The diggers made a stand against license fees and police harassment. They took up arms, built a stockade and swore to defend themselves. When government troops stormed the Eureka stockade the... -
The China Coin First published 1993
Allan Baillie A part Chinese girl and her mother go to China to search for family members at a time of student unrest and witness the massacre at Tiananmen Square.
★4.0Open Library (1) ★1.0Google Books (1)
The Talking Stone First published 2023
Josephine Croser Set in 1950 in a small Australian country town - about the friendship of two girls. -
A Sound of Chariots First published 1972
Mollie Hunter A young girl growing up in Scotland after World War I tries to come to terms with her grief over her father's death and her increasing sense of the passage of time. -
Pagan's Vow First published 1995
Margaret Jenks Pagan's Vows is an engrossing, marvellously written medieval thriller, a brilliant sequel to Pagan's Crusade and Pagan in Exile. 'The Pagan Chronicles are a kind of medieval version of Tin Tin...told with a delightfully slapstick, cinematographic...
★5.0Open Library (1)
All in the Blue Unclouded Weather First published 1991
Robin Klein All in the Blue Unclouded Weather begins the story of the Melling sisters, four girls growing up in an Australian country town in the post war years. Vivienne is the youngest, always the last to wear the hand-me-down clothes - after Grace and... -
Tomorrow's Wizard First published 1982
Patricia MacLaughlin A wizard, his unorthodox apprentice, and a wise horse make five important wishes come true in ways that surprise the wishers. -
Billy Mack's War First published 2004
James Roy Sequel to Captain Mack (ISBN 070223107X). Danny returns the Victoria Cross to the cold and formal William Mack, but Danny discovers that Williams was once a Billy and his story is just as heroic as his father's - Captain Mack. James Roy gives an... -
No Tigers In Africa First published 1992
Norman Silver Newly arrived in England from South Africa, a fifteen-year-old's family deteriorates, as the effects of living under apartheid take a toll on every aspect of the family members' lives. -
Blackbird First published 1988
Ivan Southall Set in Australia in World War II, a story about change and loss and hope, and how one boy meets the challenges forced on him by war. -
The Eagle of the Ninth First published 1954
Rosemary Sutcliffe A young centurion ventures among the hostile tribes beyond the Roman Wall to recover the eagle standard of the Ninth, a legion which mysteriously disappeared under his father's command.
★4.0Open Library (4)
Alexander the Great: Reckless Conqueror
Carole Wilkinson Alexander Romance - Babylon - Bucephalas - Gordian knot - Infantry - Macedonian army - Sparta - Trojan War - Memnon. -
Space Games First published 2020
Mick Carter Like. Share. Comment. Subscribe. Embed. Upload. Check in. The commands of the modern online world relentlessly prompt participation and encourage collaboration, connecting people in ways not possible even five years ago. This connectedness no doubt... -
Jurassic Park First published 1990
Michael Crichton An American bioengineering research firm erects a theme park on a Caribbean island, complete with living dinosaurs, and invites a group of scientists to be its first terrified guests.
★4.2Open Library (199) ★4.5Google Books (6)
A Wrinkle in Time First published 1962
Madeliene L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction fantasy novel by American writer Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. It is about Meg And Charles Walence. Their father, who was working on a interesting project called a tesseract, goes missing! Then...
★3.9Open Library (174)
The Giver First published 1993
Lois Lowry Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
★4.0Open Library (321) ★4.5Google Books (9)
Earthfasts First published 1966
William Mayne A fantasy about an eighteenth century drummer boy who disapears underground, playing his drum and then emerges two centuries later, unaware that time has passed.
★5.0Open Library (1)
Z for Zachariah First published 1975
Robert O'Brien Key features of this text: How to study the text Author and historical background General and detailed summaries Commentary on themes, structure, characters, language and style Glossaries Test questions and issues to consider Essay writing advice...
★4.3Open Library (4)
Time Warp Trio 2095
Jan Scieszka Help students in grades 4 and up become better readers and writers using multilevel instruction with Modifying the Four Blocks(R) for Upper Grades. -
Watership Down First published 1972
Richard Adams Rediscover the A Puffin Book series and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this highly anticipated edition of Tales from Watership Down. Return to the warren with this treasured collection of short stories, an epic encore...
★4.2Open Library (106)
The Broken Saddle First published 1982
James Aldridge A poor boy is given a gift of a wild pony by his drover father, and the relationship which grows between horse and boy changes Eric's life. -
The Wind in the Willows First published 2001
Kenneth Graham The day that Mole abandons his spring-cleaning and sets out to enjoy the sunshine is the start of many adventures. Not only does he discover the river and the joys of messing around in boats, but he also makes lifelong friends with Rat, Badger and... -
Thunderwith First published 1992
Libby Hathorn A modern Australian classic from bestselling author Libby Hathorn, now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Lara feels completely alone after her mother's death. She moves to the bush to live with her father, but his new family make her feel...
★3.0Open Library (1) ★5.0Google Books (2)
The Grandfather Clock First published 1996
Anthony Hill Constance is transported to an alien world where she has to solves riddles and puzzles to return home. -
A Grave Catastrophe First published 2003
Nette Hilton Oliver, a German Shepherd, is accused of killing his neighbor, a cat, and must solve the murder before he is sent away to the kennel for good. -
The Mouse and his Child First published 1967
Russell Hoban Acclaimed as one of the classics of 20th century children's literature, The Mouse and His Child is a moving story about two clockwork mice thrown on a scrap heap who then have to begin a dangerous quest for a place to belong. It is adapted for the...
★3.0Open Library (1) ★4.0Google Books (1)
Taronga First published 2013
Victor Kelleher The great dome of the sky, black, star-sprinkled, arched above him, appearing at that moment so limitless, so vast and free, that the fences and cages of Taronga were dwarfed, reduced to the point where they barely seemed to exist . . . Every so... -
A Pig Called Frances Bacon
Stephen Measday Francis Bacon is no ordinary pig. He can read and he can talk. When Lucy Russo arrives at her Uncle Reg’s farm for the holidays, she’s in for a big (and a pig) surprise. Lucy meets Francis and they soon become friends. However, Lucy learns that... -
Good Luck to The Rider First published 1968
Joan Phipson A twelve-year-old girl, youngest of four children, adopts an orphaned, unlikely foal named Rosinante just before she leaves for her first year of boarding school, and, with the vision of her own horse to inspire her, beings to gain assurance and maturity.
★5.0Open Library (1)
Shiloh First published 1991
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor "Everything you need for successful literature circles that get kids thinking, talking, writing--and loving literature"--Cover
★4.3Open Library (20)
The Wainscott Weasel First published 1993
Tor Seidler Bagley Brown, Jr., a member of the remarkable family of weasels living in the seaside fields, woods, and ponds of Wainscott, must prove himself a hero and save Bridget the fish from an unappetizing death. By the creators of A Rat's Tale.
★5.0Open Library (1)
The Good Master First published 1935
Kate Seredy Kate is sent to live with relatives in the Hungarian countryside when her father can no longer tolerate her wild antics.
★5.0Open Library (1)
A Little Fear First published 1983
Patricia Wrightson A strong-minded old woman struggles with an ancient gnome for the right to live in her own small cottage.
★5.0Open Library (2)
While I Live: The Ellie Chronicles
John Marsden Even though the war is over and she is back on her family's farm, Ellie Linton is haunted by the memories and now must discover how to find the enemy within herself in order to move on with her life. -
Lily and Me First published 2013
Moses Aaron The story of the friendship between Moses the storyteller, and Lily, a young girl with leukemia. -
The Boys from Bondi First published 1987
Alan Collins The world of ten-year-old Jacob and his younger brother Solly falls apart when they are orphaned and pitched into a Sydney children's home, where other refugee Jewish children are gathering as Hitler rises to power in Europe. -
The Village by the Sea First published 1982
Anita Desai The Village by the Sea is a survival story by the novelist Anita Desai. Set in a small fishing villlage near Bombay, Lila and Hari, aged 13 and 12, struggle to keep the family, including two young sisters, going when their mother is ill and their...
★4.3Open Library (3)
Dodger First published 1991
Libby Gleeson With the encouragement of a new teacher, Mick takes a role in the school musical, gaining the opportunity to change his own and others' opinions of himself, and to come to terms with the death of his mother and frequent absences of his lorry driving father. -
Waiting for the End of the World First published 1983
Lee Harding In a bleak futuristic city where an elite regime controls all human activity, sixteen-year-old Manfred escapes to the hills and experiences visions of an ancient past and a doomed future which force him to seek safer ground. -
No Surrender First published 1994
James Watson When Malenga Nakale returns to Angola to work as a medic in a small village, she is kidnapped by a South African army unit, where she meets, befriends, and falls in love with fellow-prisoner Hamish, a white army deserter. -
The Jungle Book First published 1893
Rudyard Kipling The adventures of Mowgli, a man-child raised by wolves in the jungle, have captured the imaginations not just of children, but of all readers, for generations.
★4.1Open Library (38) ★4.0Google Books (292)
Call of the Wild First published 1903
Jack London The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.
★3.9Open Library (82) ★4.5Google Books (234)
Black Beauty First published 1877
Anna Sewell Continuously in print and translated into multiple languages since it was first published, Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty is a classic work of children’s literature and an important text in the fields of Victorian studies and animal studies. Writing...
★4.3Open Library (23)
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde First published 1875
Robert Louis Stephenson Mr. Gabriel Utterson is a serious, austere lawyer living a humdrum life in Victorian London. Yet there is a strange clause in his friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll's will: should he disappear for more than 3 months, everything will be inherited by Hyde. But...
★3.9Open Library (148)
20000 Leagues Under the Sea First published 1998
Jules Verne Twenty Thousand (20,000) Leagues Under the Sea (French: Vingt mille lieues sous les mers) is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne published in 1870. It tells the story of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus as seen from...
★4.3Open Library (3)
Bridge to Terabithia First published 1972
Katherine Paterson The 40th anniversary edition of the classic Newbery Medal-winning title by beloved author Katherine Paterson, with brand-new bonus materials including an author's note by Katherine herself and a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Kate...
★4.1Open Library (59) ★4.0Google Books (9)
Storm Boy First published 1963
Colin Thiele A boy living on a desolate beach in Australia rescues a baby pelican that becomes his constant companion.
★4.2Open Library (6)
Thunderwith First published 1992
Libby Hathorn A modern Australian classic from bestselling author Libby Hathorn, now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Lara feels completely alone after her mother's death. She moves to the bush to live with her father, but his new family make her feel...
★3.0Open Library (1) ★5.0Google Books (2)
Rabble Starkey First published 1987
Lois Lowry Twelve-year-old Rabble Starkey's mother is hired by Mrs. Bigelow to look after her children while she's in the hospital. Living in that huge house, Rabble feels she's finally found a home. But soon she and her mother must question what's really best...
★3.0Open Library (1)
The Giver First published 1993
Lois Lowry Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
★4.0Open Library (321) ★4.5Google Books (9)
Peter First published 1993
Kate Walker An ordinary fifteen-year-old Australian kid, who enjoys riding his dirt bike and wants to be a photographer, becomes confused about his sexuality when he finds he is attracted to a gay friend of his older brother.
★5.0Open Library (1)
The Secret Garden First published 1911
F Hodgson Burnett Reproducible chapter questions, plus comprehension questions, a story summary, author biography, creative and cross curricular activities, complete with answer key.
★3.9Open Library (96)
The October Child First published 1976
Eleanor Spence SUMMARY: Douglas and his family learn to cope with baby Carl, who is autistic. -
Mulga Bill Rides Again First published 1988
Gordon (ed.) Winch Volume two of a reference work listing all children's books by Australians. Thsi volume covers the period from 1973 to 1988. Entries provide physical descriptions, dates, publishers, illustrations, awards received and, in some cases, remarks on the... -

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Curated book recommendations and classics across Years 3 to 10.