Year 5 Books to Enjoy - A Note for Parents

Year 5
Books to Enjoy
                        A Note for Parents
We are always looking for ways to encourage our girls to read regularly and
widely. We hope that this booklet will help your daughter to choose a good
selection of books throughout the year that she will enjoy. We do not want
any girl to feel that she has to try to read every book contained within these
pages; they are merely a suggestion and sample of books written for your
daughter’s age range. Our aim is for our girls to continue to refer to it
throughout the following academic year.

We hope this will help to develop enthusiastic and confident readers.

Aiken, Joan                   The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

This story is set in a different but recognisable old England. This is a fast-moving story about
how two cousins, Bonnie and Sylvia, have their home stolen away from them by their
greedy guardian.

Bawden, Nina                  On the Run

Ben is eleven years old and the youngest of the Mallory children. He has left his aunt and
siblings to come to London where his widower father wishes to introduce him to his young,
future stepmother. Unable to return home when his brother and sister become ill, Ben is
left on his own to explore the maze of walled gardens which surround his new home. What
will he find? Who will he meet?

Blackman, Malorie             Hacker

This is the story of Vicky, who saves her father from being wrongly convicted of stealing
from the bank after hacking into the bank’s computer to solve the crime herself.

Byers, Betsy                  The Eighteenth Emergency

Mouse, small and nervous, virtually invites the attentions of the school bully by writing his
name on a wall chart showing Neanderthan Man. Thereafter, he confronts the bully both in
his imagination and, finally, in a real way; finding a sense of self-worth through the
experience.

Byng, Georgia                 Molly Moons Incredible Book of Hypnotism

What will happen when Molly finds the book? Will she be able to rescue Patella, defeat
Nockman and find her best friend Rocky all at once? If you like books full of adventure,
suspense and humour; this is the book for you!

Colfer, Eion                  Artemis Fowl

12 year-old criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, hatches an ingenious plot to steal all the
gold in fairy land. Although a little dubious about the plan – indeed not even quite believing
in the existence of fairies – his trusty bodyguard and companion, Butler, is on hand to help.
What problems will they encounter?

Constable, Cathryn            The Wolf Princess

Read about Sophie as she steps off the train from London to Russia, where she waits for
someone to look after her, yet only herself and her friends are left on the platform. What is
going to happen to them? Will they ever get home? They are eventually taken to meet
Princess Folksy in her wonderful castle and it is here that Sophie learns more about the
missing prince! Why has the princess wanted to bring them here… why and what is the
secret of the wolf princess?

Cottrell Boyce, Frank         Millions

Suddenly the Cunningham brothers become richer than they ever could have imagined.
They could buy anything and everything they had ever wanted – there’s only one problem…
They only have a limited time to spend it. Read this book to find out what the brothers do
next and what they do when the terrible crooks who stole the money in the first place start
to close in.

Cowell, Cressida              A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons

This book is funny. Hiccup is in a library with the hairy, scary librarian and glow worms on
the floor. Delve into this Hero’s Guide to find deadly dragon profiles, sword-fighting tips and
lots of Dragonese. This book has jokes, riddles and everything you wanted to know about
Hiccup’s world.

Cross, Gillian                The Demon Headmaster

Something is wrong at Dinah’s new school. All the pupils act in exactly the same way. There
is a wonderful blend of horror and suspense in this book.

Dahl Roald                    Boy, Tales of Childhood

Find out all about Roald Dahl’s childhood in this very witty autobiography. What were his
friends names? Did Roald Dahl want to be a writer? You will also be enchanted to read
about all his escapades as a young boy; he was quite naughty in school! A great tale is one
about the ‘Great Mouse Plot’, where he and his friends played a nasty trick on the cruel
sweet shop owner!

Deary, Terry                  The Fire Thief

Do you like Ancient Greek myths? Prometheus, the Greek god has stolen fire from Zeus to
give to the humans. His punishment is to be chained to a rock to have his liver torn out by
an eagle every day for the rest of time. Prometheus discovers his only escape is through
time, ending up in 1858 where he meets orphan Jim, a petty thief. Together they begin
their exciting adventure.

Dowd, Siobhan                 London Eye Mystery

Salim and his mum go to stay at their cousin’s house. Once there, they decide to go on a trip
to the London Eye. Salim gets given a ticket for this by a strange man; he goes up but will he
come down? Will they solve the mystery? This is a very popular novel for those who like a
mystery.

Funke Cornelia                        Inkheart

Meet Meggie. She owns an ordinary life; there is just her dad, Mortimer, and herself, until
one night a stranger appears at the door who strangely calls her dad Silvertongue. What
happened to Meggie’s mother? What was the reason her dad never read aloud to her?
Straight away Meggie’s world turns upside-down! This is the first book in the Inkworld
Trilogy – if you like fantasy stories, you will love this!

Gleitzman, Morris                     Toad Heaven

This is a very funny book about a toad whose friend and family are getting killed by humans.
He tries to find a safe place to live. It is such a good book that once you start reading it, you
won’t stop!

Hodgon Burnett, Frances               The Secret Garden

This is the story of a young girl called Mary who is brought up in India. Her parents die and
she is shipped home and forced to stay with her Uncle in a boundless and remote house on
the moors. Her life takes a turn for the better when one day she discovers a mysterious
secret garden. What secrets does it hold? This is an enchanting classic and one that has
been enjoyed for many generations.

Horowitz, Anthony                     Stormbreaker

Alex is a normal schoolboy until his Uncle’s mysterious death. At his Uncle’s funeral, there
are some strange men, men that his Uncle never mentioned. Was his Uncle only a boring

old bank manager or was there more to his life? This is a great adventure story from an
amazing writer.

Horowitz, Anthony                     Snakehead

It’s Alex Rider’s biggest mission yet and all he really wants is to discover his past. That is why
he only agrees to take on the snakeheads. This time he will be working alongside his long
lost godfather, Ash, and Alex is hoping that that he will unlock his past. But there is
something that is a bit suspicious about Ash, yet Alex can’t quite work it out. Now Alex is in
the heart of the rainforest fighting for survival and he has no way to contact MI6….

King, Caro                            Seven Sorcerers

Nin is an ordinary girl. She has a little brother called Toby, but when he suddenly disappears
and nobody remembers him Nin realises she is next… Nin embarks on a journey into the
unknown world with bogeymen, vicious hounds that travel in the sky and a man-eating dog!
She has to prevent her brother from being tortured by Professor Scrooge, but will she make
it in time?

Lawrence, Caroline                    The Thieves of Ostia

This is an exciting mystery set in Ancient Rome in the year 79AD. Flavia Gemima embarks
on an adventure, with four strangers who become her friends, following the theft of her
father’s signet ring. The Thieves of Ostia is the first book in the Roman Mysteries series.

Lewis, C S                            The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

This classic story in the Chronicles of Narnia has enthralled readers for more than half a
century. A world of fantasy, with fauns, talking beavers and an evil witch awaits four
children as they step through the wardrobe into a land where it is always winter but never
Christmas.

May, Kara                             Yeti Boy

This is an imaginative and moving story. After a plane crash in which Fenn is orphaned, he
moves to live with his aunt in a distant mountainous regios. Wandering off, he falls and is
rescued by a Yeti. He recovers and learn from the Yeti way of life how to be less bitter
about his parents’ death.

Morpurgo Michael                     War Horse

Albert and his horse Joey are great friends until they get split up. Albert joins the army and
Joey has a dangerous adventure. Will the ever find each other? What will Joey do without
Albert? This is a charming story of a boy’s close bond to his horse.

Morpurgo, Michael                    The Dancing Bear

Roxanne is a nice, normal girl whose grandfather is very polite and one day she finds a little
bear. Roxanne really wants to keep it but her grandfather refuses. She pleads with him to
keep it but the little bear wants to go everywhere with her. When Roxanne gets older, the
bear gets bigger and is trained to be a circus bear. Everybody loves the bear but he’s getting
too big to live in the family household!

Nesbit, Edith                The Railway Children

This is a story about a family whose father is taken away by two strangers. Roberta, Peter,
Phyllis and their mother have to leave their smart London house and move to a small house
in the country. The children become fascinated with a train line that runs at the bottom of
their garden. They form a friendship with the porter at their local railway station and they
even help save a steam train from disaster. Will the family be reunited?

Ness, Patrick                A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls is an extremely well written, fantasy novel that is also an emotional
rollercoaster about life and death. It starts with daily visits from the yew tree ‘monster’
always at exactly 12:07am, who tells Conor stories. Conor’s mother has started her cancer
treatments and nothing’s working. He is staying at his grandma’s house for the time being,
but he is not happy. The yew tree, the tree of healing, as Conor thinks the tree is, is
supposed to heal his mother? Or is it supposed to heal him?

Norton, Mary                 The Borrowers

This is the story of tiny people, who live hidden in the secret places of old houses. The
descriptions make it easy to imagine tiny people foraging for scraps. When Arriety goes
borrowing, she is spotted by… a human. Read this book to find out what happens.

Paver, Michelle              Spirit Walker

Spirit Walker is the second book in a series of six. It is about ancient darkness, when a boy
called Torak sees his father die; he had lived already without a mum-so he is on his own now.
But will his friend Renn help him in his quest?

Torak is a boy who can talk to wolves. He is a boy who must kill the most evil powered
people…or die trying. The clans (a group/family) have a sudden sickness - there is no cure
they can find because only Torak can find it…

His quest sends him across the waters to a clan who has the cure, but someone will betray
him; a soul eater. This will change his life…

Pearce, Phillippa                     Tom’s Midnight Garden

Tom goes to stay with his aunt during his school holidays whilst his brother is left at home
with measles. When lying in bed at night he hears the hall clock strike thirteen. He races
downstairs and goes through a door into a garden that he is told doesn’t exist.

Pullman Philip                        I was a rat!

Bob and his wife, Joan, have always wanted a child, but now that they are old, they will
never have one. Until one day, a dirty boy in a servant’s uniform comes knocking at their
door. The only words he can speak are, ‘I was a rat.’ All he can do is act like a rat! Will they
find the true parents of this mystery boy? Only one person believes in the boy, and only one
person knows his past.

Riordan Rick                  Percy Jackson and the battle of the Labyrinth

When Percy finds a secret entrance to the labyrinth in ‘Camp Half-Blood’, he realises Luke is
going to attack from the labyrinth. They get their defences ready but can Percy find a way
through the labyrinth and try to convince Daedalus to help them fight Luke and his army?

Rowing J.K            Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry is not an ordinary boy; he’s a wizard but he doesn’t know that yet. He lives with the
horrid Dursely; his room the cupboard under the stairs. Everything changes when Harry gets
a letter from Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry inviting him to attend that school. From
that day on Harry knows that he is a wizard. What adventures lay before him in the magic
world; if you want to find out then read this book?

Rowling, J.K            Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

It’s Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sirius Black has
escaped from Azkaban and has run away. Harry finds out that Sirius is his godfather! Will
Sirius keep out of Azkaban? Will Harry and Sirius live and move away from Dementors? Will
Harry Potter live to tell the tale? If you’re a lover of fantasy, you’ll love this book!

Sewell Anna            Black Beauty

This is a classic book that has been loved by many generations. Black Beauty is a stunning
black stallion. He is sold numerous times to many kind and some unfortunately bad-spirited
people. Will he ever find his perfect home? Will he find his long, lost best friend?

Snickeit Lemony                A Series of Unfortunate Events the Bad Beginning

Violet, Claus and Sunny’s beloved parents are killed in a mysterious house fire so they have
to live with their evil Uncle Olaf. This story is full of suspense and cruelty. Will Violet, Claus
and Sunny ever get away? There are many books in the series, so there’s plenty to enjoy.

St. John, Lauren               The White Giraffe

The story of the white giraffe is a classic and beautiful story. The story centres on a young
girl, Martine, whose parents die in a tragic fire in her house. Following their death she is left
in the hands of her grandma. Her grandma, however, lives in Africa and she has never met
her. As she moves on with her life over there, a dazzling giraffe enters it, giving her the
power as the ‘chosen one’ over all animals. What will happen as she moves on with her life
and her loveable giraffe?

St. John, Lauren                      Dolphin Song

It’s time for another adventure for Martine and her friends. When they are swimming in
shark infested waters, during their school trip, the boat that they are in sinks! Martine and
her friends eventually get saved by dolphins but they find themselves stranded on an island
with no food or water. What will become of them? As they learn to love the island, people
come to attack it because it is forbidden; they fight back and their journey gets even more
curious…

Sutcliffe, Rosemary                   The King Arthur Trilogy

One volume combines Rosemary Sutcliffe’s three books about King Arthur and his knights.
Beginning before King Arthur’s birth and ending with the disintegration of the brotherhood
of the Round Table, this mystical retelling of the ancient legends takes readers on a magical
journey through the England of the Dark Ages.

Walliams, David                       Gangsta Granny

David Walliams is the Roald Dahl of today. So if you like Roald Dahl’s humour, you’re bound
to like David Walliams’ books. Ben hates his Granny and he has to sleep over at her house
every Friday. Ben thinks she is sooo boring until he finds out about her secret… They try to
steal the crown jewels but will they get away with it?

Walliams, David                      Billionaire Boy

This is another great book by this hilarious author. Can you imagine how great it would be if
you were a billionaire? Well meet ten year old Joe who is a billionaire; he has everything
including his own race track in his colossal garden; his waiter is a monkey and he blows his
nose with five pound notes! All because his dad invented a new kind of toilet paper!

Unfortunately Joe faces one problem: money can’t buy friends. It all goes wrong when Joe’s
dad tries to break the rule!

Woodfine, Katherine                  The Clockwork Sparrow

This is a wonderful book, full of the true spirit of adventure. If you loved Murder Most
Unladylike or Goth girl, this is the book for you. This is the story of Miss Sophie Taylor and
Miss Lilian Rose, who crack codes, devour iced buns and attempt to bring villains to justice.
It’s a brilliant historical detective book, which I struggled to put down.

Many of the books here were chosen by the Year 5 girls. Their input has been invaluable
and their enthusiasm most encouraging. We would like to thank them for their
recommendations.