First Chapter Friday: 5th Grade Books

This book is about Castle Crenshaw (aka Ghost), who has PTSD from a dad who tried to fire a gun at him as a child. When he meets Coach and the rest of the team, he can finally harness his talent as a sprinter and stop running away from his problems. I love how powerful these kids’ stories are (in the Track series) and that they’re super short — this one is only 185 pages long. 

Alone is Megan E. Freeman’s debut survival middle-grade novel in verse. It follows 12-year-old Maddie, who gets abandoned by some twist of fate when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated. Left alone with no human in sight, she bonds with a Rottweiler named George, who is one of many abandoned pets. Soon after, they lose power and then water, and Maddie has to fend for herself using a variety of ingenious means and the town resources at her disposal, including an empty library, grocery store, neighbors’ homes — you get the picture. Maddie is alone for months and has to safeguard herself from wild animals, terrible weather, and dangerous intruders, on top of the fear and loneliness of being all by herself. This is a well-written middle-grade survival novel with a tenacious protagonist and engaging plot.

Lou has recently gone through a spat with her best friend Francie and the two are no longer speaking because of something Lou did that makes her feel like the worst friend in the world. Lou has also been ostracized by Francie and her new friend Madison. But when a new girl, Cece, comes to town, she immediately gravitates toward Lou and asks her help because she believes she’s been kidnapped by her dad. As Lou works with Cece to get to the bottom of things, she finds some loopholes in Cece’s story that will once again move her to go against a friend’s wishes. Not the Worst Friend in the World is a hugely relatable book about friendship angst, how much words can hurt, and (self-)forgiveness after a mistake.

After a memorable birthday sleepover with her two best friends, Elise wakes up to realize that time has jumped by six months and her best friends no longer speak to her. With the help of an old friend, she works to figure out what happened and how to undo it. This is more fantasy time travel than sci-fi and has a slightly spooky feel for kids who like books about magic with a touch of mystery.

Tahlia is excited to redeem herself at the end of school summer party hosted by the popular kid, Noah. The year before, she’d dressed in what she now realizes was a childish outfit (wearing a rashguard and shorts) while everyone else wore fancy swimsuits. This year, she’s ready to correct her mistakes and make a statement with her best friend Lily. That is until she gets her first period. This is a hilarious, relatable tale of growing up, getting your first period, and figuring out the rollercoaster of puberty.

Max and his community are reeling from a night out gone wrong. Max and his friends Joey and Will went out with two older boys, but Will ended up unconscious and in a coma, and Joey won’t speak to Max anymore. Max also has ADHD and is over six feet tall at 11, which means he stands out in his class. Frustrated that he can’t figure out what happened to Will, Max teams up with an inquisitive classmate, but the truths he unravels aren’t pretty. Can Max get to the bottom of this mystery? A Perfect Mistake is a pitch-perfect middle grade mystery about honesty, peer pressure, and standing up for what’s right.

Tae Keller’s newest middle grade book, Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, opens with new girl Jennifer Chan declared missing at her middle school. As whispers begin, her next-door neighbor Mallory Moss worries that Jennifer may have been abducted by aliens (which Jennifer believed existed). Mallory reunites with two former friends begging them to help her find Jennifer following clues from her time with Jennifer and the diary Jennifer left behind. The story alternates between past and present as readers discover that Mallory’s search is also motivated by an ulterior motive: the need to prove that she and her popular friends didn’t run Jennifer Chan out of town with their bullying.

Yumi, the book’s young heroine, wants to be a stand-up comic, but her immigrant Korean parents want a different path for her. When Yumi ends up in a comedy camp as a result of mistaken identity, she grabs the opportunity with both hands. This book is funny and relatable and features stand-up comedy, so if you have any young wannabe comedians, it will be extra appealing. Ages 9+

Alex is looking forward to spending the summer (as she’s always done) with her best friend, Will. Will’s mother runs the concession stand at their community pool, and both kids have spent several summers playing games at the pool. This summer, though, a schoolmate named Rebekah has eyes for Will — and him for her! As Rebekah and Will begin a tentative crush-friendship, Alex feels threatened and ropes Will into a big summer project (building their treehouse), for which they’ll need several summer jobs to afford building supplies. This is a terrific summery middle grade book about evolving friendships, growing up, and adjusting to changes. 

Hank Hooperman has been alone with his 3-year-old sister Boo since their mother left the house a week ago. Armed with the name of someone his mother wrote as her emergency contact on his field trip form, Hank takes the bus to Lou Adler’s doorstep. There, he and his sister start to find some sort of normalcy until Hank’s 10th mistake threatens to cost him everything that means something to him. Hank is a character to love and truly one to root for every step of the way!

Golden Girl is Reem Faruqi’s sophomore middle grade novel. I liked her debut, Unsettled, but I loved this one. Afiyah has a problem with taking things (seemed like kleptomania) even when she tries really hard not to. Fortunately, she’s often remorseful and returns the stolen items. She’s shaken when her father is wrongfully arrested for embezzlement at the airport during a family trip. The situation puts a strain on her family and moves Afiyah to strongly examine her tendency to steal — especially after she gets caught in the act. Golden Girl is a touching, realistic coming-of-age story about trying to break bad habits and dealing with a family crisis.

Kate McAllister’s life is in need of a refresh. So when a bunch of popular kids seems to welcome Kate into their clique, she is torn about ditching her longtime best friend, Haddie. Things get complicated, however, when Kate is a passive participant in a bullying incident that leads to Haddie sinking on thin ice. Then, Kate is captured on camera, saving Haddie, and the video goes viral. While news outlets hail “Kate the Great” as a shining example for tweens who should not be bullying other kids, Kate continues to oscillate between craving acceptance from the popular kids and trying to keep her friendship with Haddie, all the while maintaining her public image by appearing in newspapers and on popular YouTube channels. But how long can she keep up the charade? And, is Kate great? Or is she a bad person? This is a timely, complex, and engaging middle grade book about identity, popularity, bullying culture, and going viral.

It’s about Evan, a moody middle schooler whose days consist of trying to figure out why his mom is always grumpy, defending his besties from the school bully, and trying to bond with his artist father. Until he meets a dog, or rather, the dog finds him. Told from the perspectives of Evan and the dog, a clever border collie with a love for running, this soaring, heartwarming adventure about friendship, family, and the healing power of dogs is perfect for fans of Silvey’s The Underdogs of Upson Downs. Bonus points for disability representation.

Samira’s summer has taken a disappointing turn as her best friend Kiera seems to have dumped her, and someone has toilet-papered the tree outside her house. Her parents and older sister are traveling to India for part of the summer, leaving her with her grandmother Umma and her brother Imran. When a new girl moves in next door, she begins to pull Samira out of her self-imposed shell, helping her investigate the TP-ing, even as Kiera continues to undermine every new friendship Samira tries to make. What Samira hoped would be a quiet summer licking her wounds becomes a full summer of figuring out family and friendships and finding the strength to be herself. I was VERY surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The writing is so accessible, and even though it’s over 300 pages long, I loved the short chapters and the fact that this one will appeal to a wide range of readers in grades 5-8.

Celia’s life is turned upside down when her Mami doesn’t come home one night. Her reporter father, whom she rarely sees, comes to pick her up in his van, and the two settle in a campground while he works on a new piece about an immigrant detained by ICE for deportation. Soon she meets a group of kids who love music and are planning a concert. They’re delighted to discover that Celia can sing — especially salsa tunes since Celia is her favorite artist. I enjoyed the storytelling in this one and Celia’s voice will draw readers in from the first page. This book will appeal to grades 5-7 because although Celia feels young, there are several big issues being discussed that will appeal to tweens. This is a big-hearted celebration of Latin American music and culture, the power of community and friendships, and a sweet father-daughter relationship.