LibraryAware 5th Grade Realistic Fiction

5th Grade Realistic Fiction

A handful of stars
by Cynthia Lord

Twelve-year-old Lily befriends Salma, a Hispanic girl whose migrant family is in Maine for blueberry picking season, but as a local pageant approaches, the girls are confronted with the hard truths of prejudice and migrant life

TBH, this is so awkward
by Lisa Greenwald

Told entirely in text messages, emails, and notes, best friends Prianka, Gabby, and Cecily find their friendship tested by busily planning a spring fair, bullying, and boys

So done
by Paula Chase

"When best friends Metai and Jamila are reunited after a summer apart, their friendship threatens to combust from the pressure of secrets, middle school, and looming auditions for a potentially life-changing new talented-and-gifted program"

Zane and the hurricane : a story of Katrina
by W. R. Philbrick

Visiting New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits, mixed-race 12-year-old Zane Dupree is rescued by two African-American locals before facing the limited supplies and responses that threaten their survival. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg.

The friendship matchmaker
by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Lara Zany is her middle school's official Friendship Matchmaker, but a new student, Emily Wong, has her own ideas on the subject and they vie to match two "hopeless cases" with their perfect best friend

33 minutes
by Todd Hasak-Lowy

Threatened by a former best friend that he will be beaten up at recess, Sam Lewis endures a grueling half-hour before the fated time while wondering how a former video game partner became such a formidable adversary. A first children's book.

Lula Bell on geekdom, freakdom + the challenges of bad hair
by C. C. Payne

Ten-year-old Lula Bell Bonner of White House, Tennessee, tries to fade into the background to avoid a bully, but after her beloved grandmother's death Lula Bell understands about letting her light shine in the darkness

A whole lot of lucky
by Danette Haworth

When 12-year-old Hailee's family wins the lottery, her life changes in unexpected--and not necessarily good--ways.

Eighth grade is making me sick : Ginny Davis's year in stuff
by Jennifer L. Holm

An illustrated, scrapbook-style tale told through journal entries, notes and report cards traces a year in the life of eighth grader Ginny, whose ambitions to become a cheerleader and fall in love are challenged by the loss of her stepfather's job and the imminent birth of a sibling. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Turtle in Paradise.

Cool down
by Cassie Waters

Sharing the last days of summer with carefree new friend Nikki at the community pool after clashing with her friend Grace, Christina becomes alarmed by Nikki's inclination to bend the rules, a situation that tests Christina's resolve and makes her wonder about the nature of true friendship. Simultaneous.

President of the whole fifth grade
by Sherri Winston

To gain leadership skills needed to run a cupcake-baking empire when she grows up, Brianna runs for president of the fifth grade, expecting little competition until a new girl enters the race.

Girls acting catty
by Leslie Margolis

In this sequel to Boys Are Dogs, Taylor and her friends face a new challenge when the clique of "mean girls" makes their move; but having learned a lesson or two from past dealings with pesky boys, the girls are ready to use what they know to keep their advantage.

Calli be gold
by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Eleven-year-old Calli, the third child in a family of busy high-achievers, likes to take her time and observe rather than rush around, and when she meets an awkward, insecure second-grader named Noah and is paired with him in the Peer Helper Program, shefinds satisfaction and strength in working with him

Confetti girl
by Diana López

Trying to be many things all at once to many people while coping with the loss of her mother and a father who seems to be completely uninterested in her life, Lina Flores learns to becomes an expert in adaption in order to satisfy all the roles she needs to play in her complicated life.

The kind of friends we used to be
by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Twelve-year-olds Kate and Marylin, friends since preschool, draw further apart as Marylin becomes involved in student government and cheerleading, while Kate wants to play guitar and write songs, and both develop unlikely friendships with other girls and boys. By the author of The Secret Language of Girls.

Rules
by Cynthia Lord

Having always tried to manage her autistic brother's embarrassing behavior, Catherine is excited about her new relationship with Jason and friendship with the girl next door, but when the pressures from home take their toll on her, Catherine acts out badly and so begins to consider reviewing and revising her own coping skills.

Eleven
by Lauren Myracle

Having turned eleven-years-old in March, Winnie finds that being a pre-teen has its challenges as she deals with different issues through the course of the year, such as her sister's mood swings, a change in her friendship with her best friend, and the arrival of an unlikable new girl at school.

Luv ya bunches
by Lauren Myracle

Four friends--each named after a flower--navigate the ups and downs of fifth grade, in the first of a series that conveys its stories through text messages, blog posts, screenplay, and straight narrative. Readers Guide available.

Anne of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery

A new edition of the classic turn-of-the-century tale about an adopted girl who makes her new home on Prince Edward Island includes new artwork by the husband-and-wife team who illustrated Tchaikovsky Discovers America.