Saturday, May 31, 2025

5 Books to Read This Summer

"It is a great book for readers who like to read realistic fiction novels."

Looking for summer reading recommendations from real, live people? My 5th graders each compiled a #BestBookList, which could have an overall theme or not. You can see all of their recommendations at #BestBookList. For individual book recommendations, check out our  #iLoveMG posts. If you are looking for younger readers, #3rdfor3rd features recommendations from when I taught third grade.

5 Books to Read This Summer

Recommended by Ezra

  • A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga A Rover’s Story is a realistic fiction book that takes place on Mars. It is told from the perspective of the fictional rover Resilience, who learns through the plot of the story. I would recommend it mainly for realistic fiction readers. 
  • The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill The Ogress and the Orphans is in the genre of fantasy. It has a very lyrical tone and is told from the perspective of the narrator. I would recommend it for people who enjoy reading fantasy and realistic fiction. 
  • Restart by Gordon Korman Restart is an amazing book told in multiple perspectives. It is about a boy who loses his memory to amnesia. But as he starts to gain his memories again, he realizes that he wants to change his personality. It is a great book for readers who like to read realistic fiction novels. 
  • Mixed Up by Gordon Korman is told in multiple perspectives and is one of my favorite books of all time. It is told in the perspectives of two ordinary people who don’t know each other. One day, though, they start losing their memories and gaining the other person’s. I would recommend it for realistic fiction readers. 
  • The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman is a great book told in multiple perspectives. One day in Oliver Zahn’s school, there is a new teacher. Quickly, though, the students start to realize that he knows—almost everything. How could that be? This is a great novel for people who like reading mysteries.

    Click here for all of our #BestBooks posts or click #iLoveMG for individual book recommendations. What is your favorite middle grade book for 5th graders?

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Coyote Sunrise Review

This is part of my continuing series, #iLoveMG , where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Recommended by Fiona



The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is a very eventful, and charming chapter book that involves accidental passengers. Animal and human. And warm friendships that last forever. But when they decide to head back to the town, a police car pulls them over and takes the dad to jail. Coyote has to get back to that town and quick! To save the memories of her mom and sister who are gone forever but still need to be remembered. Can she save those memories or do the memories slowly fade away?

Bonus: the sequel is now out - Coyote Lost and Found.   

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Saturday, May 10, 2025

My Side of the Mountain review

This is part of my continuing series, #iLoveMG , where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

My Side of the Mountain

Recommended by Fox



My Side of the Mountain is a very delightful, engaging story about a boy who runs away to the Catskills mountains and lives there and makes lots of animal friends and human friends. He survives the beautiful and treacherous winters of the catskills. This book will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions and you will get attached to the characters as they evolve. This is the best book I have ever read.

[Katie note: there are additional books in this series too!]    

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Saturday, May 3, 2025

The Ogress and the Orphans book review

"This part mystery, part heart-warming book is a great recommendation for a mystery or fantasy fan. "

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Ogress and the Orphans

Recommended by Ezra



The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill is a low-fantasy book which shows the importance of trust and distrust. It is about an ogress named, conveniently, the Ogress. She believes that the more you give, the more you have. The Ogress lives on the edge of a peaceful village – well, a village that used to be kind and good until the town’s library and school mysteriously burned down – called Stone-in-the-Glen. She is misunderstood, though. Instead of being thought of as kind, the townspeople think the Ogress is stealing children and wreaking havoc. 

This part mystery, part heart-warming book is a great recommendation for a mystery or fantasy fan. This book has great characters and a great storyline. Kelly Barnhill’s Ogress and the Orphans is an amazing read.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?