Mystery Books for 5th Graders

Mystery is not only licensed for adults, but even kids can enjoy the mystery during their holidays. A good mystery novel can really get the reader hooked to the story with the proper mix of suspense, thrills and puzzles in the story. If you are a parent of 5th grader, then here is a list of must-read and some of the best mystery books for your child. These books are carefully selected and highly recommended for the 5th graders that will keep them hooked up for a long time.

5th Grade Mystery Books


Artemis Fowl Book Series
8 Books

by Eoin Colfer
Age Range: 10 – 14 years
Grade Level: 5 – 9

4_5 stars

The Artemis Fowl Book Series, written by Irish author Eoin Colfer is a great treasure for all mystery lovers. The story revolves around the 12 year old Artemis Fowl, a criminal but child prodigy, who kidnaps a fairy in return for a huge ransom of gold. In the story, Artemis Fowl leads the Fowl Empire, an establishment started by his family for generations. After a lot of research about fairies, he comes to believe that fairies do exist and goes in search for the Fairy Holy Book, which would lead him to the fairies.

With this series book for 5th graders, one could understand that Greed is the main cause of destruction and fight between the good and evil. The book received a positive response, that it eventually won the The Young Readers Choice Award in 2004. Technology has also been in the most effective manner by Eoin Colfer. The Book series consists of 8 books.

Holes

by Louis Sachar
Age Range: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 and up

4_5 stars

“The Holes” is an exceptional mystery novel written by Louis Sachar about the life of Stanley Yelnats and his life in a detention camp. Stanley Yelnats and his family have been placed under a curse for generations and he was sent to detention camp in for a crime he didn’t commit. At the Camp Green Lake Detention center, all the boys were asked to go to a specific area and dig holes that are exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. No one knows why they were asked to dig that hole and what they were searching for, except for the fact that digging holes was meant to improve their character. The mystery revolves around how Stanley investigates the truth behind the act of digging holes in this humorous mystery novel.


From the Mixed-Up Files

by E L Konigsburg and Broekel
Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Grade Level: 4 – 7

4_5 stars

“From the Mixed-Up Files” from E.L. Konigsburg is a timeless classic piece of a tale that revolves around Claudia and her brother, who decides to run away from their home to teach a lesson to their parents. Claudia makes a clever plan to run away where no one could find them and along with her younger brother Jamie, decides to hide in a museum not knowing that a great surprise awaits them in there. They hide in the toilets till the museum closes and the adventure begins after. E.L.Konigsburg received the 1967 Newbery Medal for this thriller of a tale.

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin
Age Range: 8 and up
Grade Level: 5 – 7

4_5 stars

This fascinating mystery novel by Ellen Raskin about the bizarre events that happen to a group of sixteen people, when they decide to sit together to read the will of the game-loving and eccentric millionaire Samuel W. Westing. Everyone is confused, why the millionaire has chosen a stranger and person framed for murder as his successor to inherit his huge property. Even though Sam Westing may be dead, that doesn’t mean his love for playing bizarre games will end in this clever and funny mystery novel, which earned Ellen Raskin “The Newbery Medal” and “The Boston Globe/Horn Book Award”.


Nick and Tesla
Book Series

by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Grade Level: 4 – 7

4_5 stars

In this brilliant novel that is both coupled with both mystery and science is about the adventures of 11 year old siblings, Nick and Tesla. Both of them are fascinated with science and electronics that 5th grade students will highly benefit from learning about some basic science techniques and also will be involved in 5 science projects, for which instructions and blueprints are clearly provided.

Nick and Tesla are sent to live with Uncle Newt, when their parents go missing under mysterious circumstances. You will come across all sorts of electronic gadgets and items in this book, including burglar alarms, tracking devices and electromagnets.

The Sisters Grimm
Book Series

by Michael Buckley
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7

4_5 stars

Michael Buckley has been entertaining all mystery lovers since 2005 with his popular and bestselling mystery books for 5th graders. The Sisters Grimm Book Series is about the family of guardians for all the world famous fairy-tale characters. After their parents disappear, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are grown up in various foster homes and are treated in the worst possible manner.

When they finally go to live with their grandmother, who was supposedly known to be dead, little they know that their new town is home to many fantasy and fairy tale characters. The Sisters Grimm Book Series is all about mystery and fantasy and is a must read for all fantasy lovers.


Alex Rider Book Series

10 Books

by Anthony Horowitz
Age Range: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 – 8

4_5 stars

Alex Rider is a mystery thriller from Anthony Horowitz that revolves around a 14 year old boy Alex Rider. Known to be one of the best 5th grade mystery books of all times, all stories in the series mainly focus on the young adults. The series consists of 10 novels, 4 graphic novels, 3 short stories and a supplement. The first novel, Stormbreaker was so popular, that it was made into a movie starring Alex Pettyfer.

Throughout the Series, Anthony Horowitz takes you through an extreme adventure ride with Alex Rider that is filled with death defying stunts and high-speed bike chases.

The Hardy Boys
Starter Set

by Franklin W. Dixon
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7

4_5 stars

The Hardy Boys Frank and Joe Hardy are fictional characters and have appeared in a lot of mystery novels written by a lot of ghost writers over the years. The books were then published under the name Franklin W. Dixon and has remained a household name for years.

The Hardy Boys series are one of the best-selling mystery books for 5th graders and also has inspired game producers to create a lot of video games based on these 2 characters. Also around five television shows were made on The Hardy boys and merchandise that feature hardy boys were sold like hot cakes at that time.


Woof: A Bowser and Birdie Novel

by Spencer Quinn
Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7

4_5 stars

According to New York Times, the “Woof: Bowser and Birdie novel” by Spencer Quinn is one of the best-selling mystery novels and one of the best 5th grade mystery books ever. The story revolves around the handsome Bowser, a dog that has an amazing smelling power that it can sense people if they are lying based on the smell of their sweat.

Bowser and Birdie Gaux, the girl with whom Bowser lives, sniffs some problem brewing, when they find that when their granny’s prize gets stolen. The story gets very interesting when both starts digging into the mystery, not knowing what waits at the other end.

The Secret Series
5 Book Series

by Pseudonymous Bosch
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7

4_5 stars

The Secret Series is another mystery book series that every 5th grader should not miss out. The series revolves around the themed adventures involving Cass, Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji. The three of them gets involved with a secret society called as the Terces Society that is known to hide a secret from being found out by the Midnight Sun Society.

Also, one more interesting aspect of the book series revolves around the senses sight, sound, taste, scent and touch. Anyone reading these beautifully woven mystery series to be surprised with the twists and turns and finally will be amazed, when they come to know about the Big Secret hidden inside this mystery series.