My grandson's teacher has $180.00 to spend for her classroom. She asked me if I would use the money to buy PBS books. Amazing!

I have my own idea of what books to get. I'm curious what books you are reading in your fifth grade class. This is an advanced class.

What classroom books are you having your kids read this year?

That is a wonderful idea from the teacher, lucky you! First, you should find out from the teacher if there are some books that the 6th grade teachers require for their students to read. You wouldn't want to get them books that they will say to their 6th grade teachers next  year, " I already read that book(s)."

Some suggestions I have are:

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster,

Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

The Mystery of Rascal Pratt by Robbie Scott and Gary Cianciarulo

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

The Canning Season by Polly Horvath

What Would Joey Do? by Jack Gantos

The Pepins and Their Problems by Polly Horvath

Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case by Donald J. Sobol

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

The View From Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg

The Phantom Tollbooth is one that I would just love them to read. This is my all time favorite children's book. I read this when I was in school.

Circumference would be good. I have that on my wish list for my grandson.

Number the stars is a book I would like to read myself.

Island of the Blue Dolphins looks really good.

The others I'm not familiar with, but look good as well!

Thanks so much for posting! I really appreciate it!

Do check with the 6th grade teachers because I know Number the Stars is included in at least one 6th grade reading series.  They only use part of the story though, so it might not be a problem.  Do pick up a copy for yourself though because it is an outstanding book.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.  YES, YES, YES!  Next to Harriet the Spy, this was probably my favorite book as a child and I've yet to run across a student who didn't love it. 

You can't go wrong with anything on Connie's list. You might also consider a few of the following:

London Calling by Edward Bloor  (This is a personal favorite and every 5th and 6th grader I've loaned it to has loved it.)

almost anything written by Margaret Peterson Haddix (she does have a few little kid's books, but most are in the rage you are looking for) and Sharon Creech

Out of the Dust and Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse

The House of the Scorpion and A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

Holes by Louis Sachar

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi