Peponi House Year 5 Recommended Reading List A curated selection of books for Year 5 pupils (age 9–10),
supporting the British National Curriculum and a love of reading for pleasure.
Fantasy & Adventure Epic quests, magical worlds, and unforgettable creatures await.
Fantasy & Adventure Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
A.F. Steadman · 400 pages of epic adventure in a magical world of unicorns. On permanent loan from every school library.
Glassborn
Peter Bunzl · 1 When the clock strikes 13, Acton is trapped in fairyland by an evil queen. Can his siblings save him? Brilliantly written.
Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain
Jess French · 2 Kayla quests to rescue her stolen winged pangron in a world of incredible creatures. Magic, fantasy and fast-paced adventure.
Dragon Rider
Cornelia Funke ·3 A silver dragon, a brownie and a boy search for the mythical Rim of Heaven. An epic quest of friendship and loyalty.
Magic, Myth & Fairy Tale Who Let the Gods Out? Maz Evans · 1 A boy and a shooting-star deity must call on the Greek gods to save the world. Anarchic, laugh-out-loud funny.
Aya and the Star Chaser Radiya Hafiza · 2
Aya develops awesome powers after being struck by a star — but can she control them? Steeped in Bengali mythology.
Clockwork Philip Pullman ·3 A spellbinding fairy tale set in a German town where a story gradually becomes real. Rich figurative language — perfect for creative writing.
Wolf Brother Michelle Paver ·4 12-year-old Torak must journey to the mountain of Wolf Spirit to save the world from a demon. Ideal for greater depth readers. Parental note: Contains dark themes including demonic possession and death. Recommended for confident readers aged 10+.
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Mystery & Thriller Puzzles, secrets, and page-turning suspense for curious minds.
Mystery & Adventure Malamande r
Thomas Taylor ·1 Violet and Herbie search for her longlost parents — and become entangled with the Malamander monster of Eerie-on-Sea. First in a series.
The Violet Veil Mysteries
Sophie Cleverly · 2 When Violet's father is arrested, she's thrust into a world of intrigue and ghostly goings-on. Fast-paced with a strong female lead.
The Treasure Hunters
Lisa Thompson · 3 Shy Vincent and a classmate hunt for pirate treasure before dark forces get there first. Themes of empathy and adventure.
Emil and the Detectives
Erich Kästner · 4
Emil's money is stolen on a train to Berlin — and he must track down the thief. A classic of 20thcentury children's literature.
Thriller & Suspense Ajay and the Mumbai Sun
The Thief of Farrowfell
The Island at the Edge of Night
Varsha Shah · 1 Ajay's school newspaper stumbles upon a web of corruption by powerful people. Rich cultural detail and compelling storytelling.
Ravena Guron ·
Lucy Strange ·
Jude steals a rare piece of magic — unaware it's guarded by a powerful curse. Fastpaced crime and fantasy adventure.
Faye unravels secrets at a remote boarding school on a desolate Scottish island. Gothic, dark and twisty. Parental note: Gothic and dark in tone; best suited to confident readers.
2
3
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The Wall Between Us
Dan Smith · 4 Anja and Monika experience the division of the Berlin Wall first-hand. A gripping Cold War thriller for advanced readers. Parental note: Deals with Cold War political themes and danger; recommended for advanced readers.
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Historical Fiction & Real World Stories rooted in real times, real places, and real courage.
Historical Fiction The Wolf Wilder Katherine Rundell · 1 In revolutionera Russia, Feodora and her mother tame wolves — until the Red Army closes in. Sparkling prose and rich figurative language.
Peter in Peril
Helen Bate · 2 Peter's family go into hiding in WW2 Hungary. An accessible graphic novel ideal for reluctant readers.
The Breadwinne r Deborah Ellis · 3
11-year-old Parvana becomes her family's breadwinner in Talibanruled Afghanistan. A masterpiece of empathy. Parental note: Contains themes of poverty, gender oppression and life under the Taliban. Best suited to age 10+ or with parental guidance.
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Kenzuke's Kingdom Michael Morpurgo · 4 Michael and his dog are swept overboard and land on a remote Pacific island, where they encounter a Japanese soldier living there since WWII. A powerful story of friendship, survival and letting go.
Diverse Stories & Real Lives Coming to England Floella
Benjamin ·
1
A young girl's inspiring
Windrush
journey from Trinidad to England in
1960. Powerful and
empathetic.
Tyger S.F. Said · 2 Adam finds a mysterious Tyger in a
Jummy at the River School Sabine
Adeyinka ·
3
rubbish dump
Jummy starts
save the world.
boarding
illustrated and
Nigeria — but
— and must
Impressively award-
winning.
an elite
school in
her best friend arrives as a
servant. Vivid
and fast-paced.
Boy in the Tower Polly Ho-Yen · 4 A boy watches
his tower block crumble as menacing
plants take
over the world. Multi-awardwinning
dystopian fiction.
Classics, Humour & Sci-Fi Timeless tales, big laughs, and bold visions of the future.
Classics & Humour Danny the Champion of the World Roald Dahl ·
1
Danny and his father live in a
caravan — and share a
dangerous sideline in poaching
pheasants.
Gripping and warm.
Heidi Johanna Spyri ·
Artemis Fowl
2
Eoin Colfer · 3
An orphan is
12-year-old
when she must
mastermind
heartbroken leave her
grandfather's mountain
home for the
city. A timeless classic.
criminal
Artemis Fowl sets out to
track down
fairies. A more advanced read
for Year 5 book clubs.
Beetle Boy M.G. Leonard · 4 When Darkus's
dad vanishes, a super-
intelligent
talking beetle comes to the rescue.
Anarchic,
funny — with a hint of Roald Dahl.
Science Fiction & Dystopia After Pádraig Kenny · 1 In a post-apocalyptic
Black Hole Cinema Club Christopher Edge · 2
world after The Flood,
Lucas and friends are
journey across a
themed adventure
Jen and her AI father desolate landscape.
Thought-provoking and gripping.
Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial Kieran Larwood · 3
swept into a movie-
Kit the gnorf
facing prehistoric
puzzles and monsters
monsters and lost cities.
Unputdownable.
navigates mazes, in the Dungeon
Running League.
Irresistible for less confident readers.
Celebrating African Literature Stories rooted in African voices, cultures and experiences.
Celebrating African Literature Warrior Boy Virginia Clay · 1
A London schoolboy travels to Kenya to discover his Maasai roots in this thrilling story of identity and belonging.
Yomi and the Power of the Yumboes Davina Tijani · 3
Yomi and her brother battle moon-magic fairy creatures in Senegal in this fastpaced adventure woven with African mythology.
Children of the Benin Kingdom
The Mzungu Boy
Ikenga
Dinah Orji · 2
Meja Mwangi ·
Ada ventures into the forest to uncover her heritage in this gripping historical adventure rooted in West African history.
In colonial Kenya, young Kariuki must summon the courage to save his English friend lost in the forest.
After his father's murder, 12year-old Nnamdi gains superpowers and sets out to bring justice to his Nigerian town.
4
⚠️note:Parental Contains themes of colonial tension and the Mau Mau uprising. Best suited to confident readers aged 10+.
Nnedi Okorafor · 5
⚠️note:Parental Deals
with themes of murder and corruption. Recommende d for confident readers aged 10+.