5 grade mystery books: 9 Kid-Recommended Mysteries for 4th and 5th Graders

12 Best Mystery Books for Fifth Graders

 12 captivating mystery books for fifth graders 

Many students are drawn to the mystery genre since it allows them to learn from the protagonist who is learning about themselves and their world. Not only that, but the mystery genre inspires readers to piece together new information and solve problems by predicting what will happen next.

Fifth-grade students who enjoy mysteries will love these engaging and gripping novels. These books feature interesting settings, complex plots and diverse characters who carry out important actions that drive the story forward. Some of these books also offer a deeper theme or moral lesson, making them more than just entertaining reads for the fourth and fifth grade.

Fifth-grade readers will be immersed in the mystery of these stories. They will be captivated by the character’s adventures and compelled by each unique change in the plot. More importantly, their vocabulary and problem-solving skills will improve. Each novel includes a fresh twist on the classic mystery genre that keeps readers guessing until the surprising climax. Here are 12 of the best mystery books that will have fifth-graders hooked!

1. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

When it comes to mystery books, stories with a puzzle always top the list. The Parker Inheritance starts off with Candance, getting her hands on a letter in an old attic in South Carolina which begins her journey to piece together a very important puzzle. She finds out that the letter is addressed to her grandmother who suspiciously left town. Not only will she discover pieces of her own family’s past, and the dark history of her town, but there is also a fortune awaiting the person who solves the puzzle. 

Together with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy that lives across the street, Candance begins to unravel the mystery which leads her into deep secrets of lost love, forgotten heroes, and family secrets.

Will they be able to find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise?

2. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

Four fifth-grade students are carrying a deep secret – the homework machine. The homework machine is a computer programmed to complete their homework assignments but things take an unexpected turn. 

Before long, the homework machine becomes more powerful than ever before and their own creation begins to spin out of their control. Now this group of four are in a battle with Belch – the machine they created, and the consequences could be dreadful! At first, they were bound together, but now they face disaster as they race against time to stop Belch. They may wound up in jail or even worse.

Who will win? 

3. A Properly Unhaunted Place by Will Alexander 

When it comes to mystery books, haunted stories naturally follow suit. A Properly Unhaunted Place is a remarkable tale of Rosa Ramona Diaz, who specializes in ghost appeasement with her mother, except she moves to Ingot, a place without any ghosts. Instead of being excited about being in a new place, Rosa is not amused by Ingot, where the town’s only claim to fame is an inaccurate Renaissance Festival. She still doesn’t know why her mother wanted to move to the world’s most un-haunted town.

The other character, Jasper, has always lived in Ingot with his parents, both of which play characters at the Renaissance Festival. However, the place does not remain un-haunted for long. An apparition haunts the fairgrounds and soon ghosts and angry spirits will terrorize the town of Ingot. Now Rosa is delighted. She can finally use her skills to search for the ghost and put it to rest. Jasper and Rosa team up and now have to try to restore peace by appeasing the angry spirits of Ingot. This spooky adventure is hilarious and a fun spin on a traditional mystery story.

Readers will be entertained by Rosa and Jasper’s unlikely friendship and will be wanting to know what happens next.

4. Spy Force Mission: In Search of Space and Time Machine by Deborah Abela

Thrillers and science fiction are some of the most loved mystery novels. In Spy Force Mission, fifth-grade students will stumble on a perfect blend of mystery, thriller, and science fiction. 

An 11-year-old who is troubled by her boredom decides to fantasize about living the life of a spy. Max wants the interesting life of Alex Crane, a super spy. Max lives with her mother who works all day, but when her mother becomes too busy and sends her off to her aunt’s farm for the entire summer, Max is shocked. She thinks her life is so dull until she stumbles upon something fascinating – a spy ring. Now it’s as if her spy mission stories have suddenly manifested in reality. When she outsmarts the evil Mr. Blue, Max knows she’s up for even more tasks. An ultimate thriller for middle school students, Spy Force Mission will have them on the edge of their seats as they follow the main character through her adventures of being a member of the Spy Force.

5. The Greenglass House by Kate Milford

The Greenglass House by Kate is a captivating mystery for young readers. The award-winning book takes place in the tradition of the Mysterious Benedict Society books and is perfect for fifth graders who are fans of mysteries like The Westing Game. Another remarkable story, The Greenglass House is narrated through the perspective of a ten-year-old boy, Milo, who helps run the family’s inn. 

The tale takes an interesting twist when the family is on vacation but strange guests start to pour into the house with bizarre secrets connected to the old inn. Milo, together, with the cook’s daughter, Meddy, set out on a journey to solve this mystery about the guest’s strange connection to Greenglass House. They must uncover clues and discover the truth about this secret inn, ultimately discovering even more about themselves in the process.

6. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Newbery Award-winning murder story, The Westing Game is a spine-chilling murder and thriller that offers an exciting reading experience. The plot of the book revolves around a bunch of different characters who come together to solve the murder of Sam Westing. Sam Westing, the eccentric millionaire decides that he is going to have everyone he knew play one final game. Even though he may be dead, that won’t stop him from challenging his peers who are reading his will. Unfortunately, they may even be dealing with a murder!

An award of a million dollars is promised to anyone who manages to solve this murder mystery and unravel the puzzle. So, who is the murderer, and will Sam Westing’s peers be able to solve the case in time to win the million-dollar reward?

7.  Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen

When it comes to a mystery book list for middle-grade students, no list is ever complete without a detective novel. Sammy Keyes is a lovable, teenage detective who is usually caught up in interesting adventures and mysteries that are thoroughly enjoyable and a delight to read.

Sammy Keyes witnesses a burglary and recognizes the thief. What she should have done was call the police, but instead, she decides she knows just exactly how to solve this mystery. Officer Borsch doesn’t believe her, casting her aside as a snot-nosed kid. Sammy Keyes is not a clueless seventh-grader anymore. She’s older and wiser and will prove exactly what she saw no matter what.

The fast-paced Sammy Keyes stories together along with their gripping plots will again have readers on the edge of their seats, sometimes overjoyed and at other times, fully anxious about what will happen next. This modern whodunit type book is exciting and perfect for any fifth-grader who will enjoy a new mystery. They will be entertained by Sammy’s personal life and all of the drama, including her love interest Casey and the twists and turns of being a detective.

8. If you Find This by Matthew Baker

The plot of this book revolves around Nicholas who happens to be a math and music genius and hence has the best of both worlds. However, Nicholas is caught in a dilemma when his father loses his job and has to sell the house which happens to have the only lasting memories of his younger brother.

Just in the nick of time, Nicholas’s grandfather arrives who has hidden priceless treasure somewhere in the town. Will Nicholas manage to find the treasure that is needed to save his house?

Nicholas is on a quest to prove his grandfather’s treasure is real and to find where it is hidden. A tale of unexpected bravery, If You Find This, is perfect for fans of The Goonies and Holes! 

9.  Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens

Two best friends, Daisy and Hazel, have a strong penchant for solving mysteries and have a secret detective agency. However, the only problem is that they have nothing to investigate until one day, Hazel discovers the body of her science teacher, Ms. Bell who suddenly disappears. They are certain it is a murder, and they have more than one suspect.

Determined to solve this murder mystery, find the body and stop the killer, Hazel and Daisy set out on their journey. But will they be able to get to the bottom of this? Will they still remain friends?

10. The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan

This is one of the best mystery books. Sherlock Holmes has stood the test of time and remains to date, one of the best mystery and thrillers to ever have existed. This book covers the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his side-kick, Dr. Watson as they explore cases and make enlightening deductions.

This book is a collection of eight mystery stories that include some of the best and most thought-provoking tales from Arthur Conan. Fifth graders will fall in love with the classic detective and put on their own investigative lenses to solve these timeless mysteries.

11. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet 

Strange events bring Petra and Calder together, and then the invaluable painting of Vermeer disappears. Before long, the pair find themselves at the very center of an international art scandal where everyone is a suspect.

Petra and Calder are now drawn into the mystery of finding Vermeer. Will they be able to use their problem-solving skills, intuition, and knowledge to get their hands on the painting? They will have to and even try to decipher a crime that has eluded the FBI. Follow them through their journey of uncovering why the Vermeer painting has disappeared.

Chasing Vermeer is a puzzle within a mystery, a truly bewitching tale. The story will draw readers in and motivate them to search for clues.

12. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

The incorrigible children of Ashton Place are no ordinary children but lucky for Miss Penelope, she is no ordinary governess either. Being a graduate of Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, she must rise to the occasion and instruct the children on Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, but first, she must teach them to let go of their canine instincts. 

But Ashton place is rife with mysteries for Miss Penelope to solve! Who are these wild creatures and how did they end up here? Will Penelope be able to tame these children that have proven to be beasts of nature?

This post was written by Joelle Shusterman, the Marketing Intern at BookPal. She is currently reading Criers War by Nina Varela.

10 of the Best Mystery Books for 5th Graders! (I promise!)

Keep reading for 10 awesome mystery books for 5th graders!

If you were a book worm as a child, you can probably remember the first book that you just HAD to get to the end so you could find out what happened. For me it was the Babysitter’s Club Mystery books. Child of the ’80s/’90s here. Yes, The Babysitter’s Club has spin-off book series like the Mystery, Special, and Little Sister series. Just an FYI.

In my opinion mystery books are a great way to help reluctant readers because they keep kids engaged in the story as well on the page because they want to find out what happens next!

Mystery is a “genre of literature whose stories focus on a puzzling crime, situation, or circumstance that needs to be solved.” This list of page-turning mystery books for 5th graders (10-11 year olds) has 10 titles that will keep kids asking for “one more chapter!”

Need books for other ages?

• CLICK HERE FOR MYSTERY BOOKS FOR 4TH GRADE
• CLICK HERE FOR MYSTERY BOOKS FOR 6TH GRADE

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Descriptions come from Amazon; some are edited for length

Mystery books for 5th grade

The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

“Discovered in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. A recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies. But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to civilize the Incorrigibles in time for Lady Constance’s holiday ball?”

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

“When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere. To a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. And so, after some careful planning, she and her younger brother, Jamie, escaped right into a mystery that made headlines!”

Holes by Louis Sachar

“Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.”

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

“When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra and Calder together, strange things start to happen. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion. As Petra and Calder are drawn clue by clue into a mysterious labyrinth, they must draw on their powers of intuition, their problem solving skills, and their knowledge of Vermeer. Can they decipher a crime that has stumped even the FBI?”

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

“In the town of Spring Haven, four children have been selected to compete in the national candymaking contest of a lifetime. Who will make a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Yellow Lightning Chew? This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant’s perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.”

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

“The first day Georges (the S is silent) moves into a new Brooklyn apartment, he sees a sign taped to a door in the basement: SPY CLUB MEETING—TODAY! That’s how he meets his twelve-year-old neigh­bor Safer. He and Georges quickly become allies and fellow spies. Their assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer’s requests become more and more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend?”

London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

“Ted and Kat watched their cousin Salim board the London Eye, but after half an hour it landed and everyone trooped off—except Salim. Where could he have gone? How on earth could he have disappeared into thin air? Ted and his older sister, Kat, become sleuthing partners, since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain works in its own very unique way, to find the key to the mystery.”

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

“In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom. But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much (maybe too much) he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.”

The Name of this Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

“Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he’d love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn’t want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn’t want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.”

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen

“Sammy Keyes must be a magnet for trouble. I mean it’s bad enough that she has to live illegally in a seniors-only building with her grandmother while her mother tries to make it as a move star. And worse that she witnessed a burglary in progress, and that the thief saw her. And worse still that nosy neighbor Mrs. Graybill is onto her, and that the thief is after her. But on top of all that, she also manages to make an enemy of the queen of mean at her new school and get suspended on the first day.”

I love making book lists and helping parents pick out books for their kids. I hope you found this list helpful. Click below for even more book recommendations. Happy reading!

Riddles for grade 5 with answers

Riddles for grade 5 with answers teach children to think outside the box and are a kind of training for the mind. The secret of the positive influence of riddles on children’s development lies in the fact that they make the child think and think logically in an easy way. In addition, when a child himself finds the answer to a tricky puzzle, his confidence in his own strengths and capabilities increases. Do not underestimate the entertaining side of interesting puzzles. Children’s contests or quizzes rarely do without them.

On this page you will find the best and most interesting riddles for grade 5. An online selection of riddles of different themes will help teach a child to think creatively and figuratively. They are easy to remember and will help the child expand their knowledge of the world. And to complicate the task for the fifth grader, ask him to come up with a riddle himself. This will be an excellent activity for the development of fantasy and imagination.

He waved his hand, bent the tree.

Wind

I silently look at you all.
You are all looking at me.
With merry ones – I see laughter,
With sad ones – I also cry.
You see the truth while
I am at home, on your wall.
The old man will see – the old man,
The child – the child in me.

Mirror

Lies on the ground: neither paint over, nor scrape off, nor fill up.

Shadow

Everyone is trampling on me, but I am getting better.

Path

Flashes, blinks,
Shoots curved arrows.

Lightning

It is only given to you,
And people use it.

Name

90 apples grew on a birch. A strong wind blew and 10 apples fell. How much is left?

Apples do not grow on a birch

She dresses the whole world.
She herself does not know clothes.

Needle

Run, run – do not run,
Fly, fly – do not reach.

Horizon

Not alive, but speaks all languages.

Echo

No arms, no legs,
But he can draw.

Frost

Chews painfully, chews finely, but does not swallow.

Saw

Does not burn in fire,
Does not sink in water.

Ice

Sauna in the belly,
A sieve in the nose,
A button on the head,
One hand,
Yes, and that one is on the back.

Teapot

What does half an orange look like?

On the other half of the orange

Sleeps in summer,
Burns in winter,
Opens mouth,
Swallows whatever is given.

Stove

Was white and gray,
Green, young came.

Winter and spring

What’s always going on,
But won’t you get away?

Watches

Both in the taiga and in the ocean
He will find any way,
Fits in a pocket,
And leads us along.

Compass

What do they drop when they need it and pick it up when they don’t?

Sea anchor

What you love, you can’t buy, and what you don’t like, you can’t sell.

Youth and old age

The most affordable transport for us, in which the rider’s legs serve as a motor.

Bicycle

A red girl walks in the sky

The sun

Not the clock, but the time tells.

Rooster

What stones are not in the sea?

Dry

Why do birds fly?

By air

Return to the section Riddles for children.

Riddles for the 5th grade with answers