Entering Grade 5
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Historical Fiction

Al Capone series by Gennifer Choldenko
Book 1: Al Capone Does My Shirts
When his father gets a job working at Alcatraz (a prison for the worst of the worst), twelve-year-old Moose is surprised and worried to learn that he and his family will live on the island along with criminals like Al Capone.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
As Hitler's invasion of Britain in WW II becomes more certain, codebreakers in England's top secret Bletchley park race to deciper German secret messages. Jakob and his younger sister Lizzie are caught up in this effort, but Lizzie is also intent on finding out what happened to their mother who went missing in Poland. Could their mother be a spy? And for which side? 
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
After Ellie's family loses everything in the Great Depression, they move to a primitive cabin in the woods. When Ellie is blamed for an accident that leaves her father in a coma, she seeks solace in her beloved forest, but  encounters a mysterious woman the locals call "the hag."  Can this woman save her father?
Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
(sequel: Max in the Land of Lies)
As Germany in the 1930's becomes increasingly unsafe for Jews, Max's parents send him back to their home country of England. As Max travels, he finds two creatures out of legend, a dybukk and a kobold, Determined to find his way back to his parents, Max decides to get back to Berlin any way he can, even if it means becoming a spy for the British government.
A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurgo
Michael learns about his British Army soldier grandfather, a World War I officer who risked his life to save wounded men but never received special commendations because of his race.
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series by Nathan Hale
Book 1: One Dead Spy
(also by this author: One Trick Pony)
The author begins his series retelling the roughest, toughest, craziest stories from history with this tale of his namesake, Nathan Hale, America’s first spy. ​(graphic novel)
Pony by R.J. Palacio (and other books by this author)
In 1860 Ohio, young Silas is woken up by three men kidnapping his father, who they think is a counterfeiter. Silas vows to track down his father with the help of a ghost that only he can hear, a mysterious pony with a white face, and a cantankerous U. S. Marshall.
Red Scare by Liam Francis Walsh
It's 1953 and everyone in the U.S. seems to be afraid of communist spies lurking around every corner. In addition to this worry, Peggy is recovering from a disease called polio and the fact that she now needs crutches to walk makes her a target for bullies. When she comes across an artifact that allows her to fly, instead of a solution to her troubles, she now has FBI agents and very odd spies chasing her. (graphic novel)
Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel by Jennifer Holm
Cynical Turtle and her cat are on their way to Key West, Florida in 1935. Jobs and money are scarce and her mom has sent Turtle to live with relatives. Turtle is tough and doesn't anticipate things will go well, especially when she realizes no one knew she was coming. But some ragtag boy cousins, pirate treasure, some family secrets and the odd scorpion add up to a better time than she anticipated. (graphic novel)
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
(sequel: The War I Finally Won)
When her brother is evacuated from London during wartime, Ada determines to follow him, even though her abusive mother has never allowed her out of their apartment.
We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly (and other books by this author)
In 1986, just before a launch of the space shuttle Challenger, siblings Cash, Fitch and Bird have very different concerns, from worrying about failing seventh grade (Cash), dealing with an explosive temper (Fitch), and feeling invisible (Bird).  About the only thing they have in common is an enthusiastic science teacher who splits her students up into "spacecraft crews" to prepare for the launch of a space mission.
While I Was Away by Waka T. Brown
Waka's parents decide that her Japanese language skills need a boost and send her to Japan to stay with her strict grandmother. Waka misses Kansas, where she was considered a brain. Here in Japan, her clumsiness with the language and customs brand her a dumb jock. How can she deal with this new identity, a confusing culture and a stern and serious grandmother?
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