15 Magical Fantasy Books for 5th Graders in 2019

It’s no mystery why kids love fantasy novels. They’re fun, exciting, adventurous, and offer a complete escape from reality. I’ve put together this reading list of fantasy books for 5th graders that were published in 2019. Many of these books offer advanced readers the opportunity to tackle something longer and more complex while staying age-appropriate. A few of these books work the other way, where kids who may be struggling to finish a long fantasy novel will enjoy reading something shorter.

Since fantasy novels are so popular with kids this age, I collected some of the books my kids and I have enjoyed this year and put them on this list. Whether your kid likes magical realism, epic fantasy, or hi-lo stories (high-interest, low difficulty), they’ll find something to obsess over. While I’ve specifically tagged this list as fantasy books for 5th graders, they would also work for kids anywhere in the 9-12 age range.

If you’re looking for a fun stocking stuffer, Christmas present, or holiday gift for your child, stock up on these fantastic fantasy books and series! Most of them belong to a series or are the start of a series, so your child can get lost in another world for days on end.

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Related post: Fantastic Fantasy Books for Kids Ages 9-12

Fantasy Books for 5th Graders

Master of the Phantom Isle (Dragonwatch #3) by Brandon Mull

This follow-up series to Fablehaven is everything a fantasy nerd could hope for. It’s full of twists and turns, magic, and adventure. If your kid likes modern fantasy stories, don’t miss out on this series! In this book, Seth has gone missing and Kendra must try to save a recently fallen dragon sanctuary. Of course, readers will get the most enjoyment out of this series if they’ve read Fablehaven first, but you could probably get away with just reading this one, although I don’t know why you’d want to miss out on the first series. It’s fantastic. I highly recommend both the Fablehaven and Dragonwatch series to 5th graders that love fantasy books!

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The Root of Magic by Kathleen Benner Duble

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This is one of the most fascinating fantasy books for 5th graders I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. It’s a slim book, but sometimes short books are the most memorable ones. After getting stranded in a snowstorm, Willow and her family find themselves in a charming town filled with lovely people. At least, that is how it appears. But Willow starts to notice strange things about the people who live in the town. And there’s a weird building that nobody goes into except in the middle of the night. And nobody ever seems surprised by anything. When Willow’s mother falls under the spell of this odd town, Willow must face her fears for the sake of her family. Slightly spooky, this modern fantasy novel is perfect for kids that like magical realism.

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Apprentice Needed (Wizard for Hire #2) by Obert Skye

5th graders who need advanced books that are still age-appropriate will adore this series. Ozzy is left alone to fend for himself in a small cabin in the woods after his parents are kidnapped. Now in the second installment, Ozzy finds himself falling into a trance and behaving as if someone else is controlling his mind. A trip to New York City, a close call (make that several) with some bad guys and the reappearance of a would-be wizard makes this sequel a fantastic read! Humor, adventure, and magic—this series has it all. Make sure you start with the first book, Wizard for Hire.

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Mightier Than the Sword: The Edge of the Word by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison, illustrated by Ryan Andrews and You!

When it comes to fantasy books for kids, this series is one of the most imaginative I’ve seen. It’s unique in the way it includes the reader in the story. Dive back into the world of Astorya where everything you (the reader) write or draw comes to life. This is a hilarious and fun-filled romp through a fantasy world of adventure. It’s up to the reader to save the day using nothing but their brains and a pencil. With puzzles, disguises, and sketching and writing prompts along the way, your kid will have a blast working their way through this book. Grab a copy of the first book while you’re at it.

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Malamander (The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea) by Thomas Taylor, illustrated by Tom Booth

If your kid likes their fantasy books on the weird side, they’ll gobble this one up. It’s a quirky, light-hearted fantasy book about a girl, a hotel owner, and the townspeople — all hunting for a sea monster with a magic egg. The pages are loaded with mystery, magic, and adventure. With plenty of black and white illustrations throughout the book to keep readers engaged visually, kids will have a hard time setting this one down.

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The Fire Keeper (The Storm Runner #2) by J.C. Cervantes

I can’t get enough of this series! This is the second book in The Storm Runner series and is chock full of adventure, magic, legend, and mythology. If your 5th grader loves Percy Jackson or any of Rick Riordan’s books, this series is a must-read. It’s about a boy, ancient Mayan gods, and a whole lotta saving the world. This is a good series for kids that like reading longer books but don’t want to deal with any objectionable content.

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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Pause for a second to appreciate that insanely gorgeous cover. Okay, now we can move on and talk about the actual book. African American folk heroes, African gods, and a young boy who accidentally punches a hole to another dimension. I don’t know about you, but I’m 100% excited about this book. I bought a signed copy to give my kids for Christmas and I can’t wait for them to read it.

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A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity by Nicole Valentine

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Finn believes everything can be explained by science. But when his mom goes missing with no explanation, his grandma spills the beans. The women in their family are time travelers and Finn’s mom is trapped somewhere in the timeline. With a little help from his best friend and a quirky aunt, Finn must embrace magic and all the possibilities that come with it to save his mom. Kids that like the complexities of time travel, magical realism, and adventure will enjoy reading this story.

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The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle

Arranmore Island needs a new caretaker. Fionn’s grandfather is getting too old to handle it by himself and needs to pass the responsibilities off to someone else. But being the caretaker of the island means wielding its power and keeping its secrets. As Fionn competes against the other would-be caretakers, they discover ancient magic beginning to stir. This fast-paced fantasy adventure is perfect for 5th graders who love competition, magic, and mysterious islands.

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The Story Web by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Book lovers of all ages will appreciate this story of a girl who must tell honest stories to save the world from doom. A delicate spider’s web in the forest is made up of the stories that hold the world together. When animals in her town start acting weird, Alice knows the story web is in danger. It is up to her to tell it stories that will weave it back together and keep the world from falling apart.

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The Little Grey Girl (The Wild Magic #2) by Celine Kiernan

A kingdom recovering from an evil witch’s rule, magical snow, a ghost, and a girl trying to hold her family together. This is the second book in The Wild Magic series and kids that enjoyed the first one will love continuing the adventure with Mup and her family. They move into the castle vacated by the witch, but a ghost keeps haunting them with victims from the past. Mup and her family will have to figure out how to deal with the ghost and earn the trust of the kingdom.

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Aru Shah and the Song of Death (Padava #2) by Roshani Chokshi

If you missed out on the first book in this series, it’s not too late to catch up. I’ve enjoyed this series so far and so has my 11-year-old daughter. A character from an ancient Hindu legend is reincarnated as Aru Shah, a young girl who now has the responsibility to save the world from the wrath of the gods. In this installment, the god of love’s bow and arrow has gone missing and Aru has been framed for the theft. Once again, she teams up with a group of friends to recover the bow and arrow.

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Serafina and the Seven Stars by Robert Beatty

I love the Serafina series and it’s a favorite of 5th-grade readers everywhere. This spooky fantasy series is full of twists and turns, adventure, and magic. In the fourth book of the series, Braeden is far away at boarding school and Serafina finds herself alone and anxious. When dark forces turn up at the Vanderbilt mansion again, they are truly terrifying. Not a corner of the house is safe. It will take all of Serafina’s courage, wit, and strength to overcome this new danger that threatens the home she loves.

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The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate

This is the fifth book in the wildly popular Last Kids on Earth series. I don’t know if it’s the final book, but I certainly hope not! This series is insanely fun, highly illustrated, and jam-packed with action. If you’re looking for fantasy books for upper elementary students or middle school kids, this series is a slam-dunk. It’s thrilling, chilling, and hilarious. Plus, it has illustrations on every page, making it the perfect hi-lo book for reluctant readers. As a double bonus, this series is now a Netflix show—giving kids one more way to connect with the world and characters.

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Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion by Steven Bohls

This is the second book in the Jed and the Junkyard War series. In this installment, Jed is digging deeper into his family’s history. He has big questions about who he is and where he came from. Jump back into this delightful adventure with Jed. If your child hasn’t started this series yet, then make sure to grab the first book in the series as well!

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