ELEM:HIT:High Interest Easy Reading

["Randolph - Barbara D." <barbrand@umd5.umd.edu>]

My original request was for historical and realistic fiction for 5th grade
students written on a 3rd or 4th grade reading level.  The following  is a
compilation of the replies.  Thanks to all who sent suggestions!

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff.  It shows a stateside view of
World War II, taking place in Rockaway, New Jersey near the end of the
war.  It's an excellent read, and is written at a 3rd or 4th grade level.
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Weasel by DeFelice
Borning Room by Fleischman
Sarah Plain and Tall by Maclachan
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I found some good bibliographies on both genres with a metacrawler search.
One I remember in particular was sponsored by the Seattle Public Library.
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There are two sets of easy reading historical fiction.  One is by Kay
Kudlinski.  The other is by Hoobler.
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You might find some good ideas at:

http://www.wcsu.k12.vt.us/~wardsboro/list14.htm#Histhigh
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The one title that comes to mind immediately is Guns for General
Washington (I believe the author is Reit).
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The Ellen Conford books about Jenny Archer are fun. Osmond Molarsky has
good realistic fiction for those grade levels.  S. Krensky's The Iron
Dragon Never Sleeps is about the Chinese who built the trans-continental
railroad.
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Dalgleish is historical fiction our 3rd
graders read.
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Books for fifth grade interest at 3-4 level.
*Especially popular are starred.
Oneal.  Long Way to Go: A Story of Women's Right to Vote.  RL 4.
Historical Fic.
Gross.  Day it Rained Forever: The Story of the Johnstown Flood.  RL 3.
Hist.Fic.
MacLachlan.  Sarah Plain and Tall.  RL 4. Hist.Fic. Pioneers.
*American Girls Collection by Tripp, Shaw, Adler and Porter.  RL 4.  Hist.
Fic.
Woodruff.  Dear Levi: Letters from the Overland Trail. RL 4. Hist. Fic.
*McSwigan.  Snow Treasure.  RL 4.  Hist.Fic.  World War II.
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The American Girls Series.
Mary Z. Holmes has a series called "History's Children" published by
Raintree Steck-Vaughn.
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The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
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I just took a Children's Literature class last Spring and had to read over
100 books.  Then, I decided to specialize my final project on historical
fiction Now, I have begun the MLS program at Syracuse University, so I'm
no authority figure at all.  I subscribe to this excellent listserv mainly
for the information and fun of it.  When I read your inquiry, I thought
maybe I could be a bit helpful.  Here are a few historical fiction titles
that I think may work (R = reading grade level):
        Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (R = 2 - 3)
        Immigrant Girl:  Becky of Eldridge Street by Brett Harvey (R = 2 -
4)
        The Secret Soldier by Ann McGovern (R = 2 - 4)
        Amos Fortune Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (R = 4 - 7)
        Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (R = 4 - 6)
        Charlie Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty (R = 4 - 6)

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (R = 4 - 6)
        Charlie Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty (R = 4 - 6)
        The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds (R = 4 - 6)
        The Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman (R = 3 - 4)
        Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (R = 4 - 6)
        Rain of Fire by Marion Dane Bauer (R = 4 - 6)
        Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (R = 3 - 5)
        The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen (R = 4 - 6)
        Two Chimneys by Mary Holmes (R = 3 - 5)
        Sarah Morton's Day by Kate Waters (R = 3 - 5)
        Next Stop Freedom by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler (R = 2 - 3)
        Bull Run by Paul Fleischman (R = 4 - 6)
        Stay Put, Robbie McAmis by Frances Tunbo (R = 3 - 4)
        The "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (R = 3 - 5)
        Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen (R = 3 - 5)
        The Friendship by Mildred Taylor (R = 4 - 6)
        Dear Dad by Mary Z. Holmes (R = 3 - 5)
        My Daddy Was a Soldier by Deborah Kogan Ray (R = 2 - 4)
        The Moon Bridge by Marcia Savin (R = 3 - 5)


My Daddy Was a Soldier by Deborah Kogan Ray (R = 2 - 4)
        The Moon Bridge by Marcia Savin (R = 3 - 5)

I had less of a chance to really check out realistic fiction books, but
here are the few titles that I do have in my files:
        Jennifer, Hectate, Macbeth, William Mckinley and Me, Elizabeth by
E.L.            Konigsburg (R = 3 - 5)
        From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L.
                Konigsburg (R = 4 - 6)
        It's Like This, Cat by Emily Cheney Neville (R = 4 - 6)
        Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars (R = 4 - 7)
>Sorry, all other realistic fiction was definitely lower or higher levels
than third or fourth grade.  Hope some of these titles help.
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That's All Folks!
Barb Randolph, Media Specialist
Rockburn Elementary School
Howard County, Maryland
barbrand@umd5.umd.edu

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