Welcome to the Bank Street Children's Book Committee's (CBC) Searchable Best Books List, a tool designed to help educators, families, librarians, and others access developmentally appropriate and engaging books for young readers (ages birth - 18).
Our online Searchable Best Books List draws from the committee's annual Best Children's Books of the Year-beginning with the list of books published in 2000-with each featuring more than 600 high-quality titles for young readers.
To share feedback about the tool, please feel free to email bookcom@bankstreet.edu. To learn more about the CBC, visit https://www.bankstreet.edu/cbc/.
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My Mother's Secret
by J. L. Witterick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A Polish woman hid fourteen Jews and a German soldier in her small house for twenty months during World War II. Based on a true story.
by J. L. Witterick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A Polish woman hid fourteen Jews and a German soldier in her small house for twenty months during World War II. Based on a true story.
Navigating Early
by Clare Vanderpool
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Two teenage boys who have suffered profound losses set out on an extraordinary quest in the Maine wilderness.
by Clare Vanderpool
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Two teenage boys who have suffered profound losses set out on an extraordinary quest in the Maine wilderness.
Next
by Kevin Waltman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Derrick has the makings of an NBA star, but Coach won't play him at point guard. Should he transfer to the elite prep school trying to recruit him?
by Kevin Waltman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Derrick has the makings of an NBA star, but Coach won't play him at point guard. Should he transfer to the elite prep school trying to recruit him?
Nobody's Secret
by Michaela MacColl
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After a fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a handsome, kind stranger, she gets involved in solving his murder and discovers town secrets in the process.
by Michaela MacColl
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After a fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a handsome, kind stranger, she gets involved in solving his murder and discovers town secrets in the process.
One Came Home
by Amy Timberlake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In 1871 Wisconsin's western frontier during a mass wild pigeon migration, thirteen-year-old feisty Georgie sets out to find her older sister, presumed dead by everyone else. She faces down a cougar and foils a gang of counterfeiters with her uncanny aim with a rifle.
by Amy Timberlake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In 1871 Wisconsin's western frontier during a mass wild pigeon migration, thirteen-year-old feisty Georgie sets out to find her older sister, presumed dead by everyone else. She faces down a cougar and foils a gang of counterfeiters with her uncanny aim with a rifle.
Orleans
by Sherri L. Smith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In the primitive wasteland that was once New Orleans, a newborn's survival is dependent on teenager Fen, rogue scientist Daniel and escape to the Outer States.
by Sherri L. Smith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In the primitive wasteland that was once New Orleans, a newborn's survival is dependent on teenager Fen, rogue scientist Daniel and escape to the Outer States.
Palace of Spies
by Sarah Zettel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Disowned for refusing to marry a cad, Peggy lands a job impersonating an attendant to the Princess of Wales and spying - but why and for whom?
by Sarah Zettel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Disowned for refusing to marry a cad, Peggy lands a job impersonating an attendant to the Princess of Wales and spying - but why and for whom?
Paradox
by A.J. Paquette
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Landing on a distant planet, with an unknown mission but evidently prepared, can teenaged Ana save Earth from an epidemic?
by A.J. Paquette
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Landing on a distant planet, with an unknown mission but evidently prepared, can teenaged Ana save Earth from an epidemic?
Parched
by Melanie Crowder
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Sarel and Musa use their knowledge of the land to survive after the violent deaths of family members, and abuse by gang members brought on by a devastating drought.
by Melanie Crowder
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Sarel and Musa use their knowledge of the land to survive after the violent deaths of family members, and abuse by gang members brought on by a devastating drought.
Picture Me Gone
by Meg Rosoff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
ARC When her father's best friend goes missing, Mila, 12, uses her intuition and investigative skills to help determine his whereabouts.
by Meg Rosoff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
ARC When her father's best friend goes missing, Mila, 12, uses her intuition and investigative skills to help determine his whereabouts.
Prisoner B-3087
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After the Nazis deport his family from Krakow, Yanel Gruener spends his adolescence in ten concentra†ion camps and on two death marches fighting to survive against the odds.
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After the Nazis deport his family from Krakow, Yanel Gruener spends his adolescence in ten concentra†ion camps and on two death marches fighting to survive against the odds.
Reboot
by Amy Tintera
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In this futuristic tale, Reboots (humans who died of disease but return stronger, faster, and less emotional) are used by HARC to maintain “the peace.”
by Amy Tintera
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In this futuristic tale, Reboots (humans who died of disease but return stronger, faster, and less emotional) are used by HARC to maintain “the peace.”
Reconstructing Amelia
by Kimberly McCreight
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A distraught mother pursues the real cause of fifteen-year-old Amelia's death and finds out more than she expected about her daughter's world and their relationship.
by Kimberly McCreight
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A distraught mother pursues the real cause of fifteen-year-old Amelia's death and finds out more than she expected about her daughter's world and their relationship.
Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl
by Carolita Blythe
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A misbehaving fourteen-year-old seeks redemption through a growing relationship with a former movie star, now grown old.
by Carolita Blythe
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A misbehaving fourteen-year-old seeks redemption through a growing relationship with a former movie star, now grown old.
Rotten
by Michael Northrop
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After a summer in a juvenile detention, Jimmy tries to reconnect with his buddies and to make friends with the Rottweiler his mother has rescued.
by Michael Northrop
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
After a summer in a juvenile detention, Jimmy tries to reconnect with his buddies and to make friends with the Rottweiler his mother has rescued.
Saints (Boxers & Saints)
written and illustrated by Gene Luen Yang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
see Boxers (Boxers & Saints)
written and illustrated by Gene Luen Yang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
see Boxers (Boxers & Saints)
Salt
by Helen Frost
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Two twelve-year-old friends, Native American Anikwa and European American James, are caught in the growing conflict between their communities during the War of 1812. Written in blank verse.
by Helen Frost
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Two twelve-year-old friends, Native American Anikwa and European American James, are caught in the growing conflict between their communities during the War of 1812. Written in blank verse.
Samphire Song
by Jill Hucklesby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A difficult stallion helps horse-loving Jodie cope with her father's death and her brother's illness.
by Jill Hucklesby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
A difficult stallion helps horse-loving Jodie cope with her father's death and her brother's illness.
Shadow Breakers
by Daniel Blythe
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Adjusting to a new home and school, 15-year-old Miranda finds herself included in a group of genius “weirdos” working to solve a menacing supernatural mystery.
by Daniel Blythe
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Adjusting to a new home and school, 15-year-old Miranda finds herself included in a group of genius “weirdos” working to solve a menacing supernatural mystery.
Spirit and Dust
by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In this engrossing detective story involving a kidnapped girl, Daisy, pyschic skills are employed to solve a complicated mystery.
by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
In this engrossing detective story involving a kidnapped girl, Daisy, pyschic skills are employed to solve a complicated mystery.
Splintered
by A.G. Howard
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Alyssa, approaching her 16th birthday, rediscovers her family's entanglements with a Lewis Carroll-like wonderland.
by A.G. Howard
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Alyssa, approaching her 16th birthday, rediscovers her family's entanglements with a Lewis Carroll-like wonderland.
Stronger Than Steel
by Bridget Heos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Imagine implanting goats, silkworms, and alfalfa with the DNA of golden orb weaver spiders to develop a more useful quality of silk. Photographs. References.
by Bridget Heos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Imagine implanting goats, silkworms, and alfalfa with the DNA of golden orb weaver spiders to develop a more useful quality of silk. Photographs. References.
Swagger
by Carl Deuker
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
With his basketball scholarship on the line, Jonas must decide whether to expose what he has learned of the evil nature of his once-idolized coach.
by Carl Deuker
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
With his basketball scholarship on the line, Jonas must decide whether to expose what he has learned of the evil nature of his once-idolized coach.
Taken
by Erin Bowman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Just before his eighteenth birthday, Gay learns a secret that leads him to question why there are no males over eighteen in Claysoot and to seek the answer.
by Erin Bowman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Just before his eighteenth birthday, Gay learns a secret that leads him to question why there are no males over eighteen in Claysoot and to seek the answer.
Tandem
by Anna Jarzab
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Sasha is abducted and brought through the Tandem to a parallel universe. Forced to impersonate the princess, she has to confront her feelings about two boys from different worlds.
by Anna Jarzab
Ages: 12+
Published: 2013
Sasha is abducted and brought through the Tandem to a parallel universe. Forced to impersonate the princess, she has to confront her feelings about two boys from different worlds.