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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
Once
by Morris Gleitzman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Escaping from an orphanage, a trusting young Jewish boy in World War II Poland gradually learns the truth of his situation.
by Morris Gleitzman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Escaping from an orphanage, a trusting young Jewish boy in World War II Poland gradually learns the truth of his situation.
Revolver
by Marcus Sedgwick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Alone in the Arctic wilderness with his father's corpse and a menacing stranger, Sig learns of a dangerous bargain made eleven years earlier in 1899 Nome, Alaska.
by Marcus Sedgwick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Alone in the Arctic wilderness with his father's corpse and a menacing stranger, Sig learns of a dangerous bargain made eleven years earlier in 1899 Nome, Alaska.
Rocky Road
by Rose Kent
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Tess learns she can lean on others to share the responsibility for her bipolar Mother and deaf brother.
by Rose Kent
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Tess learns she can lean on others to share the responsibility for her bipolar Mother and deaf brother.
Saving Maddie
by Varian Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Joshua, a young preacher's son, must struggle between the expectations of his parents and his attraction to a former young playmate turned alluring.
by Varian Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Joshua, a young preacher's son, must struggle between the expectations of his parents and his attraction to a former young playmate turned alluring.
Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs
by Ron Koertge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Fourteen-year-old Kevin is faced with choices between girl friends, between poetry and baseball. Told in verse.
by Ron Koertge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Fourteen-year-old Kevin is faced with choices between girl friends, between poetry and baseball. Told in verse.
Sphinx's Princess
by Esther Friesner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In Ancient Egypt, beautiful, clever Nefertiti wishes to make her own choices--and does not wish to marry the Crown Prince.
by Esther Friesner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In Ancient Egypt, beautiful, clever Nefertiti wishes to make her own choices--and does not wish to marry the Crown Prince.
Split
by Swati Avasthi
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
A sixteen-year-old seeks refuge with his estranged brother and works to avoid becoming like his father, a respected judge who secretly abuses his family.
by Swati Avasthi
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
A sixteen-year-old seeks refuge with his estranged brother and works to avoid becoming like his father, a respected judge who secretly abuses his family.
Stuck on Earth
by David Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Ketchvar III, on Earth in the guise of a fourteen-year-old, must decide whether or not the human race should be annihilated.
by David Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Ketchvar III, on Earth in the guise of a fourteen-year-old, must decide whether or not the human race should be annihilated.
Sweet, Hereafter
by Angela Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Sweet chooses to leave her parents to live in a lonely cabin with Curtis, and Iraqi war veteran who cannot face going back.
by Angela Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Sweet chooses to leave her parents to live in a lonely cabin with Curtis, and Iraqi war veteran who cannot face going back.
Tell Us We're Home
by Marina Budhos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Friendship between three teenage immigrant girls whose mothers work as domestics in a suburban town is tested when one mother is accused of stealing.
by Marina Budhos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Friendship between three teenage immigrant girls whose mothers work as domestics in a suburban town is tested when one mother is accused of stealing.
The Beautiful Between
by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In this sensitive story about children in a New York City private school, Connelly learns, fourteen years later, about the real cause of her father's death.
by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In this sensitive story about children in a New York City private school, Connelly learns, fourteen years later, about the real cause of her father's death.
The Cardturner
by Louis Sachar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When his father loses his job, Alton is coerced into taking his old, blind (and rich) great-uncle to play bridge.
by Louis Sachar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When his father loses his job, Alton is coerced into taking his old, blind (and rich) great-uncle to play bridge.
The Crowfield Curse
by Pat Walsh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Will, an orphan living in an English medieval monastery, must battle the evil forces of “Old Magic” to keep himself alive.
by Pat Walsh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Will, an orphan living in an English medieval monastery, must battle the evil forces of “Old Magic” to keep himself alive.
The Firefly Letters
by Marguerite Engle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
A suffragette's journey to Cuba transforms the lives of a Cuban slave and her owner's daughter. Blank verse with alternating voices.
by Marguerite Engle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
A suffragette's journey to Cuba transforms the lives of a Cuban slave and her owner's daughter. Blank verse with alternating voices.
The Fool's Girl
by Celia Rees
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In an imagined intrigue-filled adventure with a young duchess and her fool, Shakespeare gets his inspiration for “Twelfth Night.”
by Celia Rees
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In an imagined intrigue-filled adventure with a young duchess and her fool, Shakespeare gets his inspiration for “Twelfth Night.”
The Gardener
by S. A. Bodeen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When high school sophomore, Mason, finds a beautiful but catatonic girl in a nursing home, it leads him to revelations that have connections to his own life.
by S. A. Bodeen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When high school sophomore, Mason, finds a beautiful but catatonic girl in a nursing home, it leads him to revelations that have connections to his own life.
The Gnome's Eye
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Leaving a refugee camp in Austria in 1954 for a new life in Canada challenges Theresa and her parents. The farewell gift of a lucky stone gives her the courage to persevere.
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Leaving a refugee camp in Austria in 1954 for a new life in Canada challenges Theresa and her parents. The farewell gift of a lucky stone gives her the courage to persevere.
The Keepers' Tattoo
by Gill Arbuthnott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When danger shatters her life, fifteen-year-old, feisty Nyssa begins an adventure to discover and pursue the evil instigator in her tortuous dreams.
by Gill Arbuthnott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
When danger shatters her life, fifteen-year-old, feisty Nyssa begins an adventure to discover and pursue the evil instigator in her tortuous dreams.
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
by Francisco X. Stork
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The friendship of Pancho and D.Q. changes their interaction and the tragedies in their lives.
by Francisco X. Stork
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The friendship of Pancho and D.Q. changes their interaction and the tragedies in their lives.
The Odyssey
by Gareth Hinds
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The classic tale of Odysseus's long journey home is retold with vivid pencil and watercolor illustrations in today's graphic format.
by Gareth Hinds
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The classic tale of Odysseus's long journey home is retold with vivid pencil and watercolor illustrations in today's graphic format.
The Poison Diaries
by Maryrose Wood
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In eighteenth century England, Jessamine learns the power of medicinal plants to heal and destroy through her love of a tragic boy who can communicate with them.
by Maryrose Wood
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
In eighteenth century England, Jessamine learns the power of medicinal plants to heal and destroy through her love of a tragic boy who can communicate with them.
The Prince of Mist
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Thirteen-year-old Max, expecting quiet safety in a new town during the war, is challenged by dark and mysterious forces from the past.
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Thirteen-year-old Max, expecting quiet safety in a new town during the war, is challenged by dark and mysterious forces from the past.
The Queen's Daughter
by Susan Coventry
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The youngest daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine struggles between her yearning for love and her arranged political marriage during the time of the Crusades.
by Susan Coventry
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
The youngest daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine struggles between her yearning for love and her arranged political marriage during the time of the Crusades.
The Search
by Eric Heuvel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Nazis capture a child's parents, but her friendship with the daughter of a Dutch guard helps spare her life. Graphic novel.
by Eric Heuvel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Nazis capture a child's parents, but her friendship with the daughter of a Dutch guard helps spare her life. Graphic novel.
The Sky is Everywhere
by Jandy Nelson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Music, poetry, humor, and sexual awakening help Lennie cope with the sudden death of her older sister.
by Jandy Nelson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2010
Music, poetry, humor, and sexual awakening help Lennie cope with the sudden death of her older sister.