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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King of the Screwups
by K. L. Going
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Sent to live with his uncle, seventeen-year-old Liam attempts to win his father's approval by changing his “Mr. Popularity” image--with surprising results.
by K. L. Going
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Sent to live with his uncle, seventeen-year-old Liam attempts to win his father's approval by changing his “Mr. Popularity” image--with surprising results.
Leftovers
by Heather Waldorf
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Fifteen-year-old Sarah attempts to turn her life around at Camp Dog Gone Fun - a summer camp for disabled dogs and wayward teens.
by Heather Waldorf
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Fifteen-year-old Sarah attempts to turn her life around at Camp Dog Gone Fun - a summer camp for disabled dogs and wayward teens.
Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld
Illustrator: Keith Thompson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In 1914 in an alternate time, an assassination occurs between mechanical Clankers and Darwin-inspired fabricated animals.
by Scott Westerfeld
Illustrator: Keith Thompson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In 1914 in an alternate time, an assassination occurs between mechanical Clankers and Darwin-inspired fabricated animals.
Lifting the Sky
by Mackie d'Arge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Blue with her ability to heal animals and her new Indian friend help find a place to call home.
by Mackie d'Arge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Blue with her ability to heal animals and her new Indian friend help find a place to call home.
Loserville
by Peter Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Five high school students experience a summer of laughter, love, tears, and loss as well as conflicts with parents.
by Peter Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Five high school students experience a summer of laughter, love, tears, and loss as well as conflicts with parents.
Mare's War
by Tanita S. Davis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
During an automobile trip across the country, Grandma Mare tells of her experiences and the discrimination in the Women's Army Corps during World War II.
by Tanita S. Davis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
During an automobile trip across the country, Grandma Mare tells of her experiences and the discrimination in the Women's Army Corps during World War II.
Moribito II
by Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Spear fighter, Balsa, returns to her homeland after many years and becomes involved in violent loyalty conflicts and mystical reunions.
by Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Spear fighter, Balsa, returns to her homeland after many years and becomes involved in violent loyalty conflicts and mystical reunions.
Muchacho
by Louanne Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In a small New Mexico town, Eddie runs away from a troubled life and in his alternative school finds out about girls, books, and becoming a poet.
by Louanne Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In a small New Mexico town, Eddie runs away from a troubled life and in his alternative school finds out about girls, books, and becoming a poet.
Mudville
by Kurtis Scaletta
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
After twenty-two years of rain, Mudville dries up and baseball begins again. Twelve-year-old Roy, his friends, and foster brother dare to face the curse and form a team.
by Kurtis Scaletta
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
After twenty-two years of rain, Mudville dries up and baseball begins again. Twelve-year-old Roy, his friends, and foster brother dare to face the curse and form a team.
My Name is Phillis Wheatley
by Afua Cooper
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Told from her point of view, the enslaved Black poet expresses her feelings through her verse.
by Afua Cooper
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Told from her point of view, the enslaved Black poet expresses her feelings through her verse.
On Viney's Mountain
by Joan Donaldson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In 1880 Tennessee, an expert weaver and spunky young woman resents the English “foreigners” until she fall unpredictably in love.
by Joan Donaldson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
In 1880 Tennessee, an expert weaver and spunky young woman resents the English “foreigners” until she fall unpredictably in love.
Pop
by Gordon Korman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
High-school football player Marcus befriends a former professional whose head injuries leave him and his family dealing with Alzheimer's.
by Gordon Korman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
High-school football player Marcus befriends a former professional whose head injuries leave him and his family dealing with Alzheimer's.
Punkzilla
by Adam Rapp
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
A fourteen-years-old runaway makes his solitary way across the country.
by Adam Rapp
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
A fourteen-years-old runaway makes his solitary way across the country.
Purge
by Sarah Darer Littman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
The poignant story of Janie's hospitalization for bulimia offers an insightful picture of eating disorders among teenagers.
by Sarah Darer Littman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
The poignant story of Janie's hospitalization for bulimia offers an insightful picture of eating disorders among teenagers.
Reality Check
by Peter Abrahams
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
When his ex-girlfriend disappears from her boarding school, Cody learns that he's good at sleuthing as well as football.
by Peter Abrahams
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
When his ex-girlfriend disappears from her boarding school, Cody learns that he's good at sleuthing as well as football.
Rescuing Seneca Crane
by Susan Runholt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
After a young piano virtuoso is abducted in Scotland, Keri and Lucas attempt to rescue her and unmask the villains. Exciting, page-turner.
by Susan Runholt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
After a young piano virtuoso is abducted in Scotland, Keri and Lucas attempt to rescue her and unmask the villains. Exciting, page-turner.
Riot
by Walter Dean Myers
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
During the Civil War, the draft sparks terrible race riots in New York City, and disrupts fifteen-year-old Claire's life.
by Walter Dean Myers
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
During the Civil War, the draft sparks terrible race riots in New York City, and disrupts fifteen-year-old Claire's life.
Salt
by Maurice Gee
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Brought together by their ability to communicate without words, Tealeaf and Pearl have joined Hari to rescue his father from Deep Salt.
by Maurice Gee
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Brought together by their ability to communicate without words, Tealeaf and Pearl have joined Hari to rescue his father from Deep Salt.
Same Difference
by Siobhan Vivian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Emily decides to go to art school in Philadelphia for the summer and is surprised by her new interest in art and by her fellow students.
by Siobhan Vivian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Emily decides to go to art school in Philadelphia for the summer and is surprised by her new interest in art and by her fellow students.
Seattle Blues
by Michael Wenberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
When Maya is exiled to Seattle with her unknown grandmother, she gains a new perspective on her family.
by Michael Wenberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
When Maya is exiled to Seattle with her unknown grandmother, she gains a new perspective on her family.
Secret Keeper
by Mitali Perkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
While Baba looks for work in New York, Mother and two teen-aged daughters move to his mother's house in Calcutta.
by Mitali Perkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
While Baba looks for work in New York, Mother and two teen-aged daughters move to his mother's house in Calcutta.
Serendipity Market
by Penny Blubaugh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Mama Inez and her dog, Toby, collect a diverse group of people to share their stories and prove that magic is everywhere.
by Penny Blubaugh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Mama Inez and her dog, Toby, collect a diverse group of people to share their stories and prove that magic is everywhere.
Slob
by Ellen Potter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Twelve-year-old Owen is very smart, very fat, and very angry. Will his ingenious attempt to resolve his problems work?
by Ellen Potter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Twelve-year-old Owen is very smart, very fat, and very angry. Will his ingenious attempt to resolve his problems work?
Soldier's Secret
by Shelia Solomon Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Deborah Sampson dresses as a man to serve in the Revolutionary War, avoid a loveless marriage, and obtain personal freedom.
by Shelia Solomon Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Deborah Sampson dresses as a man to serve in the Revolutionary War, avoid a loveless marriage, and obtain personal freedom.
Soul Enchilada
by David Macinnis Gill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Eighteen-year-old Bug Smoot is feisty, resourceful, determined, and has powerful forces on her side, but can she outwit the Devil?
by David Macinnis Gill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2009
Eighteen-year-old Bug Smoot is feisty, resourceful, determined, and has powerful forces on her side, but can she outwit the Devil?