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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All Shook Up
by Shelley Pearsall
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
His dad's embarrassing new job makes the challenge of adjusting to a new school particularly hard for thirteen-year-old Josh.
by Shelley Pearsall
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
His dad's embarrassing new job makes the challenge of adjusting to a new school particularly hard for thirteen-year-old Josh.
Beneath My Mother's Feet
by Amjed Qamar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
When the family falls on harder times, Nazia leaves school and goes to work with her mother as a maid.
by Amjed Qamar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
When the family falls on harder times, Nazia leaves school and goes to work with her mother as a maid.
Bewitching Season
by Marissa Doyle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
In 1837, seventeen-year-old twins ready to enter London society, use their gifts of magic to prevent quackery against Princess Victoria.
by Marissa Doyle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
In 1837, seventeen-year-old twins ready to enter London society, use their gifts of magic to prevent quackery against Princess Victoria.
Black Pearls
by Louise Hawes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Classical fairy tales have been transformed and retold as sophisticated, complicated stories that don't always have a happy ending.
by Louise Hawes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Classical fairy tales have been transformed and retold as sophisticated, complicated stories that don't always have a happy ending.
Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Imprisoned in a tower with her young mistress, fifteen-year-old Dashti uses her gifts of healing , courage and insights to survive.
by Shannon Hale
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Imprisoned in a tower with her young mistress, fifteen-year-old Dashti uses her gifts of healing , courage and insights to survive.
Brave Deeds
by Ann Alma
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fictional narrator relates the story of Frans and Mies Braal's bravery during the Dutch resistance of 1944-1945. Archival photographs.
by Ann Alma
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fictional narrator relates the story of Frans and Mies Braal's bravery during the Dutch resistance of 1944-1945. Archival photographs.
Catcall
by Linda Newbery
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Cat-loving Josh sturggles to understand why a lion has taken over his younger brother's life in this British psychological thriller.
by Linda Newbery
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Cat-loving Josh sturggles to understand why a lion has taken over his younger brother's life in this British psychological thriller.
Chains
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
During the Revolutionary War, a thirteen-year-old slave is sold to a cruel loyalist couple and must determine her own path to freedom.
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
During the Revolutionary War, a thirteen-year-old slave is sold to a cruel loyalist couple and must determine her own path to freedom.
Chandra's Wars
by Allan Stratton
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Teenaged Chandra promised her dying mother that she would raise her younger siblings. Can she save them from becoming child soldiers?
by Allan Stratton
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Teenaged Chandra promised her dying mother that she would raise her younger siblings. Can she save them from becoming child soldiers?
Climbing the Stairs
by Padma Venkatraman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fifteen-year-old experiences the changes in India during world War II and the rise of Gandhi's non-violence movement.
by Padma Venkatraman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fifteen-year-old experiences the changes in India during world War II and the rise of Gandhi's non-violence movement.
Daughter of War
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Marta and her sister survive the Armenian genocide and are reunited with Marta's betrothed.
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Marta and her sister survive the Armenian genocide and are reunited with Marta's betrothed.
Dooley Takes the Fall
by Norah McClintock
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A troubled teenager, trying to turn her life around, is suspected of crimes including murder.
by Norah McClintock
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A troubled teenager, trying to turn her life around, is suspected of crimes including murder.
Dreamrider
by Barry Jonsberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Teenager Michael Barry, bullied at school and at home because of his weight, uses his dreams to get revenge on his enemies.
by Barry Jonsberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Teenager Michael Barry, bullied at school and at home because of his weight, uses his dreams to get revenge on his enemies.
Egghead
by Caroline Pignat
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
What does a ninth grader do when her nerdy, long time friend is the victim of sadistic bullies.
by Caroline Pignat
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
What does a ninth grader do when her nerdy, long time friend is the victim of sadistic bullies.
Eon
by Alison Goodman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Eon's quest to become a powerful Dragon Eye is jeopardized by court politics, physical injuries and his hidden female identity.
by Alison Goodman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Eon's quest to become a powerful Dragon Eye is jeopardized by court politics, physical injuries and his hidden female identity.
Every Soul a Star
by Wendy Mass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Three friendships begin while a crowd gathers to catch a glimpse of the total eclipse of the sun.
by Wendy Mass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Three friendships begin while a crowd gathers to catch a glimpse of the total eclipse of the sun.
Fact of Life #31
by Denise Vega
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Sixteen-year-old Kat struggles because her mother, a midwife, seems to care more deeply for her clients than for her daughters.
by Denise Vega
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Sixteen-year-old Kat struggles because her mother, a midwife, seems to care more deeply for her clients than for her daughters.
First Time
by Meg Tilly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Sixteen-year-old Lynn copes with the unwanted overtures of her mother's new boyfriend. How can she ruin her mother's happiness by telling her?
by Meg Tilly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Sixteen-year-old Lynn copes with the unwanted overtures of her mother's new boyfriend. How can she ruin her mother's happiness by telling her?
Good Enough
by Paula Yoo
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A Korean-American teenager strives to fulfill her family's and community's demand for perfection, even as her educated family is humiliated as outsiders.
by Paula Yoo
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A Korean-American teenager strives to fulfill her family's and community's demand for perfection, even as her educated family is humiliated as outsiders.
Guinevere's Gift
by Nancy McKenzie
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
The courageous, rebellious girl later finds her way to becoming King Arthur's queen.
by Nancy McKenzie
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
The courageous, rebellious girl later finds her way to becoming King Arthur's queen.
He Forgot to Say Goodbye
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Two unlikely teens find an unusual bond; they are both fatherless.
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Two unlikely teens find an unusual bond; they are both fatherless.
House of Dance
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Fifteen-year-old Rosie gives a life-affirming gift to her dying grandfather.
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Fifteen-year-old Rosie gives a life-affirming gift to her dying grandfather.
How Not to Be Popular
by Jennifer Ziegler
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Moving all the time means losing friends over and over; this time, Maggie decides just not to make any.
by Jennifer Ziegler
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Moving all the time means losing friends over and over; this time, Maggie decides just not to make any.
I am Apache
by Tanya Landman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fourteen-year-old girl becomes a warrior to avenge her brother's death in this dramatic tale of the Apache Indians in the nineteenth century.
by Tanya Landman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
A fourteen-year-old girl becomes a warrior to avenge her brother's death in this dramatic tale of the Apache Indians in the nineteenth century.
Impossible
by Nancy Werlin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Can seventeen-year-old Lucy break the curse that has driven generations of Scarborough women into madness?
by Nancy Werlin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2008
Can seventeen-year-old Lucy break the curse that has driven generations of Scarborough women into madness?