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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Falling From Grace
by Jane Godwin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A girl's disappearance during a terrible night storm off the coast of Australia is described from differing points of view.
by Jane Godwin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A girl's disappearance during a terrible night storm off the coast of Australia is described from differing points of view.
Finding Stinko
by Michael de Guzman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Newboy, mute for three years, needs a new life. Who would think a ventriloquist's dummy would be such a lucky find?
by Michael de Guzman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Newboy, mute for three years, needs a new life. Who would think a ventriloquist's dummy would be such a lucky find?
First Light
by Rebecca Stead
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Two protagonists from two worlds meet as Peter joins his scientist parents to research global warming.
by Rebecca Stead
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Two protagonists from two worlds meet as Peter joins his scientist parents to research global warming.
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Illustrator: Robert Byrd
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
The residents of a medieval English village present their lives in poetic monologues enriched by period pen-and-ink illustrations.
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Illustrator: Robert Byrd
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
The residents of a medieval English village present their lives in poetic monologues enriched by period pen-and-ink illustrations.
Greetings From Planet Earth
by Barbara Kerley
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Theo's father has not yet returned from Vietnam in 1977. Though no one will talk about him, Theo attempts to solve the mystery.
by Barbara Kerley
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Theo's father has not yet returned from Vietnam in 1977. Though no one will talk about him, Theo attempts to solve the mystery.
Harlem Summer
by Walter Dean Myers
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Sixteen-year-old Mark encounters outstanding people in the arts and noted gangland figures while he seeks to play his “sax” in 1925 Harlem.
by Walter Dean Myers
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Sixteen-year-old Mark encounters outstanding people in the arts and noted gangland figures while he seeks to play his “sax” in 1925 Harlem.
Harmless
by Dana Reinhardt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Caught in a lie by their parents, three fifteen-year-old friends fabricate an elaborate, outrageous excuse--with devastating results.
by Dana Reinhardt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Caught in a lie by their parents, three fifteen-year-old friends fabricate an elaborate, outrageous excuse--with devastating results.
Home of the Brave
by Katherine Applegate
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Kek, a ten-year-old Sudanese refugee from the horrors of war, finds friendship, hope and the possibility of a new life in Minnesota.
by Katherine Applegate
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Kek, a ten-year-old Sudanese refugee from the horrors of war, finds friendship, hope and the possibility of a new life in Minnesota.
Hungry
by Alethea Eason
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Life in middle school can be very challenging -- especially if you're an alien and need to choose between making friends and eating them.
by Alethea Eason
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Life in middle school can be very challenging -- especially if you're an alien and need to choose between making friends and eating them.
Hush
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A haunting retelling of an enslaved celtic princess's hardships and her discovery of power and hope amidst powerlessness.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A haunting retelling of an enslaved celtic princess's hardships and her discovery of power and hope amidst powerlessness.
Kat Got Your Tongue
by Lee Weatherly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Kat struggles to deal with profound amnesia and the mystery of what really caused it.
by Lee Weatherly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Kat struggles to deal with profound amnesia and the mystery of what really caused it.
Keeping Corner
by Kashmira Sheth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In Gandhi's India, a twelve-year-old girl is stripped of her colorful saris and light-hearted ways as she mourns.
by Kashmira Sheth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In Gandhi's India, a twelve-year-old girl is stripped of her colorful saris and light-hearted ways as she mourns.
Kissing The Bee
by Kathe Koja
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Dana falls in love with her best friend Avra's boyfriend, Emil.
by Kathe Koja
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Dana falls in love with her best friend Avra's boyfriend, Emil.
Lemonade Mouth
by Mark Peter Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
An unlikely quintet of mostly socially-marginal high school freshmen forms a band, creating amazing music -- and much more.
by Mark Peter Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
An unlikely quintet of mostly socially-marginal high school freshmen forms a band, creating amazing music -- and much more.
Letters from a Slave Boy
by Mary E. Lyons
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Joseph's escape from slavery in North Carolina includes life aboard a New Bedford whaler and gold prospecting in California. Carefully researched.
by Mary E. Lyons
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Joseph's escape from slavery in North Carolina includes life aboard a New Bedford whaler and gold prospecting in California. Carefully researched.
Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet
ill. by Emma Vieceli
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Set in the future, Shakespeare's contemplative hero deals with murder, intrigue and danger.
ill. by Emma Vieceli
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Set in the future, Shakespeare's contemplative hero deals with murder, intrigue and danger.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
by Gabrielle Zevin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
When head trauma blocks out four years of Naomi's life, she gains a new perspective on complicated personal relationships.
by Gabrielle Zevin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
When head trauma blocks out four years of Naomi's life, she gains a new perspective on complicated personal relationships.
Parrotfish
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A transgendered youth connects with a geek, a teacher and his family as he embraces life as a male.
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A transgendered youth connects with a geek, a teacher and his family as he embraces life as a male.
Payback
by James Heneghan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Charley, thirteen-years-old, new and defenseless in Vancouver, fails to stop Benny's bullying which ends in tragedy.
by James Heneghan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Charley, thirteen-years-old, new and defenseless in Vancouver, fails to stop Benny's bullying which ends in tragedy.
Powers
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
After his sister is killed, the slave Gavir leaves his master's house and attempts to learn about himself and his identity.
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
After his sister is killed, the slave Gavir leaves his master's house and attempts to learn about himself and his identity.
Pure Spring
by Brian Doyle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
When Martin lies about his age to get a job, he leaves himself open to blackmail and risks losing his girlfriend.
by Brian Doyle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
When Martin lies about his age to get a job, he leaves himself open to blackmail and risks losing his girlfriend.
Quaking
by Kathryn Erskine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Living with Quakers, fourteen-year-old Matt learns to stand up for her beliefs and face her fear of bullies.
by Kathryn Erskine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Living with Quakers, fourteen-year-old Matt learns to stand up for her beliefs and face her fear of bullies.
Raleigh's Page
by Alan Armstrong
Illustrator: Tim Jessell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In the late 1500s, an eleven-year-old sets sail for the wilderness of Virginia where he experiences hardship, adventure and harsh treatment of Native Americans.
by Alan Armstrong
Illustrator: Tim Jessell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In the late 1500s, an eleven-year-old sets sail for the wilderness of Virginia where he experiences hardship, adventure and harsh treatment of Native Americans.
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party
by Ying Chang Compestine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Nine-year-old Ling watches her world crumble as the 1972 Cultural Revolution in China labels her family members as enemies of the state.
by Ying Chang Compestine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Nine-year-old Ling watches her world crumble as the 1972 Cultural Revolution in China labels her family members as enemies of the state.
Saints Of Augustine
by P.E. Ryan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Charlie and Sam are in crisis. Charlie must adjust to his mother's death and Sam to the knowledge he's gay.
by P.E. Ryan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Charlie and Sam are in crisis. Charlie must adjust to his mother's death and Sam to the knowledge he's gay.