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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Hither and Nigh (Hither and Nigh series)
Ellen Potter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Seventh grader Nell's brother disappeared three years ago, and only she still believes he'll be found. Finding herself in a dangerous parallel New York, she searches for him.
Ellen Potter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Seventh grader Nell's brother disappeared three years ago, and only she still believes he'll be found. Finding herself in a dangerous parallel New York, she searches for him.
How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary Steps
Pamela S. Turner
Illustrator: John Gurche
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Recent scientific discoveries, combined with updated theories, shine a light on modern humans' evolutionary journey. Dramatic illustrations by a paleoartist. Maps. Extensive back matter.
Pamela S. Turner
Illustrator: John Gurche
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Recent scientific discoveries, combined with updated theories, shine a light on modern humans' evolutionary journey. Dramatic illustrations by a paleoartist. Maps. Extensive back matter.
In Honor of Broken Things
Paul Acampora
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Three eighth-grade classmates deal with divorce, a sibling's death, and the transition from homeschooling. Working with clay in art class becomes a creative challenge, and their friendship grows.
Paul Acampora
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Three eighth-grade classmates deal with divorce, a sibling's death, and the transition from homeschooling. Working with clay in art class becomes a creative challenge, and their friendship grows.
Invisible
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Illustrator: Gabriela Epstein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Five Spanish-speaking students are called to their middle school principal's office to explain why their community service led them to break the rules. In Spanish and English. Bright, colorful illustrations.
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Illustrator: Gabriela Epstein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Five Spanish-speaking students are called to their middle school principal's office to explain why their community service led them to break the rules. In Spanish and English. Bright, colorful illustrations.
Islands Apart: Becoming Dominican American
Jasminne Mendez
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
A young girl in a Dominican American family living on various U.S. army bases narrates her conflicting feelings about growing up in two cultures.
Jasminne Mendez
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
A young girl in a Dominican American family living on various U.S. army bases narrates her conflicting feelings about growing up in two cultures.
J. R. Silver Writes Her World
Melissa Dassori
Illustrator: Chelen Écija
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
While navigating thorny middle grade friendships, a sheltered sixth grader discovers that her response to the creative writing assignment given by her mysterious new teacher has come true. Black-and-white illustrations.
Melissa Dassori
Illustrator: Chelen Écija
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
While navigating thorny middle grade friendships, a sheltered sixth grader discovers that her response to the creative writing assignment given by her mysterious new teacher has come true. Black-and-white illustrations.
Karthik Delivers
Sheela Chari
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Making deliveries for his family's struggling grocery store unexpectedly leads South Asian American Karthik to act in a play about Leonard Bernstein.
Sheela Chari
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Making deliveries for his family's struggling grocery store unexpectedly leads South Asian American Karthik to act in a play about Leonard Bernstein.
Lady and the Octopus, The: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biology
Danna Staaf
Illustrator: Danna Staaf
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In 19th-century France, when women weren't accepted as scientists, Villepreux-Power studied live marine creatures by building an aquarium. Elegant chapter opener illustrations. Photographs and archival images. Back matter. Extensive sourcing.
Danna Staaf
Illustrator: Danna Staaf
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In 19th-century France, when women weren't accepted as scientists, Villepreux-Power studied live marine creatures by building an aquarium. Elegant chapter opener illustrations. Photographs and archival images. Back matter. Extensive sourcing.
Lifeling
Kristy Applebaum
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
As a lifeling, 12 year old Lonny can revive dying animals and humans, but at irredeemable cost to himself. How long can this remain a secret?
Kristy Applebaum
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
As a lifeling, 12 year old Lonny can revive dying animals and humans, but at irredeemable cost to himself. How long can this remain a secret?
Lolo's Light
Liz Garton Scanlon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
The tragic sudden death of a neighbor's infant for whom she had been the babysitter leaves Millie, 12, dealing with feelings of grief, loss, and guilt.
Liz Garton Scanlon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
The tragic sudden death of a neighbor's infant for whom she had been the babysitter leaves Millie, 12, dealing with feelings of grief, loss, and guilt.
Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution
Sherri Winston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Black 12-year-old Lotus Bloom, gifted violinist and normally a peace-loving free spirit, must summon the courage to fight against a racist dress code.
Sherri Winston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Black 12-year-old Lotus Bloom, gifted violinist and normally a peace-loving free spirit, must summon the courage to fight against a racist dress code.
Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves
L. M. Elliott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
When a German submarine kills her older brother, Louisa June is determined to do what she can, from her Virginia home, to battle the Nazis.
L. M. Elliott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
When a German submarine kills her older brother, Louisa June is determined to do what she can, from her Virginia home, to battle the Nazis.
Manatee Summer
Evan Griffith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Peter's best friend is moving, and his grandfather with memory loss now requires care. An injured local manatee becomes a cathartic rescue project for them, their neighbors, and friends
Evan Griffith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Peter's best friend is moving, and his grandfather with memory loss now requires care. An injured local manatee becomes a cathartic rescue project for them, their neighbors, and friends
Maybe An Artist: A Graphic Memoir
Liz Montague
Illustrator: Liz Montague
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
For a Black girl, growing up in predominantly white suburbs can be complicated. Could Montague be an athlete and an artist? Expressive illustrations with soft color palette.
Liz Montague
Illustrator: Liz Montague
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
For a Black girl, growing up in predominantly white suburbs can be complicated. Could Montague be an athlete and an artist? Expressive illustrations with soft color palette.
Medusa
Jessie Burton
Illustrator: Olivia Lomenech Gill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Perseus—son of Zeus—must seek and behead beautiful Medusa, whose flowing hair was transformed into serpents by enraged Athena. Lush full-color illustrations.
Jessie Burton
Illustrator: Olivia Lomenech Gill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Perseus—son of Zeus—must seek and behead beautiful Medusa, whose flowing hair was transformed into serpents by enraged Athena. Lush full-color illustrations.
Merci Suárez Plays It Cool
Meg Medina
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
A Cuban American eighth grader takes a few more steps toward adulthood, enduring changing friendships, unwanted responsibilities, and heart-breaking loss. Last volume of the trilogy.
Meg Medina
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
A Cuban American eighth grader takes a few more steps toward adulthood, enduring changing friendships, unwanted responsibilities, and heart-breaking loss. Last volume of the trilogy.
Moonflower
Kacen Callender
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Struggling with depression, Black. nonbinary Moon finds themself having to learn love and hope to protect the spirit world.
Kacen Callender
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Struggling with depression, Black. nonbinary Moon finds themself having to learn love and hope to protect the spirit world.
Moonwalking
Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Illustrator: David Cooper
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
JJ, white, grandson of Polish immigrants, and Pierre, mixed-race straight-A student and secret graffiti artist, warily start a tentative friendship. Told in two voices. Various verse forms. Spot illustrations. Author's note and sources.
Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Illustrator: David Cooper
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
JJ, white, grandson of Polish immigrants, and Pierre, mixed-race straight-A student and secret graffiti artist, warily start a tentative friendship. Told in two voices. Various verse forms. Spot illustrations. Author's note and sources.
Mordechai Anielewicz: No to Despair [They Said No series]
Rachel Hausfater
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In 1943, against all odds, Mordechai Anielewicz led a revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto from which the Nazis deported most of the nearly 400,000 Jews living there to concentration camps. Extensive back matter.
Rachel Hausfater
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In 1943, against all odds, Mordechai Anielewicz led a revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto from which the Nazis deported most of the nearly 400,000 Jews living there to concentration camps. Extensive back matter.
Northwind
Gary Paulsen
Illustrator: Joe Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Told to head north after cholera strikes the fishing camp where he worked, Leif, 12, travels through Nordic fjords, struggling to survive. Occasional black-and-white illustrations.
Gary Paulsen
Illustrator: Joe Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Told to head north after cholera strikes the fishing camp where he worked, Leif, 12, travels through Nordic fjords, struggling to survive. Occasional black-and-white illustrations.
Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei, The
Christina Matula
Illustrator: Yao Xiao
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Moving from Canada to Hong Kong with her biracial, bicultural family challenges 12-year-old Holly. Balancing new friendships with her own goals is an adventure and growth opportunity. Black-and-white-illustrations.
Christina Matula
Illustrator: Yao Xiao
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Moving from Canada to Hong Kong with her biracial, bicultural family challenges 12-year-old Holly. Balancing new friendships with her own goals is an adventure and growth opportunity. Black-and-white-illustrations.
Nowhere Better Than Here
Sarah Guillory
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Forced to leave their tiny, flood-devasted town in Louisiana, Jillian, 13, and her friends are determined to preserve its history and the memories of their Cajun community, leading them to environmental activism.
Sarah Guillory
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Forced to leave their tiny, flood-devasted town in Louisiana, Jillian, 13, and her friends are determined to preserve its history and the memories of their Cajun community, leading them to environmental activism.
Ode to a Nobody
Caroline Brooks DuBois
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Eight grade underachiever Quinn suddenly finds her life completely leveled by a tornado. Will she use this trauma to build a different life? Free verse.
Caroline Brooks DuBois
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Eight grade underachiever Quinn suddenly finds her life completely leveled by a tornado. Will she use this trauma to build a different life? Free verse.
Ogress and the Orphans, The
Kelly Barnhill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In a once-lovely town, a houseful of orphans teams up with a misunderstood ogress to reveal the mayor's perfidy and restore goodwill among the townspeople.
Kelly Barnhill
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
In a once-lovely town, a houseful of orphans teams up with a misunderstood ogress to reveal the mayor's perfidy and restore goodwill among the townspeople.
Omar Rising
Aisha Saeed
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Omar, a seventh-year student, wins a scholarship to a famous Pakistani boarding school, but must fight hard to keep his place there.
Aisha Saeed
Ages: 12+
Published: 2022
Omar, a seventh-year student, wins a scholarship to a famous Pakistani boarding school, but must fight hard to keep his place there.