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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The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous
by Suzanne Crowley
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
The arrival of strangers in town makes it impossible for Merilee to stick to her schedule.
by Suzanne Crowley
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
The arrival of strangers in town makes it impossible for Merilee to stick to her schedule.
The Whole Sky Full of Stars
by René Saldaña, Jr.
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
After his father dies, Barry's friendships and goals are questioned when he considers a shady boxing gamble.
by René Saldaña, Jr.
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
After his father dies, Barry's friendships and goals are questioned when he considers a shady boxing gamble.
Toby Wheeler
by Thatcher Heldring
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A tough coach enables Toby to sharpen his basketball skills and become a valuable team player.
by Thatcher Heldring
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A tough coach enables Toby to sharpen his basketball skills and become a valuable team player.
Tough Times
by Milton Meltzer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fifteen-year-old Joey braves the hard times of the great Depression and the Bonus March of 1932 until it becomes almost unbearable.
by Milton Meltzer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fifteen-year-old Joey braves the hard times of the great Depression and the Bonus March of 1932 until it becomes almost unbearable.
Undercover
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
By way of a female Cyrano character, Elisa immerses herself in poetry and explores her identity.
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
By way of a female Cyrano character, Elisa immerses herself in poetry and explores her identity.
Unwind
by Neal Shusterman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Connor, Lev and Risa struggle to survive in a world where teenagers can be “unwound” to have their body parts salvaged.
by Neal Shusterman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Connor, Lev and Risa struggle to survive in a world where teenagers can be “unwound” to have their body parts salvaged.
Uprising
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Three young women--two poor, one privileged--are brought together through the early twentieth century labor movement and then devastated by the Triangle Shirtwaist fire.
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Three young women--two poor, one privileged--are brought together through the early twentieth century labor movement and then devastated by the Triangle Shirtwaist fire.
Waves
by Sharon Dogar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fifteen-year-old Hal unravels the mystery of his sister's accident through their supernatural connection.
by Sharon Dogar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fifteen-year-old Hal unravels the mystery of his sister's accident through their supernatural connection.
What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
by Sonya Sones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fourteen-year-old Robin and his girlfriend, Sophie, confront the class bullies as well as the changes in their budding relationship. A free-verse novel.
by Sonya Sones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Fourteen-year-old Robin and his girlfriend, Sophie, confront the class bullies as well as the changes in their budding relationship. A free-verse novel.
When I Crossed No-Bob
by Margaret McMullan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In rural Mississippi during Reconstruction, twelve-year-old Addy faces the challenges of poverty and violent racism with integrity and courage.
by Margaret McMullan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
In rural Mississippi during Reconstruction, twelve-year-old Addy faces the challenges of poverty and violent racism with integrity and courage.
Wildwood Dancing
by Juliet Marillier
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Five daring sisters, an unusual frog and a monthly portal into a mysterious parallel world fill this tale of heroines.
by Juliet Marillier
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
Five daring sisters, an unusual frog and a monthly portal into a mysterious parallel world fill this tale of heroines.
Zen and the Art of Faking It
by Jordan Sonnenblick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A new boy tries to fit into school by acting like a Zen master. Does his practice trip him up or enlighten him?
by Jordan Sonnenblick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2007
A new boy tries to fit into school by acting like a Zen master. Does his practice trip him up or enlighten him?
Accidents of Nature
by Harriet McBryde Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
At summer camp, seventeen-year-old Jean finally fits in and learns to accept her disability.
by Harriet McBryde Johnson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
At summer camp, seventeen-year-old Jean finally fits in and learns to accept her disability.
Aftershocks
by William Lavender
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
At the time of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, Jessie struggles to become a physician and care for her illegitimate Chinese sister.
by William Lavender
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
At the time of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, Jessie struggles to become a physician and care for her illegitimate Chinese sister.
Alabama Moon
by Watt Key
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Newly orphaned, ten-year-old Moon is sent to an Alabama institution, but he survives tough times and learns to trust.
by Watt Key
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Newly orphaned, ten-year-old Moon is sent to an Alabama institution, but he survives tough times and learns to trust.
American Born Chinese
written and ill. by Gene Luen Yang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Contemporary life and Chinese legends intertwine in this ground-breaking graphic novel.
written and ill. by Gene Luen Yang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Contemporary life and Chinese legends intertwine in this ground-breaking graphic novel.
A Mind with Wings
by Gerald and Loretta Hausman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About the unique unique American who was an early environmentalist, pacifist and advocate of freedom.
by Gerald and Loretta Hausman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About the unique unique American who was an early environmentalist, pacifist and advocate of freedom.
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Former chld prodigy, Colin, and his underachieving Muslim buddy, Hassan, stop off in Gutshot, Tennesee, in thisnew spin on the classic road trip.
by John Green
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Former chld prodigy, Colin, and his underachieving Muslim buddy, Hassan, stop off in Gutshot, Tennesee, in thisnew spin on the classic road trip.
Angelmonster
by Veronica Bennett
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Sixteen-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft meets the poet Percy Shelley and begins a radical lifestyle that culminates with her novel “Frankenstein.”
by Veronica Bennett
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Sixteen-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft meets the poet Percy Shelley and begins a radical lifestyle that culminates with her novel “Frankenstein.”
Ask Me No Questions
by Marina Budhos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Two Bangladeshi sisters try to survive in high school when their father, an illegal alien, is taken into custody.
by Marina Budhos
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Two Bangladeshi sisters try to survive in high school when their father, an illegal alien, is taken into custody.
A Summer of Kings
by Han Nolan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Fourteen-year-old Esther, out of step with her family, comes of age with the advent of the 1963 Civil Rights movement and the rise of Muslims in the United States.
by Han Nolan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Fourteen-year-old Esther, out of step with her family, comes of age with the advent of the 1963 Civil Rights movement and the rise of Muslims in the United States.
A True and Faithful Narrative
by Katherine Sturtevant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Meg's opportunity to write about a Christian captive of Barbary Pirates comes at an unexpected price--and with surprising results.
by Katherine Sturtevant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Meg's opportunity to write about a Christian captive of Barbary Pirates comes at an unexpected price--and with surprising results.
Best Shorts
selected by Avi
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Twenty-four short stories, old and new, by different writers including Washington Irving, Natalie Babbitt, Isaac Bashevis Singer and Richard Peck.
selected by Avi
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Twenty-four short stories, old and new, by different writers including Washington Irving, Natalie Babbitt, Isaac Bashevis Singer and Richard Peck.
Black Duck
by Janet Taylor Lisle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Adventures with rum running in prohibition-era Rhode Island.
by Janet Taylor Lisle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Adventures with rum running in prohibition-era Rhode Island.
Blind Faith
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About mothers and daughters, love and loss, marriage and friendship. Fifteen-year-old Liz weathers it all.
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About mothers and daughters, love and loss, marriage and friendship. Fifteen-year-old Liz weathers it all.