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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London Calling
by Edward Bloor
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A prep school scholarship student time-travels to World War II England and reveals sordid truths about the school benefactor.
by Edward Bloor
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A prep school scholarship student time-travels to World War II England and reveals sordid truths about the school benefactor.
Love, Football, and other Contact Sports
by Alden R. Carter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About high school football players and their friends. Humorous, warm-hearted and well-crafted.
by Alden R. Carter
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
About high school football players and their friends. Humorous, warm-hearted and well-crafted.
Loving Will Shakespeare
by Carolyn Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Shakespeare's wife, as a prototype stay-at-home mom. Clear picture of sixteenth century life in a small English village.
by Carolyn Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Shakespeare's wife, as a prototype stay-at-home mom. Clear picture of sixteenth century life in a small English village.
My Dad's a Punk
edited by Tony Bradman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
From devoted father and son to fathers with dark secrets and sons with their own dilemmas, stories by twelve different authors.
edited by Tony Bradman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
From devoted father and son to fathers with dark secrets and sons with their own dilemmas, stories by twelve different authors.
Over A Thousand Hills I Walk With You
by Hanna Jansen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The powerful, chilling and inspiring story of a child who survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
by Hanna Jansen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The powerful, chilling and inspiring story of a child who survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Part of Me
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Five generations of one family and the times in which they lived. Wonderful characterizations.
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Five generations of one family and the times in which they lived. Wonderful characterizations.
Pieces of Georgia
by Jen Bryant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
In this gentle, poetic tale, thirteen-year-old Georgia deals with her grief over the death of her mother.
by Jen Bryant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
In this gentle, poetic tale, thirteen-year-old Georgia deals with her grief over the death of her mother.
Rash
by Pete Hautman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Growing up in a twenty-first century society that controls all emotions, sixteen-year-old Bo learns the power of feelings.
by Pete Hautman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Growing up in a twenty-first century society that controls all emotions, sixteen-year-old Bo learns the power of feelings.
Runaway
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Twelve-year-old Holly records her daily horrors in a journal, her only trustworthy companion, as she struggles to survive.
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Twelve-year-old Holly records her daily horrors in a journal, her only trustworthy companion, as she struggles to survive.
Samurai Shortstop
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
In 1890 Tokyo, Toyo Shimada must make crucial choices to adjust to a Japan newly opened to the world.
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
In 1890 Tokyo, Toyo Shimada must make crucial choices to adjust to a Japan newly opened to the world.
Shanghai Shadows
by Lois Ruby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
While brother and sister join the resistance in Japanese occupied China during World War II, their exiled Jewish family struggles to survive ever increasing harsh treatment.
by Lois Ruby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
While brother and sister join the resistance in Japanese occupied China during World War II, their exiled Jewish family struggles to survive ever increasing harsh treatment.
Side effects
by Amy Goldman Koss
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
When fourteen-year-old Izzy is suddenly diagnosed with lymphoma, she journeys through unspeakable turbulence to a safe landing.
by Amy Goldman Koss
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
When fourteen-year-old Izzy is suddenly diagnosed with lymphoma, she journeys through unspeakable turbulence to a safe landing.
Small Steps
by Louis Sachar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Armpit is doing his best to redeem himself--but his friendship with an old Camp Green Lake buddy threatens to thwart his efforts.
by Louis Sachar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Armpit is doing his best to redeem himself--but his friendship with an old Camp Green Lake buddy threatens to thwart his efforts.
Something Remains
by Inge Barth-Grozinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A fictionalized account of an actual Jewish boy and his family struggling with anti-semitism in Germany in the 1930s.
by Inge Barth-Grozinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A fictionalized account of an actual Jewish boy and his family struggling with anti-semitism in Germany in the 1930s.
Standing Against the Wind
by Traci L. Jones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Trying to survive the turmoil of inner city life, Patrice learns of a way out.
by Traci L. Jones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Trying to survive the turmoil of inner city life, Patrice learns of a way out.
Sweetgrass Basket
by Marlene Carvell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Two Mohawk sisters sent to board at the Carlisle Indian School struggle with loneliness and harsh attempts to erase their heritage.
by Marlene Carvell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Two Mohawk sisters sent to board at the Carlisle Indian School struggle with loneliness and harsh attempts to erase their heritage.
The Foreshadowing
by Marcus Sedgwick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
During World War I, Alexandra uses her extrasensory perceptions to save her soldier brother,
by Marcus Sedgwick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
During World War I, Alexandra uses her extrasensory perceptions to save her soldier brother,
The Glow Stone
by Ellen Dreyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
After the death of her young uncle, fifteen-year-old Phoebe grapples with her family's history of depression as she explores her feelings when lost in a cave.
by Ellen Dreyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
After the death of her young uncle, fifteen-year-old Phoebe grapples with her family's history of depression as she explores her feelings when lost in a cave.
The Green Glass Sea
by Ellen Klages
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Amidst secret experiments in Los Alamos during World War II, Suze and Dewey deal with teen-age friendship, bullies and tragedy.
by Ellen Klages
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Amidst secret experiments in Los Alamos during World War II, Suze and Dewey deal with teen-age friendship, bullies and tragedy.
The Heights, the Depths, and Everything in Between
by Sally Nemeth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Can Lucy and her best friend Jake maintain their uniqueness and special bond during the turmoil of pre-adolescent growing up?
by Sally Nemeth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Can Lucy and her best friend Jake maintain their uniqueness and special bond during the turmoil of pre-adolescent growing up?
The Mailbox
by Audrey Shafer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
After years in foster care, twelve-year-old Gabe finally has a home with her quirky uncle, until misfortune strikes.
by Audrey Shafer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
After years in foster care, twelve-year-old Gabe finally has a home with her quirky uncle, until misfortune strikes.
The Old African
by Julius Lester
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The horrors of slavery. Gouache, pastel and watercolor illustrations.
by Julius Lester
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The horrors of slavery. Gouache, pastel and watercolor illustrations.
The Princetta
by Anne-Laure Bondoux
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A princess escaped from an arranged marriage has many magical adventures while seeking her destiny.
by Anne-Laure Bondoux
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
A princess escaped from an arranged marriage has many magical adventures while seeking her destiny.
The Queen's Soprano
by Carol Dines
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Seventeen-year-old Angelica Voglia struggles to achieve her musical destiny against the prejudice of Pope Innocent XI.
by Carol Dines
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
Seventeen-year-old Angelica Voglia struggles to achieve her musical destiny against the prejudice of Pope Innocent XI.
The Unresolved
by T.K. Welsh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The tale of the General Slocum disaster of 1904 recreates life in “Little Germany,” New York. A true ghost story.
by T.K. Welsh
Ages: 12+
Published: 2006
The tale of the General Slocum disaster of 1904 recreates life in “Little Germany,” New York. A true ghost story.