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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Four Steps to Death
by John Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
The bloody battle of Stalingrad described by a German officer, a Russian gunner and a young Russian boy. Gripping realism.
by John Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
The bloody battle of Stalingrad described by a German officer, a Russian gunner and a young Russian boy. Gripping realism.
Fresh Off the Boat
by Melissa De la Cruz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Fourteen-year-old Vicenza and her family reinvent themselves as they move from riches in the Philippines to struggles in California. Warm and funny.
by Melissa De la Cruz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Fourteen-year-old Vicenza and her family reinvent themselves as they move from riches in the Philippines to struggles in California. Warm and funny.
Friends
edited by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A fine collection of stories exploring many facets of friendship.
edited by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A fine collection of stories exploring many facets of friendship.
From Another World
by Ana Maria Machado
Illustrator: Lúcia Brandao
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Four children encounter the restless ghost of a slave girl as they help renovate an old coffee plantation.
by Ana Maria Machado
Illustrator: Lúcia Brandao
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Four children encounter the restless ghost of a slave girl as they help renovate an old coffee plantation.
Heavy Metal and You
by Christopher Krovatin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Sam deals with his love of music, loyalty to his friends and the desire to be accepted for who he is by Melissa, an uptown princess.
by Christopher Krovatin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Sam deals with his love of music, loyalty to his friends and the desire to be accepted for who he is by Melissa, an uptown princess.
Heroes Don't Run
by Harry Mazer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Adam Pelko, whose father died at Pearl Harbor, enlists in the Marines and experiences the harshness of boot camp and the battle of Okinawa.
by Harry Mazer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Adam Pelko, whose father died at Pearl Harbor, enlists in the Marines and experiences the harshness of boot camp and the battle of Okinawa.
Hitch
by Jeanette Ingold
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A seventeen-year-old signs up for President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corp during the 1930s Depression--and gets quite an education.
by Jeanette Ingold
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A seventeen-year-old signs up for President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corp during the 1930s Depression--and gets quite an education.
i am the wallpaper
by Mark Peter Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Feeling overshadowed by her sister, thirteen-year-old Floey decides to be noticed--with devastating complications.
by Mark Peter Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Feeling overshadowed by her sister, thirteen-year-old Floey decides to be noticed--with devastating complications.
In the Coils of the Snake
by Clare Dunkle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Continuing the saga of the elf and goblin kingdom's conflict and interaction with humans, this is a satisfying romantic conclusion to the Hollow Kindom Trilogy.
by Clare Dunkle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Continuing the saga of the elf and goblin kingdom's conflict and interaction with humans, this is a satisfying romantic conclusion to the Hollow Kindom Trilogy.
Last Child
by Michael Spooner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Rosalie/Last Child finds in her Mandan/Caucasian heritage the strength to help her people during a smallpox epidemic.
by Michael Spooner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Rosalie/Last Child finds in her Mandan/Caucasian heritage the strength to help her people during a smallpox epidemic.
Lost in America
by Marilyn Sachs
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Spunky, resourceful seventeen-year-old Nicole learns to survive in her new country after her tragic World War II losses.
by Marilyn Sachs
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Spunky, resourceful seventeen-year-old Nicole learns to survive in her new country after her tragic World War II losses.
Lucky Stars
by Lucy Frank
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Kira, Julie and Eugene, an odd but wonderful trio, find that making music makes a big difference in their lives.
by Lucy Frank
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Kira, Julie and Eugene, an odd but wonderful trio, find that making music makes a big difference in their lives.
Marie, Dancing
by Carolyn Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Marie, a fourteen-year-old ballerina, becomes the subject of Degas' famous statue. Sensitive, honest depiction of Paris in the late 1800s.
by Carolyn Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Marie, a fourteen-year-old ballerina, becomes the subject of Degas' famous statue. Sensitive, honest depiction of Paris in the late 1800s.
Mimus
by Lilli Thal
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Young Prince Florin is reduced to a medieval jester's role by an enemy king, but finally returns from his cruel exile.
by Lilli Thal
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Young Prince Florin is reduced to a medieval jester's role by an enemy king, but finally returns from his cruel exile.
my brother's keeper
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
After his father leaves and his older brother starts drinking and smoking dope, Toby struggles to deal with his family's problems.
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
After his father leaves and his older brother starts drinking and smoking dope, Toby struggles to deal with his family's problems.
New Boy
by Julian Houston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
In the 1950s, the token black in an exclusive prep school discovers prejudice takes many forms.
by Julian Houston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
In the 1950s, the token black in an exclusive prep school discovers prejudice takes many forms.
Not The End Of The World
by Geraldine Mc Caughrean
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Noah's family members and the various animals describe what it was like to be aboard the ark.
by Geraldine Mc Caughrean
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Noah's family members and the various animals describe what it was like to be aboard the ark.
Now You See It...
by Vivian Vande Velde
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Teenager Wendy finds a pair of magical glasses that leads her on an adventure to the past and a magical kingdom.
by Vivian Vande Velde
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Teenager Wendy finds a pair of magical glasses that leads her on an adventure to the past and a magical kingdom.
Poison
by Chris Wooding
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A heroine with wit, intelligence and extreme bravery drives this mysterious fantasy.
by Chris Wooding
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A heroine with wit, intelligence and extreme bravery drives this mysterious fantasy.
Quicksilver
by Stephanie Spinner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Messenger and facilitator for Zeus, Hermes, also known as Mercury, experiences pangs of conscience when confronted with the horrors of the Trojan War.
by Stephanie Spinner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
Messenger and facilitator for Zeus, Hermes, also known as Mercury, experiences pangs of conscience when confronted with the horrors of the Trojan War.
Quid Pro Quo
by Vicki Grant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
When his mother disappears, Cyril's knowledge of the law helps him to find her. Serious material presented with humor.
by Vicki Grant
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
When his mother disappears, Cyril's knowledge of the law helps him to find her. Serious material presented with humor.
refugees: a novel
by Catherine Stine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
An e-mail friendship between two teenagers--American and Afghan--in the aftermath of 9/11.
by Catherine Stine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
An e-mail friendship between two teenagers--American and Afghan--in the aftermath of 9/11.
Runner
by Carl Deuker
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A young man becomes involved with smugglers. A post 9/11 espionage thriller.
by Carl Deuker
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A young man becomes involved with smugglers. A post 9/11 espionage thriller.
Shackleton's Stowaway
by Victoria McKernan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A gripping account of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition told by the youngest member of the crew.
by Victoria McKernan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
A gripping account of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition told by the youngest member of the crew.
Siberia
by Ann Halam
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
In a future world when much personal freedom and wildlife has been destroyed, the child of biologists finds the courage and skills to save the seed banks.
by Ann Halam
Ages: 12+
Published: 2005
In a future world when much personal freedom and wildlife has been destroyed, the child of biologists finds the courage and skills to save the seed banks.