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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Brother Hood
by Janet McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A Harlem teen gets to attend a prestigious prep school and finds himself living between two worlds.
by Janet McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A Harlem teen gets to attend a prestigious prep school and finds himself living between two worlds.
Bucking the Sarge
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Fourteen-year-old Luther's greatest obstacle to success is his fraudulent, cheating and manipulative mother. Will he be able to escape unharmed?
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Fourteen-year-old Luther's greatest obstacle to success is his fraudulent, cheating and manipulative mother. Will he be able to escape unharmed?
Call Me María
by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
María leaves her mother in Puerto Rico and comes to live in a barrio on the mainland with her father.
by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
María leaves her mother in Puerto Rico and comes to live in a barrio on the mainland with her father.
Curse of the Blue Tattoo
by L.A. Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1824 a spunky cockney teenager goes from midshipman to a posh Boston girls' finishing school with humorous results. Sequel to Bloody Jack.
by L.A. Meyer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1824 a spunky cockney teenager goes from midshipman to a posh Boston girls' finishing school with humorous results. Sequel to Bloody Jack.
Daniel Half Human and the Good Nazi
by David Chotjewitz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
During Hitler's rise to power in Hamburg, Germany, Daniel realizes the harsh implications of his Jewish roots.
by David Chotjewitz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
During Hitler's rise to power in Hamburg, Germany, Daniel realizes the harsh implications of his Jewish roots.
Devil on My Heels
by Joyce McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In Florida orange grove country in 1959, Dove's growing awareness and discomfort with racism and injustice affects her profoundly.
by Joyce McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In Florida orange grove country in 1959, Dove's growing awareness and discomfort with racism and injustice affects her profoundly.
Edgar Allen Poe's Tales of Mystery and Madness
by Edgar Allan Poe
Illustrator: Gris Grimly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Dramatic watercolors illustrate four classic, gruesome tales from this master storyteller.
by Edgar Allan Poe
Illustrator: Gris Grimly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Dramatic watercolors illustrate four classic, gruesome tales from this master storyteller.
Finding Miracles
by Julia Alvarez
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A fifteen-year-old adopted Vermont girl raised as a Jew searches her biological roots in South America.
by Julia Alvarez
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A fifteen-year-old adopted Vermont girl raised as a Jew searches her biological roots in South America.
Fire in the Hole!
by Mary Cronk Farrell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1899 Idaho, disastrous labor trouble in the mines and illness at home threaten Mick's resolve to get an education.
by Mary Cronk Farrell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1899 Idaho, disastrous labor trouble in the mines and illness at home threaten Mick's resolve to get an education.
Gifts
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Orrec has been given the gift of “undoing” but refuses to accept it. A book about the meaning of power and the ability to refrain from using it.
by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Orrec has been given the gift of “undoing” but refuses to accept it. A book about the meaning of power and the ability to refrain from using it.
Here Today
by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Dealing with bullying and an increasingly absent mother, Ellie finds her own strengths.
by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Dealing with bullying and an increasingly absent mother, Ellie finds her own strengths.
Hidden Roots
by Joseph Bruchac
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Eleven-year-old Sonny's family keeps the secret of his heritage to protect him from our country's racist treatment of Native Americans in the twentieth century.
by Joseph Bruchac
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Eleven-year-old Sonny's family keeps the secret of his heritage to protect him from our country's racist treatment of Native Americans in the twentieth century.
How I Found the Strong
by Margaret McMullan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
At ten, Frank can't fight for the Confederacy, but he is spared neither the horror nor the sorrow of war. Gritty.
by Margaret McMullan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
At ten, Frank can't fight for the Confederacy, but he is spared neither the horror nor the sorrow of war. Gritty.
How I Live Now
by Meg Rosoff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Daisy and her orphaned cousins survive in a war-ravaged world where all of the rules have changed.
by Meg Rosoff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Daisy and her orphaned cousins survive in a war-ravaged world where all of the rules have changed.
In Darkness, Death
by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Japanese life under the Shoguns. An engaging mystery with finely honed details. Third in a series.
by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Japanese life under the Shoguns. An engaging mystery with finely honed details. Third in a series.
Jude
by Kate Morgenroth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Teen-aged Jude, a witness to a murder, chooses to protect others and faces rejection, prison and personal redemption. Gripping.
by Kate Morgenroth
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Teen-aged Jude, a witness to a murder, chooses to protect others and faces rejection, prison and personal redemption. Gripping.
Ka-Pow! Heck, Superhero
by Martine Leavitt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Heck tries to hold things together when he and his mother lose their apartment and his mother drifts away.
by Martine Leavitt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Heck tries to hold things together when he and his mother lose their apartment and his mother drifts away.
Kat's Fall
by Shelley Hrdlitschka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
After their mother is released from prison, her children learn who really was to blame.
by Shelley Hrdlitschka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
After their mother is released from prison, her children learn who really was to blame.
Kira-Kira
by Cynthia Kadohata
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Katie's older sister is her inspiration until illness strikes.A Japanese American family's struggle to survive in rural 1950s Georgia.
by Cynthia Kadohata
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Katie's older sister is her inspiration until illness strikes.A Japanese American family's struggle to survive in rural 1950s Georgia.
Margaux with an X
by Ron Koertge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Beautiful, popular Margaux finds a soul-mate in Danny Riley, a “dweeby” loner and animal rescue enthusiast.
by Ron Koertge
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Beautiful, popular Margaux finds a soul-mate in Danny Riley, a “dweeby” loner and animal rescue enthusiast.
Missing Abby
by Lee Weatherly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Emma's former best friend, Abby, is missing--and Emma may have been the last person to see her alive.
by Lee Weatherly
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Emma's former best friend, Abby, is missing--and Emma may have been the last person to see her alive.
Monsoon Summer
by Mitali Perkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
“Jazz” Gardner reluctantly leaves California for a life changing summer in India helping her family at the orphanage that had once been her mother's home.
by Mitali Perkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
“Jazz” Gardner reluctantly leaves California for a life changing summer in India helping her family at the orphanage that had once been her mother's home.
Naming Maya
by Uma Krishnaswami
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
When she travels to India, Maya learns much about her mysterious family history and mends her relationship with her divorced mother. Helpful Tamil glossary.
by Uma Krishnaswami
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
When she travels to India, Maya learns much about her mysterious family history and mends her relationship with her divorced mother. Helpful Tamil glossary.
No Shame, No Fear
by Ann Turnbull
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1662 England a Quaker struggles to develop intellectually and handle her love for an Anglican, despite persecution.
by Ann Turnbull
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
In 1662 England a Quaker struggles to develop intellectually and handle her love for an Anglican, despite persecution.
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
by Sonya Sones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Fifteen-year-old Ruby is determined to hate everything about her new life in Los Angeles with her famous father until she discovers the truth about her past.
by Sonya Sones
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Fifteen-year-old Ruby is determined to hate everything about her new life in Los Angeles with her famous father until she discovers the truth about her past.