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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
The Shadows of Ghadames
by Joelle Stolz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
At the end of the nineteeth century, a sensitive Libyan girl in the walled city of Ghadames yearns to expand her preordained role as a Muslim woman. Beautifully observed.
by Joelle Stolz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
At the end of the nineteeth century, a sensitive Libyan girl in the walled city of Ghadames yearns to expand her preordained role as a Muslim woman. Beautifully observed.
The Sunbird
by Elizabeth E. Wein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Telemakos, of mixed African and British blood and a grandson of King Arthur thwarts the plans of a salt-smuggling traitor and prevents the spread of the plague through Ethiopia.
by Elizabeth E. Wein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Telemakos, of mixed African and British blood and a grandson of King Arthur thwarts the plans of a salt-smuggling traitor and prevents the spread of the plague through Ethiopia.
The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A summer catering job helps Mary recover from her father's death and expands her definition of herself.
by Sarah Dessen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
A summer catering job helps Mary recover from her father's death and expands her definition of herself.
The Vanishing Point
by Louise Hawes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
The daughter of a well-known Renaissance painter struggles to establish her own”unwomanly” talent while retaining compassion and humanity.
by Louise Hawes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
The daughter of a well-known Renaissance painter struggles to establish her own”unwomanly” talent while retaining compassion and humanity.
Trickster's Queen
by Tamora Pierce
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Flying horses, rebels, wizards, spies, and nobility and commoners unite to aid Aly in restoring the true queen to the throne.
by Tamora Pierce
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Flying horses, rebels, wizards, spies, and nobility and commoners unite to aid Aly in restoring the true queen to the throne.
Walking Naked
by Alyssa Brugman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Popular Megan isn't strong enough to resist the disapproval of the clique she founded--with tragic results.
by Alyssa Brugman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Popular Megan isn't strong enough to resist the disapproval of the clique she founded--with tragic results.
Wintering Well
by Lea Wait
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Options are limited for a Maine farm boy who loses a leg, until a move to town with his sister offers new possibilities.
by Lea Wait
Ages: 12+
Published: 2004
Options are limited for a Maine farm boy who loses a leg, until a move to town with his sister offers new possibilities.
Abhorsen
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When they receive no word from the Abhorsen and the King, the Abhorsen-in-waiting and the King's son fight the evil forces threatening the Old Kingdom.
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When they receive no word from the Abhorsen and the King, the Abhorsen-in-waiting and the King's son fight the evil forces threatening the Old Kingdom.
A Coalition of Lions
by Elizabeth E. Wein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
In the sixth century, British Princess Goewin undertakes a desperate journey to resolve the conflicts of two war-torn African kingdoms.
by Elizabeth E. Wein
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
In the sixth century, British Princess Goewin undertakes a desperate journey to resolve the conflicts of two war-torn African kingdoms.
Alice, I Think
by Susan Juby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Home schooled by her eccentric parents, Alice plans to return to public high school.
by Susan Juby
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Home schooled by her eccentric parents, Alice plans to return to public high school.
Amaryllis
by Craig Crist-Evans
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A moving and compassionate story of two close brothers and their father separated by the devastation of the Vietnam War.
by Craig Crist-Evans
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A moving and compassionate story of two close brothers and their father separated by the devastation of the Vietnam War.
And in the Morning
by John Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A Scottish sixteen-year-old follows his father into battle in World War I. Graphic combat scenes.
by John Wilson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A Scottish sixteen-year-old follows his father into battle in World War I. Graphic combat scenes.
Before the Creeks Ran Red
by Carolyn Reeder
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Three fourteen-year-old boys from South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia must sort out conflicting loyalties at the dawn of the Civil War.
by Carolyn Reeder
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Three fourteen-year-old boys from South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia must sort out conflicting loyalties at the dawn of the Civil War.
Begging For Change
by Sharon G. Flake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The struggles of a twelve-year-old inner city girl as she deals with difficult problems.
by Sharon G. Flake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The struggles of a twelve-year-old inner city girl as she deals with difficult problems.
Birdland
by Tracy Mack
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Grieving for his older brother, thirteen-year-old Jed immerses himself in a school project videotaping his new York neighborhood.
by Tracy Mack
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Grieving for his older brother, thirteen-year-old Jed immerses himself in a school project videotaping his new York neighborhood.
Border Crossing
by Maria Colleen Cruz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Ceci Alvarez explores the Mexican side of her heritage
by Maria Colleen Cruz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Ceci Alvarez explores the Mexican side of her heritage
Boy Meets Boy
by David Levithan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Paul and his teenage gay friends struggle through their loves and sorrows in school and at home.
by David Levithan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Paul and his teenage gay friends struggle through their loves and sorrows in school and at home.
Breath
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
“The Pied Piper” told from the point of view of a very ill boy.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
“The Pied Piper” told from the point of view of a very ill boy.
Buddha Boy
by Kathe Koja
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The friendship between two high school students, one artistically gifted, but strange, leads them both to a better understanding of human nature and society.
by Kathe Koja
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The friendship between two high school students, one artistically gifted, but strange, leads them both to a better understanding of human nature and society.
Cold Tom
by Sally Prue
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
An elf-boy is caught between his vengeful parents and the world of ‘demon' humans.
by Sally Prue
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
An elf-boy is caught between his vengeful parents and the world of ‘demon' humans.
Colibrí
by Ann Cameron
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Kidnapped as a toddler, T'zunún, now twelve years old, wanders through Guatemala, begging with her “uncle,” searching for her true origins and finding inner strength. A beautiful, haunting story.
by Ann Cameron
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Kidnapped as a toddler, T'zunún, now twelve years old, wanders through Guatemala, begging with her “uncle,” searching for her true origins and finding inner strength. A beautiful, haunting story.
East
by Edith Pattou
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Destined to wander from her Norwegian farm, Rose leaves on the back of a white bear, beginning a mysterious and romantic journey.
by Edith Pattou
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Destined to wander from her Norwegian farm, Rose leaves on the back of a white bear, beginning a mysterious and romantic journey.
Fat Kid Rules the World
by K.L. Going
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A depressed, overweight teenager begins to believe in himself when he is recruited into a band by a charismatic peer.
by K.L. Going
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A depressed, overweight teenager begins to believe in himself when he is recruited into a band by a charismatic peer.
Finding Our Way
by René Saldana, Jr.
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Eleven powerful and moving coming-of-age stories set in a Texas-Mexican community.
by René Saldana, Jr.
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Eleven powerful and moving coming-of-age stories set in a Texas-Mexican community.
Full Tilt
by Neal Shusterman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A sixteen-year-old's scary fantasies help him understand the complexities of his real world.
by Neal Shusterman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A sixteen-year-old's scary fantasies help him understand the complexities of his real world.