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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Gilbert & Sullivan Set Me Free
by Kathleen Karr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
At the onset of World War I, a sixteen-year-old is sentenced to a woman's prison. A sympathetic chaplain transforms the inmates lives with music. Largely based on real incidents.
by Kathleen Karr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
At the onset of World War I, a sixteen-year-old is sentenced to a woman's prison. A sympathetic chaplain transforms the inmates lives with music. Largely based on real incidents.
Guerrilla Season
by Pat Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Matt Howard's Missouri farming community is divided and dangerous in this well researched, fast paced Civil War story.
by Pat Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Matt Howard's Missouri farming community is divided and dangerous in this well researched, fast paced Civil War story.
Keeper of the Night
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
After her mother's suicide, twelve-year-old Isabel cares for her entire family on Guam until she is finally forced to help herself.
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
After her mother's suicide, twelve-year-old Isabel cares for her entire family on Guam until she is finally forced to help herself.
Keesha's House
by Helen Frost
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Seven teens movingly describe their struggles to find support, acceptance, friendship and home. Memorable poetry.
by Helen Frost
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Seven teens movingly describe their struggles to find support, acceptance, friendship and home. Memorable poetry.
Maata's Journal
by Paul Sullivan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Her love of language and adventure enables a young Inuit girl to live in both a Canadian settlement camp and her Inuit world.
by Paul Sullivan
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Her love of language and adventure enables a young Inuit girl to live in both a Canadian settlement camp and her Inuit world.
Milkweed
by Jerry Spinelli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
An orphan boy with no knowledge of his background survives in World War II Warsaw by being “nobody.”
by Jerry Spinelli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
An orphan boy with no knowledge of his background survives in World War II Warsaw by being “nobody.”
Mountain Solo
by Jeanette Ingold
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
While hiking, a sixteen-year-old violinist tries to decide whether to continue her rigorous career in New York or return home to Montana.
by Jeanette Ingold
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
While hiking, a sixteen-year-old violinist tries to decide whether to continue her rigorous career in New York or return home to Montana.
My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel
by Rosemary Graham
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Teen-aged Tracy reluctantly shares a kooky Cape Cod boarding house with other divorced parents and their children--with surprising results.
by Rosemary Graham
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Teen-aged Tracy reluctantly shares a kooky Cape Cod boarding house with other divorced parents and their children--with surprising results.
Not As Crazy As I Seem
by George Harrar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A bright, quirky teenager struggles to keep his compulsions under control and get on with his life.
by George Harrar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A bright, quirky teenager struggles to keep his compulsions under control and get on with his life.
Or Give Me Death
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
While Patrick Henry pleads for freedom in the colonies, his daughters work to protect his mentally ill wife and strive to fulfill themselves.
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
While Patrick Henry pleads for freedom in the colonies, his daughters work to protect his mentally ill wife and strive to fulfill themselves.
Shadow of a doubt
by s. l. rottman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Shadow's older brother returns after seven years, once again bringing emotional chaos to his family.
by s. l. rottman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Shadow's older brother returns after seven years, once again bringing emotional chaos to his family.
Sorcery & Cecelia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot
by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
In an alternate Regency England, wizardry is commonplace. Kate and Cecelia must deal with magic misplaced and misused.
by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
In an alternate Regency England, wizardry is commonplace. Kate and Cecelia must deal with magic misplaced and misused.
Stefan's Story
by Valerie Hobbs
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When thirteen-year-old , wheelchair-bound Stefan visits his friend Carolina, they work to save an old-growth forest.
by Valerie Hobbs
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When thirteen-year-old , wheelchair-bound Stefan visits his friend Carolina, they work to save an old-growth forest.
Stitches
by Glen Huser
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Travis feels different--he loves puppets and sewing. With the support of friends, he faces classmates' violent teasing.
by Glen Huser
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Travis feels different--he loves puppets and sewing. With the support of friends, he faces classmates' violent teasing.
Swan Sister
edited by Ellen Datlow
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Anthology of new and surprising adaptations of traditional tales--from Red Riding Hood to the Arabian Nights.
edited by Ellen Datlow
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Anthology of new and surprising adaptations of traditional tales--from Red Riding Hood to the Arabian Nights.
Tales of Court and Castle
by Joan Bodger
Illustrator: Mark Lang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Celtic folktales wonderfully retold using authentic rhythms and vocabulary.
by Joan Bodger
Illustrator: Mark Lang
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Celtic folktales wonderfully retold using authentic rhythms and vocabulary.
The Ballad of Sir Dinadan
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The amusing misadventures of one of King Arthur's knights who is musically talented and reluctant to fight.
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
The amusing misadventures of one of King Arthur's knights who is musically talented and reluctant to fight.
The Bartimaeus Trilogy
by Jonathan Stroud
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A breathtaking tale of wizardry told alternately by Nathaniel, an English apprentice magician and Bartimaeus his worldly djinni.
by Jonathan Stroud
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
A breathtaking tale of wizardry told alternately by Nathaniel, an English apprentice magician and Bartimaeus his worldly djinni.
The City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Two twelve-year-olds struggle to uncover the truth of their mysterious, deteriorating city and search for an escape route.
by Jeanne DuPrau
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Two twelve-year-olds struggle to uncover the truth of their mysterious, deteriorating city and search for an escape route.
The Crying Rocks
by Janet Taylor Lisle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Joelle seeks answers to the mystery of her parentage through exploration of the tragic history of Rhode Island's proud Narragansett Indians.
by Janet Taylor Lisle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Joelle seeks answers to the mystery of her parentage through exploration of the tragic history of Rhode Island's proud Narragansett Indians.
The Girl with a Baby
by Sylvia Olsen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
With a new baby and the lead in the school play, school is challenging for fourteen-year-old Jane. Set in a small Canadian town and on an Indian reservation.
by Sylvia Olsen
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
With a new baby and the lead in the school play, school is challenging for fourteen-year-old Jane. Set in a small Canadian town and on an Indian reservation.
The Goose Girl
by Shannon Hale
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Princess Anidori contends with turncoat guards, becomes a goose girl and finds her true self and her place on the throne. An intriguing adventure based on the Grimm's tale.
by Shannon Hale
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Princess Anidori contends with turncoat guards, becomes a goose girl and finds her true self and her place on the throne. An intriguing adventure based on the Grimm's tale.
The Hollow Kingdom
by Clare B. Dunkle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Kate and Emily enter a goblin realm. A suspenseful tale with an unexpected twist.
by Clare B. Dunkle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Kate and Emily enter a goblin realm. A suspenseful tale with an unexpected twist.
The Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Seventh grader, Arthur Penthaligon, is drawn into a secret realm to do battle with the mysterious Mr. Monday to try to reverse the plague which threatens his community.
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
Seventh grader, Arthur Penthaligon, is drawn into a secret realm to do battle with the mysterious Mr. Monday to try to reverse the plague which threatens his community.
The Kings Are Already Here
by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When fifteen-year-old Phebe, who has studied ballet all her life, meets sixteen-year-old chess master Nikolai, her world view changes.
by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2003
When fifteen-year-old Phebe, who has studied ballet all her life, meets sixteen-year-old chess master Nikolai, her world view changes.