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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How to Be a Real Person (in just one day)
by Sally Warner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Sixth-grader Kara tries to conceal her mentally ill mother from her friends, her absent father, and her teachers.
by Sally Warner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Sixth-grader Kara tries to conceal her mentally ill mother from her friends, her absent father, and her teachers.
In Search of a Homeland
by Penelope Lively
Illustrator: Ian Andrew
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Fleeing conquered Troy on a dangerous mission, Aeneas seeks to fulfill the destiny fortold for his descendants--the founding of Rome.
by Penelope Lively
Illustrator: Ian Andrew
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Fleeing conquered Troy on a dangerous mission, Aeneas seeks to fulfill the destiny fortold for his descendants--the founding of Rome.
Just Ask Iris
by Lucy Frank
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Clver twelve-year-old transforms the lives of her human and animal neighbors.
by Lucy Frank
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Clver twelve-year-old transforms the lives of her human and animal neighbors.
Lirael
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Although still lacking the gift of sight, Lirael discovers her own powers and destiny.
by Garth Nix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Although still lacking the gift of sight, Lirael discovers her own powers and destiny.
Mara's Stories
by Gary Schmidt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A sad but beautiful collection of stories from the Jewish tradition, retold by a girl in a concentration camp.
by Gary Schmidt
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A sad but beautiful collection of stories from the Jewish tradition, retold by a girl in a concentration camp.
Memory Boy
by Will Weaver
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In the aftermath of an environmental disaster, Miles helps his family escape and cope with the fear and lawlessness they encounter outside the city.
by Will Weaver
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In the aftermath of an environmental disaster, Miles helps his family escape and cope with the fear and lawlessness they encounter outside the city.
Money Hungry
by Sharon G. Flake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Raspberry struggles to understand her desperate need to keep making money. Told in the language of contemporary urban youth.
by Sharon G. Flake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Raspberry struggles to understand her desperate need to keep making money. Told in the language of contemporary urban youth.
Of Sound Mind
by Jean Ferris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
High school senior Theo struggles to balance his deaf family's demands and his own dreams.
by Jean Ferris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
High school senior Theo struggles to balance his deaf family's demands and his own dreams.
Parsifal's Page
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Eleven-year-old Piers' perspective changes as he travels through King Arthur's England with Parsifal. Told with humor.
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Eleven-year-old Piers' perspective changes as he travels through King Arthur's England with Parsifal. Told with humor.
Playing for Keeps
by Joan Lowery Nixon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Aboard a luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean, a mystery involves a sixteen-year-old, her grandmother and a refugee from Castro's Cuba.
by Joan Lowery Nixon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Aboard a luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean, a mystery involves a sixteen-year-old, her grandmother and a refugee from Castro's Cuba.
Razzle
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
New to Cape Cod, photographer Ken is torn between his friendship with the exotic Razzle and his attraction to the seductive Harley.
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
New to Cape Cod, photographer Ken is torn between his friendship with the exotic Razzle and his attraction to the seductive Harley.
Rockbuster
by Gloria Skurzynski
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In pre -World War I Utah, coal-miner Tommy's brilliant song writing talent, his union associations, and a romance create conflict.
by Gloria Skurzynski
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In pre -World War I Utah, coal-miner Tommy's brilliant song writing talent, his union associations, and a romance create conflict.
Seek
by Paul Fleischman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In play format, as he completes an assigned autobiography, Rob reveals his search for his “missing” father--and its outcome.
by Paul Fleischman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In play format, as he completes an assigned autobiography, Rob reveals his search for his “missing” father--and its outcome.
Slap Your Sides
by M.E. Kerr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
When the oldest son in a Quaker family decides to become a conscientious objector, it affects his family and the entire town.
by M.E. Kerr
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
When the oldest son in a Quaker family decides to become a conscientious objector, it affects his family and the entire town.
Slaves of the Mastery
by William Nicholson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Teenage twins seek to free their people from the Mastery, a kingdom where beauty and order attempt to justify cruelty and violence.
by William Nicholson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Teenage twins seek to free their people from the Mastery, a kingdom where beauty and order attempt to justify cruelty and violence.
Spellbound
by Janet McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
High school dropout and single mother, sixteen-year-old Raven finds her way to success with the help of family and friends.
by Janet McDonald
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
High school dropout and single mother, sixteen-year-old Raven finds her way to success with the help of family and friends.
The Buccaneers
by Iain Lawrence
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
An exciting sea adventure loaded with heroes, villains and non-stop action. Set in the early 1800s.
by Iain Lawrence
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
An exciting sea adventure loaded with heroes, villains and non-stop action. Set in the early 1800s.
The Dragon's Son
by Sarah L. Thomson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
The Arthurian legend through the eyes of the minor characters. A powerful retelling.
by Sarah L. Thomson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
The Arthurian legend through the eyes of the minor characters. A powerful retelling.
The Gospel According to Larry
by Janet Tashjian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A brilliant seventeen-year-old launches an anonymous anti-consumerism campaign on the internet, with disturbing results.
by Janet Tashjian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A brilliant seventeen-year-old launches an anonymous anti-consumerism campaign on the internet, with disturbing results.
The Great Ships
by Patrick O'Brien
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
One thousand years of seafaring navigational history featuring seventeen ships, some better known than others.
by Patrick O'Brien
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
One thousand years of seafaring navigational history featuring seventeen ships, some better known than others.
The Ropemaker
by Peter Dickinson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A chosen few journey to save their Valley from unspeakable evil.
by Peter Dickinson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A chosen few journey to save their Valley from unspeakable evil.
The Seeing Stone
by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In this first installment of a trilogy, young Arthur, seeing the legendary Arthur in Merlin's stone, comes to understand his own life in 1199.
by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
In this first installment of a trilogy, young Arthur, seeing the legendary Arthur in Merlin's stone, comes to understand his own life in 1199.
Troy
by Adele Geras
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
War-weary Troy in the last weeks of the siege is observed by two orphan sisters under Hector's protection. Enthralling.
by Adele Geras
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
War-weary Troy in the last weeks of the siege is observed by two orphan sisters under Hector's protection. Enthralling.
True Believer
by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Living in the inner city, fifteen-year-old LaVaughn relates how she learns to cope with all sorts of obstacles as she moves toward her goal of “getting out.” Sequel to “Make Lemonade.”
by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Living in the inner city, fifteen-year-old LaVaughn relates how she learns to cope with all sorts of obstacles as she moves toward her goal of “getting out.” Sequel to “Make Lemonade.”
Under a War-Torn Sky
by L.M. Elliott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A young pilot, forced down behind enemy lines, survives with the aid of the French Resistance. Vivid and powerful.
by L.M. Elliott
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
A young pilot, forced down behind enemy lines, survives with the aid of the French Resistance. Vivid and powerful.