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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Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Determined to subvert his high school's over-emphasis on competative sports, T.J. Jones helps a group of misfits become a swim team. Provocative and intense.
by Chris Crutcher
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Determined to subvert his high school's over-emphasis on competative sports, T.J. Jones helps a group of misfits become a swim team. Provocative and intense.
Witch Child
by Celia Rees
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Mary newbury's diary of seventeenth century prejudice in New England. Spellbinding.
by Celia Rees
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
Mary newbury's diary of seventeenth century prejudice in New England. Spellbinding.
You Don't Know Me
by David Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
John, the fourteen-year-old victim of a brutal stepfather, is a model of fortitude, sensitivity and survival. Surprisingly funny treatment of a serious subject.
by David Klass
Ages: 12+
Published: 2001
John, the fourteen-year-old victim of a brutal stepfather, is a model of fortitude, sensitivity and survival. Surprisingly funny treatment of a serious subject.
After Hamelin
by Bill Richardson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A 101-year-old woman recounts how she journeyed to save the children enchanted by the Pied Piper.
by Bill Richardson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A 101-year-old woman recounts how she journeyed to save the children enchanted by the Pied Piper.
Among the Hidden
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Compelling story of twelve-year-old Luke in a futuristic world where third children are not permitted to exist. (12+)M
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Compelling story of twelve-year-old Luke in a futuristic world where third children are not permitted to exist. (12+)M
Battle Dress
by Amy Efaw
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Andi is not sure she can survive the extreme emotional and physical challenges of training at West Point.
by Amy Efaw
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Andi is not sure she can survive the extreme emotional and physical challenges of training at West Point.
Beast
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A powerful re-imagining of the familiar tale includes the Beast's origins, his “bestiality” and his eventual redemption by Belle.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A powerful re-imagining of the familiar tale includes the Beast's origins, his “bestiality” and his eventual redemption by Belle.
Blueprint
by Charlotte Kerner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Jealousy and hostility replace shared traits as the relationship of a young clone and her mother/twin develops. Provocative and disturbing.
by Charlotte Kerner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Jealousy and hostility replace shared traits as the relationship of a young clone and her mother/twin develops. Provocative and disturbing.
Carolina Autumn
by Carol Lynch Williams
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Still numb from the tragic death of her sister and father, Carolina can hardly summon up the strength to hold onto a boy who loves her.
by Carol Lynch Williams
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Still numb from the tragic death of her sister and father, Carolina can hardly summon up the strength to hold onto a boy who loves her.
Cut
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Fifteen-year-old Callie starts to resolve the difficulties that lead her to hurt herself.
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Fifteen-year-old Callie starts to resolve the difficulties that lead her to hurt herself.
Dancing with an Alien
by Mary Logue
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Seventeen-year-old Tonia feels unattractive and unlovable until she meets Branko, a handsome boy who seems “different.” A story of first love and sacrifice.
by Mary Logue
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Seventeen-year-old Tonia feels unattractive and unlovable until she meets Branko, a handsome boy who seems “different.” A story of first love and sacrifice.
David v. God
by Mary E. Pearson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Class clown David's way back to earth from heaven involves a debate with God during which he comes to certain realizations about himself and others. Odd and moving.
by Mary E. Pearson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Class clown David's way back to earth from heaven involves a debate with God during which he comes to certain realizations about himself and others. Odd and moving.
Death at Devil's Bridge
by Cynthia DeFelice
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
On Martha's Vineyard, a thirteen-year-old boy discovers a sunken car in the ocean and contends with peer pressure and his conscience.
by Cynthia DeFelice
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
On Martha's Vineyard, a thirteen-year-old boy discovers a sunken car in the ocean and contends with peer pressure and his conscience.
Drawing Lessons
by Tracy Mack
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
When her parents separate, an artistic seventh grader copes with the loss of the father with whom she shared her love of art.
by Tracy Mack
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
When her parents separate, an artistic seventh grader copes with the loss of the father with whom she shared her love of art.
Eight Seconds
by Jean Ferris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
At rodeo camp in a culture where being gay is practically incomprehensible, John finds himself attracted to another young man.
by Jean Ferris
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
At rodeo camp in a culture where being gay is practically incomprehensible, John finds himself attracted to another young man.
Forgotten Fire
by Adam Bagdasarian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Emerging barely alive after the loss of his entire family in the Armenian massacre of 1915, a thirteen-year-old boy wills himself to escape from Turkey.
by Adam Bagdasarian
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Emerging barely alive after the loss of his entire family in the Armenian massacre of 1915, a thirteen-year-old boy wills himself to escape from Turkey.
Gathering Blue
by Lois Lowry
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
After her mother's death, Kira finds herself in a violent, futuristic society, and is saved by the Guardians because of her weaving skills.
by Lois Lowry
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
After her mother's death, Kira finds herself in a violent, futuristic society, and is saved by the Guardians because of her weaving skills.
Holding Up the Earth
by Dianne E. Gray
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Reading the diaries and letters of pioneer Nebraska women, a fourteen-year-old foster child realizes that she doesn't have the corner on suffering.
by Dianne E. Gray
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Reading the diaries and letters of pioneer Nebraska women, a fourteen-year-old foster child realizes that she doesn't have the corner on suffering.
Hope Was Here
by Joan Bauer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt become involved in local Wisconsin politics as newcomers working in the town diner.
by Joan Bauer
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt become involved in local Wisconsin politics as newcomers working in the town diner.
John Riley's Daughter
by Kezi Matthews
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Thirteen-year-old Memphis quarrels with her retarded aunt who then disappears.
by Kezi Matthews
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Thirteen-year-old Memphis quarrels with her retarded aunt who then disappears.
Little Lit
edited by Art Spiegelman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Parables, parodies and eye-popping graphics.
edited by Art Spiegelman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
Parables, parodies and eye-popping graphics.
Looking for X
by Deborah Ellis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
An eleven-year-old Canadian girl helps her single mother cope with her autistic twin brothers. Sensitive and warm.
by Deborah Ellis
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
An eleven-year-old Canadian girl helps her single mother cope with her autistic twin brothers. Sensitive and warm.
Lost in Time
by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A German teenager's special vision transports him across time and space in a series of extraordinary adventures.
by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
A German teenager's special vision transports him across time and space in a series of extraordinary adventures.
McKendree
by Sandra Belton
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
During the summer of 1948 in West Virginia, five teenagers work at a retirement home--and find new beginnings and self-esteem.
by Sandra Belton
Ages: 12+
Published: 2000
During the summer of 1948 in West Virginia, five teenagers work at a retirement home--and find new beginnings and self-esteem.