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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Miracle
by Elizabeth Scott
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Megan, the only survivor of a horrific plane crash, must deal with those memories as well as the reactions of family and friends.
by Elizabeth Scott
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Megan, the only survivor of a horrific plane crash, must deal with those memories as well as the reactions of family and friends.
Miss Fortune Cookie
by Lauren Bjorkman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Erin, a non-Chinese high school senior living in San Francisco's Chinatown, gives advice on her blog, but who will help her with her problems of independence, identity, friendship, and a possible romance.
by Lauren Bjorkman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Erin, a non-Chinese high school senior living in San Francisco's Chinatown, gives advice on her blog, but who will help her with her problems of independence, identity, friendship, and a possible romance.
Monument 14
by Emmy Laybourne
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
As the apocalypse begins, fourteen kids seek refuge inside a megastore and must negotiate power struggles and a new world order.
by Emmy Laybourne
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
As the apocalypse begins, fourteen kids seek refuge inside a megastore and must negotiate power struggles and a new world order.
My Book of Life by Angel
by Martine Leavitt
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Inspired by incidents of girls who disappeared from Vancouver's streets in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Angel's story tells how easy it is to fall into prostitution and how difficult it is to escape.
by Martine Leavitt
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Inspired by incidents of girls who disappeared from Vancouver's streets in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Angel's story tells how easy it is to fall into prostitution and how difficult it is to escape.
Never Fall Down
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Arn tells the heartbreaking and powerful story of his survival under the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge.
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Arn tells the heartbreaking and powerful story of his survival under the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge.
Of Poseidon
by Anna Banks
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Prince Galen recognizes Emma as one of the Syrena who can talk to fish. Will Emma accept her own secret birthright?
by Anna Banks
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Prince Galen recognizes Emma as one of the Syrena who can talk to fish. Will Emma accept her own secret birthright?
Out of Reach
by Carrie Arcos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
A heart-broken sister searches California beach towns for her brother, lost to drug addiction and dealing. His best friend tries to help.
by Carrie Arcos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
A heart-broken sister searches California beach towns for her brother, lost to drug addiction and dealing. His best friend tries to help.
Pandemonium
by Lauren Oliver
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Seventeen-year-old Lena escapes a world where love is viewed as a disease, joins a rebel group and discovers her own humanity.
by Lauren Oliver
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Seventeen-year-old Lena escapes a world where love is viewed as a disease, joins a rebel group and discovers her own humanity.
Personal Effects
by E. M. Kokie
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
After seventeen-year-old Matt Foster's beloved older brother dies in the war in Iraq, Matt makes a startling discovery about him.
by E. M. Kokie
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
After seventeen-year-old Matt Foster's beloved older brother dies in the war in Iraq, Matt makes a startling discovery about him.
Pregnant Pause
by Han Nolan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Married and pregnant, sixteen-year-old Eleanor must decide whether her marriage will last and if she should keep the baby.
by Han Nolan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Married and pregnant, sixteen-year-old Eleanor must decide whether her marriage will last and if she should keep the baby.
Radiant Days
by Elizabeth Hand
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
With help from a mysterious musician, a troubled artist living in 1977, and nineteenth century poet Arthur Rimbaud travel through time to meet, changing each other irrevocably
by Elizabeth Hand
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
With help from a mysterious musician, a troubled artist living in 1977, and nineteenth century poet Arthur Rimbaud travel through time to meet, changing each other irrevocably
Red Heart Tattoo
by Lurlene McDaniel
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
When their high school experiences a bomb blast, students confront the prejudices that allowed it to happen.
by Lurlene McDaniel
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
When their high school experiences a bomb blast, students confront the prejudices that allowed it to happen.
Seize the Storm
by Michael Cadnum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Sailing with her family to Hawaii, seventeen-year-old Susannah confronts criminals intent on recovering the cash from their illegal operations.
by Michael Cadnum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Sailing with her family to Hawaii, seventeen-year-old Susannah confronts criminals intent on recovering the cash from their illegal operations.
Small Damages
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Far from home, on an isolated ranch in Spain, eighteen-year-old Kenzie struggles with anger, loss, and loneliness as she waits to give birth and then give up her baby for adoption.
by Beth Kephart
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Far from home, on an isolated ranch in Spain, eighteen-year-old Kenzie struggles with anger, loss, and loneliness as she waits to give birth and then give up her baby for adoption.
Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am
by Harry Mazer
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Ben. a popular, respected high school graduate, suffers brain damage in Iraq. The first person he remembers from his earlier life is his autistic brother.
by Harry Mazer
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Ben. a popular, respected high school graduate, suffers brain damage in Iraq. The first person he remembers from his earlier life is his autistic brother.
Something Like Normal
by Trish Doller
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Travis, a Marine returning from Afghanistan, is forced to deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder and his family's dysfunction.
by Trish Doller
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Travis, a Marine returning from Afghanistan, is forced to deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder and his family's dysfunction.
The Brides of Rollrock Island
by Margo Lanagan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
On a remote island, a witch who can draw beautiful sea wives out from the seals creates great turmoil among the fishermen.
by Margo Lanagan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
On a remote island, a witch who can draw beautiful sea wives out from the seals creates great turmoil among the fishermen.
The Butterfly Clues
by Kate Ellison
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Continuing her compulsive behavior, Lo becomes obsessed with finding the killer of a murder she witnesses.
by Kate Ellison
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Continuing her compulsive behavior, Lo becomes obsessed with finding the killer of a murder she witnesses.
The Drowned Cities
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
In a dark future America, Mahlia teams up with a genetically engineered killing machine to save a friend.
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
In a dark future America, Mahlia teams up with a genetically engineered killing machine to save a friend.
The Edge of Nowhere
by Elizabeth George
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Becca has the disturbing ability to hear people's thoughts. To protect her from her criminal stepfather, her mother abandons her on an island where she finds help and support.
by Elizabeth George
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Becca has the disturbing ability to hear people's thoughts. To protect her from her criminal stepfather, her mother abandons her on an island where she finds help and support.
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
When sixteen-year-old Hazel, a terminal cancer patient, meets Gus at a support group, their budding romance brings revelations about life, love, and death.
by John Green
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
When sixteen-year-old Hazel, a terminal cancer patient, meets Gus at a support group, their budding romance brings revelations about life, love, and death.
The Girl in the Park
by Mariah Fredericks
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
A teenager born with a cleft palate finds self-confidence and courage when she is compelled to solve the murder of her high school friend.
by Mariah Fredericks
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
A teenager born with a cleft palate finds self-confidence and courage when she is compelled to solve the murder of her high school friend.
The Lost Girl
by Sangu Mandanna
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Eva, as a product of the Loom, must study Amarra to be ready to replace her if she dies. Brave Eva risks everything to have her own life.
by Sangu Mandanna
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Eva, as a product of the Loom, must study Amarra to be ready to replace her if she dies. Brave Eva risks everything to have her own life.
The Peculiars
by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
In search of the father who abandoned her and the truth about her own unusual physique, eighteen-year-old Lena travels to the wild territory of Scree.
by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
In search of the father who abandoned her and the truth about her own unusual physique, eighteen-year-old Lena travels to the wild territory of Scree.
The Right and the Real
by Joelle Anthony
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Jamie's turbulent world gets even more complicated when her father joins a cult and she becomes homeless. Romance, adventure, new and old friendships play their roles.
by Joelle Anthony
Ages: 14+
Published: 2012
Jamie's turbulent world gets even more complicated when her father joins a cult and she becomes homeless. Romance, adventure, new and old friendships play their roles.