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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What is Real
by Karen Rivers
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
Seventeen-year-old Dex is overwhelmed by the grim realities of caring for his disabled father and then learns about his girlfriend's history of sexual abuse.
by Karen Rivers
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
Seventeen-year-old Dex is overwhelmed by the grim realities of caring for his disabled father and then learns about his girlfriend's history of sexual abuse.
Where She Went
by Gayle Forman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
Adam turns to his musical career in an attempt to deal with the abrupt ending of a tragedy-infused love affair.
by Gayle Forman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
Adam turns to his musical career in an attempt to deal with the abrupt ending of a tragedy-infused love affair.
Where Things Come Back
by John Corey Whaley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
The possible return of an extinct woodpecker rivets Lily, Arkansas, but seventeen-year-old Cullen is concerned with friendship, romance, and his younger brother's disappearance.
by John Corey Whaley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
The possible return of an extinct woodpecker rivets Lily, Arkansas, but seventeen-year-old Cullen is concerned with friendship, romance, and his younger brother's disappearance.
Why We Broke Up
written by Daniel Handler
Illustrator: Maira Kalman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
No one expected Min and Ed's relationship to last, and they were right - but not necessarily for the reasons they imagined. Vibrant illustrations.
written by Daniel Handler
Illustrator: Maira Kalman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
No one expected Min and Ed's relationship to last, and they were right - but not necessarily for the reasons they imagined. Vibrant illustrations.
You Against Me
by Jenny Downham
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
When Mikey's sister is raped, he vows revenge. Then he meets and falls in love with the rapist's sister.
by Jenny Downham
Ages: 14+
Published: 2011
When Mikey's sister is raped, he vows revenge. Then he meets and falls in love with the rapist's sister.
A Little Wanting Song
by Cath Crowley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Charlie, sad, and Rose, angry, become friends because each needs something from the other. Told in alternating voices. Set in rural Australia.
by Cath Crowley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Charlie, sad, and Rose, angry, become friends because each needs something from the other. Told in alternating voices. Set in rural Australia.
All Unquiet Things
by Anna Jarzab
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Set in high school in California, this murder mystery moves through a fast-paced drug-infested crowd in search of answers about the real killers.
by Anna Jarzab
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Set in high school in California, this murder mystery moves through a fast-paced drug-infested crowd in search of answers about the real killers.
A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
by Brenda Woods
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Nine 10th-graders in a creative writing class share their struggles and dreams with each other and their teacher.
by Brenda Woods
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Nine 10th-graders in a creative writing class share their struggles and dreams with each other and their teacher.
Butterfly
by Sonya Hartnett
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
In Australia, fourteen=year-old Plum deals with issues of body image, friendship, and love heightened by insights from a young wife next door.
by Sonya Hartnett
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
In Australia, fourteen=year-old Plum deals with issues of body image, friendship, and love heightened by insights from a young wife next door.
Crazy
by Han Nolan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Jason worries about his mental stability as he tries to help his father deal with his own challenges.
by Han Nolan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Jason worries about his mental stability as he tries to help his father deal with his own challenges.
Death Benefits
by Sarah N. Harvey
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Pressed into service as caretaker for his difficult aged grandfather, Royce learns to appreciate the cantankerous man, a world-renowned cellist.
by Sarah N. Harvey
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Pressed into service as caretaker for his difficult aged grandfather, Royce learns to appreciate the cantankerous man, a world-renowned cellist.
Draw the Dark
by Ilsa J. Bick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Using his psychic powers, Christian is able to solve an ugly mystery that has haunted Winter, Wisconsin since it was the site of a prisoner of war camp for Germans during World War II.
by Ilsa J. Bick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Using his psychic powers, Christian is able to solve an ugly mystery that has haunted Winter, Wisconsin since it was the site of a prisoner of war camp for Germans during World War II.
Every Little Thing in the World
by Nina De Gramont
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Troubled and “in trouble,” sixteen-year-old Sydney learns truths about family, friendship, and herself on a wilderness canoe trip.
by Nina De Gramont
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Troubled and “in trouble,” sixteen-year-old Sydney learns truths about family, friendship, and herself on a wilderness canoe trip.
Finnikin of the Rock
by Melina Marchetta
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Finnikin survives ten years of exile before returning with the queen to retake the land.
by Melina Marchetta
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Finnikin survives ten years of exile before returning with the queen to retake the land.
Folly
by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
The parallel stories of Mary Finn and James Nelligan expose the difficulties of life for the poor in late Victorian England.
by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
The parallel stories of Mary Finn and James Nelligan expose the difficulties of life for the poor in late Victorian England.
Freak Magnet
by Andrew Auseon
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Two teenagers cope very differently with tremendous grief and loss, but develop a strong , supportive relationship with one another.
by Andrew Auseon
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Two teenagers cope very differently with tremendous grief and loss, but develop a strong , supportive relationship with one another.
Friend is Not a Verb
by Daniel Ehrenhaft
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Sixteen-year-old Hen finds his way towards self-realization through music, friendship, love, and family.
by Daniel Ehrenhaft
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Sixteen-year-old Hen finds his way towards self-realization through music, friendship, love, and family.
Glimpse
by Carol Lynch Williams
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
When Hope's older sister Lizzie becomes suicidal and is subsequently hospitalized, a terrible family secret is gradually revealed. Told in free verse.
by Carol Lynch Williams
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
When Hope's older sister Lizzie becomes suicidal and is subsequently hospitalized, a terrible family secret is gradually revealed. Told in free verse.
Green Witch
by Alice Hoffman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
As sixteen-year-old Green mourns the loss of her family and her city, she embarks on a difficult and enlightening journey of self-discovery.
by Alice Hoffman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
As sixteen-year-old Green mourns the loss of her family and her city, she embarks on a difficult and enlightening journey of self-discovery.
Hope in Patience
by Beth Fehlbaum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Fifteen-year-old Ashley deals with the effects of her stepfather's sexual abuse and the reality of the justice system.
by Beth Fehlbaum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Fifteen-year-old Ashley deals with the effects of her stepfather's sexual abuse and the reality of the justice system.
Hothouse
by Chris Lynch
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Russell struggles to come to terms with his grief and the painful truths that emerge after his father dies fighting a fire.
by Chris Lynch
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Russell struggles to come to terms with his grief and the painful truths that emerge after his father dies fighting a fire.
How I Made It to Eighteen
written and ill. by Tracy White
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Stacy's harsh story of her mental breakdown is told with dark humor and honesty through stark illustrations and narrative.
written and ill. by Tracy White
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Stacy's harsh story of her mental breakdown is told with dark humor and honesty through stark illustrations and narrative.
How to Make a Bird
by Martine Murray
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Seventeen-year-old Manon (Mannie) journeys to Melbourne to uncover secrets about a family tragedy and ultimately discovers herself.
by Martine Murray
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Seventeen-year-old Manon (Mannie) journeys to Melbourne to uncover secrets about a family tragedy and ultimately discovers herself.
Hush
by Eishes Chayil
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Gittel, through her experiences in preparing for marriage in her Chassidic Jewish community, comes to understand a disturbing incident from her childhood.
by Eishes Chayil
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Gittel, through her experiences in preparing for marriage in her Chassidic Jewish community, comes to understand a disturbing incident from her childhood.
Jumpstart the World
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Sixteen-year-old Elle confronts the many definitions of love and friendship when she meets her transgender neighbor.
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Ages: 14+
Published: 2010
Sixteen-year-old Elle confronts the many definitions of love and friendship when she meets her transgender neighbor.