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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Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe
Lindsay S. Zrull
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In foster care since age seven, Jess, 17, joins Oscar's cosplay team, hoping a distant costume competition will enable her to reunite with her mentally ill biological mother.
Lindsay S. Zrull
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In foster care since age seven, Jess, 17, joins Oscar's cosplay team, hoping a distant costume competition will enable her to reunite with her mentally ill biological mother.
Greatest Thing, The
Sarah Winifred Searle
Illustrator: Sarah Winifred Searle
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Blue-tinted illustrations depict Winifred's struggles with mental health and identity. Artistic expression and friendship help her find her voice. skin. Semi-autobiographical.
Sarah Winifred Searle
Illustrator: Sarah Winifred Searle
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Blue-tinted illustrations depict Winifred's struggles with mental health and identity. Artistic expression and friendship help her find her voice. skin. Semi-autobiographical.
Great or Nothing
Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
Illustrator: Louise Cannell
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In a reimagined Little Women set in 1942, Jo works in an aircraft factory, Amy joins the Red Cross, and the Marches struggle with their grief over Beth's death. Black-and-white spot art.
Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
Illustrator: Louise Cannell
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In a reimagined Little Women set in 1942, Jo works in an aircraft factory, Amy joins the Red Cross, and the Marches struggle with their grief over Beth's death. Black-and-white spot art.
Hanged!: Mary Surratt & the Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln
Sarah Miller
Illustrator: archival photographs
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Mary Surratt was convicted by a military tribunal, and by public opinion, of conspiracy to kill Abraham Lincoln. Was she innocent? Archival photos, back matter.
Sarah Miller
Illustrator: archival photographs
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Mary Surratt was convicted by a military tribunal, and by public opinion, of conspiracy to kill Abraham Lincoln. Was she innocent? Archival photos, back matter.
Heartbreak Symphony
Laekan Zea Kemp
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Aarón and Mia, two musically gifted teens, struggle with unresolved personal and family issues, and with increasing attacks on their Latinx community.
Laekan Zea Kemp
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Aarón and Mia, two musically gifted teens, struggle with unresolved personal and family issues, and with increasing attacks on their Latinx community.
Here and Queer: A Queer Girl's Guide to Life
Rowan Ellis
Illustrator: Jacky Sheridan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
An inclusive guide with practical advice about exploring identity, navigating labels, and handling social situations. Vibrant cartoon-style illustrations.Bibliography, glossary and extensive back matter.
Rowan Ellis
Illustrator: Jacky Sheridan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
An inclusive guide with practical advice about exploring identity, navigating labels, and handling social situations. Vibrant cartoon-style illustrations.Bibliography, glossary and extensive back matter.
Hollow Fires
Samira Ahmed
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A missing Iraqi American student is found dead, convincing Safiya to investigate racism and Islamophobia at her Chicago prep school. Told in alternating voices by Safiya and the victim.
Samira Ahmed
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A missing Iraqi American student is found dead, convincing Safiya to investigate racism and Islamophobia at her Chicago prep school. Told in alternating voices by Safiya and the victim.
Home Field Advantage
Dahlia Adler
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Everyone is in an uproar when Jaclyn, a female quarterback, arrives at Atherton High School to take the field with a male team that already resents her. When she and a cheerleader fall in love, things get even more complicated.
Dahlia Adler
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Everyone is in an uproar when Jaclyn, a female quarterback, arrives at Atherton High School to take the field with a male team that already resents her. When she and a cheerleader fall in love, things get even more complicated.
Hopepunk
Preston Norton
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
After her sister disappears to escape being sent to a gay conversion camp, Hope joins a diverse, activist rock band with the dream of bringing her home.
Preston Norton
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
After her sister disappears to escape being sent to a gay conversion camp, Hope joins a diverse, activist rock band with the dream of bringing her home.
How To Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying)
Cristina Fernandez
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Double majoring as a premed student is demanding enough, but dating nerdy Max, who turns out to be a superhero, upends Astrid's rigid life plan.
Cristina Fernandez
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Double majoring as a premed student is demanding enough, but dating nerdy Max, who turns out to be a superhero, upends Astrid's rigid life plan.
How to Live without You
Sarah Everett
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Black 17-year-old Emmy grapples with her sister's sudden disappearance while assessing her own maturing identity. Mental health challenges and barriers to treatment depicted with candor and empathy.
Sarah Everett
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Black 17-year-old Emmy grapples with her sister's sudden disappearance while assessing her own maturing identity. Mental health challenges and barriers to treatment depicted with candor and empathy.
How We Ricochet
Faith Gardner
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Betty, her mother, and her sister survive a mall shooting. Each handles her reactions to the trauma in different ways, and there's a love story too.
Faith Gardner
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Betty, her mother, and her sister survive a mall shooting. Each handles her reactions to the trauma in different ways, and there's a love story too.
I Am the Ghost in Your House
Mar Romasco-Moore
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Pie and her mother, who are invisible, live a secretive, nomadic life. When her mom disappears, Pie reveals her existence to others, with life-changing results.
Mar Romasco-Moore
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Pie and her mother, who are invisible, live a secretive, nomadic life. When her mom disappears, Pie reveals her existence to others, with life-changing results.
I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
Sara Latta
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Abolitionist, suffragist, spy for the Union, and advocate for unisex clothing for women, Walker was the sole female recipient of the Medal of Honor. Archival images and photos. Meticulously sourced.
Sara Latta
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Abolitionist, suffragist, spy for the Union, and advocate for unisex clothing for women, Walker was the sole female recipient of the Medal of Honor. Archival images and photos. Meticulously sourced.
I Miss You, I Hate This
Sara Saedi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A pandemic strikes, mainly killing young people. Trying to survive, two best friends, one Iranian American and one Mexican American, experience life through their screens.
Sara Saedi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A pandemic strikes, mainly killing young people. Trying to survive, two best friends, one Iranian American and one Mexican American, experience life through their screens.
I Must Betray You
Ruta Sepetys
Illustrator: archival photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In 1989 the extreme deprivations of Romania's authoritarian Ceaușescu regime drive Cristian, 17, to spy on an American diplomat to secure medicine for his grandfather. Archival photos. Historical notes, lengthy bibliography.
Ruta Sepetys
Illustrator: archival photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In 1989 the extreme deprivations of Romania's authoritarian Ceaușescu regime drive Cristian, 17, to spy on an American diplomat to secure medicine for his grandfather. Archival photos. Historical notes, lengthy bibliography.
I Rise
Marie Arnold
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Raised to be the next leader of her mother's Harlem civil rights organization, Ayo would rather be an ordinary teen. When tragedy strikes, will she step into the leadership role?
Marie Arnold
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Raised to be the next leader of her mother's Harlem civil rights organization, Ayo would rather be an ordinary teen. When tragedy strikes, will she step into the leadership role?
Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In 1800s Belgium, Stance, disguised as a man, flees a loveless arranged marriage. Her brother pursues the runaway, and both end up embroiled in the war between Austria and France.
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In 1800s Belgium, Stance, disguised as a man, flees a loveless arranged marriage. Her brother pursues the runaway, and both end up embroiled in the war between Austria and France.
Kaya Girl, The
Mamle Wolo
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In contempotary Accra, Ghana, two girls from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds form an unlikely but deep friendship.
Mamle Wolo
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
In contempotary Accra, Ghana, two girls from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds form an unlikely but deep friendship.
Kindred, The
Alechia Dow
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
The Kindred Program was devised to pair upper- and lower-class citizens at birth telepathically so that class would not inhibit voice. What could go wrong?
Alechia Dow
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
The Kindred Program was devised to pair upper- and lower-class citizens at birth telepathically so that class would not inhibit voice. What could go wrong?
Kings of B'more
R. Eric Thomas
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Two queer Black best friends, Harrison and Linus, have one last, transformative day of adventures together before Linus must move away.
R. Eric Thomas
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Two queer Black best friends, Harrison and Linus, have one last, transformative day of adventures together before Linus must move away.
Kurt Vonnegut: The Making of a Writer
Dan Wakefield
Illustrator: Kurt Vonnegut
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
This vivid picture of a lauded and complicated author includes his letters and ink sketches as well as archival photos.
Dan Wakefield
Illustrator: Kurt Vonnegut
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
This vivid picture of a lauded and complicated author includes his letters and ink sketches as well as archival photos.
Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, The
Isaac Blum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Fifteen-year-old Hoodie, an Orthodox Jew, falls hard for Anna Marie, the Christian daughter of the mayor who wants to get rid of the Orthodox families living in their town.
Isaac Blum
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Fifteen-year-old Hoodie, an Orthodox Jew, falls hard for Anna Marie, the Christian daughter of the mayor who wants to get rid of the Orthodox families living in their town.
Live, Laugh, Kidnap
Gabby Noone
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Gullible Marla gives her daughter Zoe's college fund to a corrupt megachurch. Zoe then bonds with two other teens and Dustin, the pastor's disgruntled son, to kidnap Dustin for ransom.
Gabby Noone
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Gullible Marla gives her daughter Zoe's college fund to a corrupt megachurch. Zoe then bonds with two other teens and Dustin, the pastor's disgruntled son, to kidnap Dustin for ransom.
Loveless
Alice Oseman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Georgia can't understand why she has never had any romantic feelings for anyone. In her first year at university, she struggles to figure out her aromantic-asexual identity. Resources.
Alice Oseman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Georgia can't understand why she has never had any romantic feelings for anyone. In her first year at university, she struggles to figure out her aromantic-asexual identity. Resources.