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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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.
Man Made Monsters
Andrea L. Rogers
Illustrator: Jeff Edwards
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A series of short stories follows an extended Cherokee family over generations (from 1839 to 2039) as they encounter vampires, zombies, and other monsters. White on black line art.
Andrea L. Rogers
Illustrator: Jeff Edwards
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A series of short stories follows an extended Cherokee family over generations (from 1839 to 2039) as they encounter vampires, zombies, and other monsters. White on black line art.
Man o' War
Cory McCarthy
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A multiracial competitive swimmer in a small Ohio town known for its dilapidated marine life theme park discovers their gender identity during high school and as they begin college.
Cory McCarthy
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A multiracial competitive swimmer in a small Ohio town known for its dilapidated marine life theme park discovers their gender identity during high school and as they begin college.
Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, The
Maya MacGregor
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Moving into the home where a tragic death occurred 30 years ago, autistic, nonbinary Sam tries to free themself from a painful past while findng a path forward.
Maya MacGregor
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Moving into the home where a tragic death occurred 30 years ago, autistic, nonbinary Sam tries to free themself from a painful past while findng a path forward.
Me and White Supremacy
Layla F. Saad
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A Black British Muslim author discusses topics such as white privilege, racist stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. Reflection questions and activities provided. Young readers edition.
Layla F. Saad
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
A Black British Muslim author discusses topics such as white privilege, racist stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. Reflection questions and activities provided. Young readers edition.
Media and Me, The: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People
Project Censored and the Media Revolution Collective
Illustrator: Peter Glanting
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
This comprehensive handbook prepares young readers for understanding today's media landscape and using media responsibly. Extensive back matter includes a glossary, source notes, and further reading. Black-and-white spot illustrations.
Project Censored and the Media Revolution Collective
Illustrator: Peter Glanting
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
This comprehensive handbook prepares young readers for understanding today's media landscape and using media responsibly. Extensive back matter includes a glossary, source notes, and further reading. Black-and-white spot illustrations.
Mister Miracle: The Great Escape
Varian Johnson
Illustrator: Daniel Isles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Scott Free, a young Black student, attends a repressive soldier training academy and plots to escape planet Apokolips, but love, treachery, and misleading friends await. Dynamic panel compositions in a muted palette.
Varian Johnson
Illustrator: Daniel Isles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2022
Scott Free, a young Black student, attends a repressive soldier training academy and plots to escape planet Apokolips, but love, treachery, and misleading friends await. Dynamic panel compositions in a muted palette.