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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by Jennifer Brown
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In the aftermath of a school shooting for which her boyfriend is responsible, 16-year-old Valerie faces feelings of guilt and difficulties in returning to school.
by Jennifer Brown
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In the aftermath of a school shooting for which her boyfriend is responsible, 16-year-old Valerie faces feelings of guilt and difficulties in returning to school.
Hidden Voices
by Pat Lowery Collins
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In 1700s Venice, as Antonio Vivaldi seeks to develop his career, his orphaned students practice their own music and hope for love.
by Pat Lowery Collins
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In 1700s Venice, as Antonio Vivaldi seeks to develop his career, his orphaned students practice their own music and hope for love.
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Mia's family has been killed in the crash that left her comatose. She lives because of her love for music, Adam, relatives, and her best friend.
by Gayle Forman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Mia's family has been killed in the crash that left her comatose. She lives because of her love for music, Adam, relatives, and her best friend.
Jumping Off Swings
by Jo Knowles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
The pregnancy of a sixteen-year-old has sharp ramifications on her friends and family. Varied points of view including that of the boy involved.
by Jo Knowles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
The pregnancy of a sixteen-year-old has sharp ramifications on her friends and family. Varied points of view including that of the boy involved.
Just One Wish
by Janette Rallison
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Adventurous, feisty, seventeen-year-old Annika will do anything to help her six-year-old brother battle cancer.
by Janette Rallison
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Adventurous, feisty, seventeen-year-old Annika will do anything to help her six-year-old brother battle cancer.
Kisses and Lies
by Lauren Henderson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Scarlett is determined to find out who murdered Dan. Will she succeed, or will she be the next victim?
by Lauren Henderson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Scarlett is determined to find out who murdered Dan. Will she succeed, or will she be the next victim?
Liar
by Justine Larbalestier
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Seventeen-year-old Micah is a self-confessed compulsive liar. But when she becomes a suspect in her boyfriend's murder, she decides to come clean. Or does she?
by Justine Larbalestier
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Seventeen-year-old Micah is a self-confessed compulsive liar. But when she becomes a suspect in her boyfriend's murder, she decides to come clean. Or does she?
Love is the Higher Law
by David Levithan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Three New York teens deal with the horror of September 11, 2001 and learn about the nature of love and friendship.
by David Levithan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Three New York teens deal with the horror of September 11, 2001 and learn about the nature of love and friendship.
Marcelo in the Real World
by Francisco X. Stork
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Marcelo, a bright autistic teen, spends a challenging summer working at his father's law firm and considers the transition to a regular high school.
by Francisco X. Stork
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Marcelo, a bright autistic teen, spends a challenging summer working at his father's law firm and considers the transition to a regular high school.
North of Beautiful
by Justina Chen Headley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Terra, beautiful and talented but insecure, struggles to create a life that is not defined by her portwine birthmark and bullying father.
by Justina Chen Headley
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Terra, beautiful and talented but insecure, struggles to create a life that is not defined by her portwine birthmark and bullying father.
Purple Heart
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Matt, an eighteen-year-old in the United States Army, finds himself in combat in Iraq, trying to understand that conflict. A moving war tale.
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Matt, an eighteen-year-old in the United States Army, finds himself in combat in Iraq, trying to understand that conflict. A moving war tale.
Raven Summer
by David Almond
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Fourteen-year-old Liam's discovery of an abandoned infant leads to other equally unexpected encounters, both wonderful and disturbing.
by David Almond
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Fourteen-year-old Liam's discovery of an abandoned infant leads to other equally unexpected encounters, both wonderful and disturbing.
Response
by Paul Volponi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Noah, a black teen, is attacked by three white teens and seriously hurt. The ensuing arrests and trial show Noah's growth toward manhood.
by Paul Volponi
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Noah, a black teen, is attacked by three white teens and seriously hurt. The ensuing arrests and trial show Noah's growth toward manhood.
Rosie and Skate
by Beth Ann Bauman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Two sisters deal with the challenges of adolescence plus an alcoholic father, aided by friends and relatives and a teen support group.
by Beth Ann Bauman
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Two sisters deal with the challenges of adolescence plus an alcoholic father, aided by friends and relatives and a teen support group.
Shiver
by Maggie Stiefvater
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Seventeen-year-old Grace and eighteen-year-old Sam, a werewolf, are transformed by love and learn new definitions of family.
by Maggie Stiefvater
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Seventeen-year-old Grace and eighteen-year-old Sam, a werewolf, are transformed by love and learn new definitions of family.
Sprout
by Dale Peck
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Sprout, a high school junior and budding writer, has his first real romantic relationship with a boy. Full of smart alecky remarks as well as pathos.
by Dale Peck
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Sprout, a high school junior and budding writer, has his first real romantic relationship with a boy. Full of smart alecky remarks as well as pathos.
Tales of the MADMAN Underground
by John Barnes
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Teenagers from dysfunctional families help one another survive abuse.
by John Barnes
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Teenagers from dysfunctional families help one another survive abuse.
Tempo Change
by Barbara Hall
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Sixteen-year-old Blanche's father, a famous rock musician, left when she was six. Will becoming a musician herself help her reconnect with him?
by Barbara Hall
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Sixteen-year-old Blanche's father, a famous rock musician, left when she was six. Will becoming a musician herself help her reconnect with him?
The Anatomy of Wings
by Karen Foxlee
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In this brilliantly written, touching novel set in an Australian mining town, ten-year-old Jennifer struggles to come to terms with her sister's death.
by Karen Foxlee
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In this brilliantly written, touching novel set in an Australian mining town, ten-year-old Jennifer struggles to come to terms with her sister's death.
The Brooklyn Nine
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Follow 150 years in the life of many generations of a family--and of the history of baseball in the U. S.
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Follow 150 years in the life of many generations of a family--and of the history of baseball in the U. S.
The Devil's Paintbox
by Victoria McKernan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Help comes from unexpected places when Aiden and Maddy begin the harrowing journey from Kansas to Seattle.
by Victoria McKernan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Help comes from unexpected places when Aiden and Maddy begin the harrowing journey from Kansas to Seattle.
The Miles Between
by Mary E. Pearson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
When fifteen-year-old Des takes an unauthorized road trip in search of “one fair day,” she and her friends discover a lot about each other...and themselves.
by Mary E. Pearson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
When fifteen-year-old Des takes an unauthorized road trip in search of “one fair day,” she and her friends discover a lot about each other...and themselves.
The Vast Fields of Ordinary
by Nick Burd
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In a funny, touching, hopeful story, eighteen-year-old Dade comes out of the closet while dealing with family problems and community intolerance.
by Nick Burd
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
In a funny, touching, hopeful story, eighteen-year-old Dade comes out of the closet while dealing with family problems and community intolerance.
Willow
by Julia Hoban
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Holding herself responsible for her parents's deaths, Willow can't believe that she has a right to be pain free and beloved by others.
by Julia Hoban
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
Holding herself responsible for her parents's deaths, Willow can't believe that she has a right to be pain free and beloved by others.
Wintergirls
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
When the death of a friend triggers Lia's anorexia, the physical and emotional tolls of her illness threaten her life.
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2009
When the death of a friend triggers Lia's anorexia, the physical and emotional tolls of her illness threaten her life.