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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In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race
Amy Cherrix
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Mutual fear and distrust fueled the high-stakes race between the US and the USSR to conquer space exploration. Compellingly told, richly resourced. Archival photos.
Amy Cherrix
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Mutual fear and distrust fueled the high-stakes race between the US and the USSR to conquer space exploration. Compellingly told, richly resourced. Archival photos.
In the Wild Light
Jeff Zentner
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Delaney and Cash, best friends since losing parents to addiction, win full scholarships to a prep school far from their rural Tennessee home. As their worlds expand, could they lose each other?
Jeff Zentner
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Delaney and Cash, best friends since losing parents to addiction, win full scholarships to a prep school far from their rural Tennessee home. As their worlds expand, could they lose each other?
Jade Fire Gold
June C.L. Tan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Living in the desert of the Shi Empire, Ahn, 16, discovers her magical powers. She joins with Altan, rightful heir to the throne, to battle evil forces and restore peace.
June C.L. Tan
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Living in the desert of the Shi Empire, Ahn, 16, discovers her magical powers. She joins with Altan, rightful heir to the throne, to battle evil forces and restore peace.
Kids on the March: 15 Stories of Speaking Out, Protesting, and Fighting for Justice
Michael G. Long
Illustrator: Illustrated with archival photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Profiles of young activists, from participants in the 1903 March of the Mill Children to teens who organized protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Archival photos, suggestions for organizing, and notes.
Michael G. Long
Illustrator: Illustrated with archival photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Profiles of young activists, from participants in the 1903 March of the Mill Children to teens who organized protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Archival photos, suggestions for organizing, and notes.
Kneel
Candace Buford
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
After a police shooting, Russell, co-captain of his football team, takes a knee during the national anthem. The ensuing protests tear apart his Louisiana town.
Candace Buford
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
After a police shooting, Russell, co-captain of his football team, takes a knee during the national anthem. The ensuing protests tear apart his Louisiana town.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Malinda Lo
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Aspiring scientist, Lily Hu, 17, is conflicted between her traditional upbringing in 1950s Chinatown and her awakening sexuality. Sensitively nuanced coming of age.
Malinda Lo
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Aspiring scientist, Lily Hu, 17, is conflicted between her traditional upbringing in 1950s Chinatown and her awakening sexuality. Sensitively nuanced coming of age.
Last Words We Said, The
Leah Scheier
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
In a Jewish Modern-Orthodox community in Atlanta, three best friends harbor guilt and mourn the disappearance of Danny, whom one of the three dated, nine months ago.
Leah Scheier
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
In a Jewish Modern-Orthodox community in Atlanta, three best friends harbor guilt and mourn the disappearance of Danny, whom one of the three dated, nine months ago.
Life I'm In, The
Sharon Flake
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Char struggles to care for an abandoned child and falls prey to a sex trafficking ring. Does she have the strength and perseverence to survive and break free?
Sharon Flake
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Char struggles to care for an abandoned child and falls prey to a sex trafficking ring. Does she have the strength and perseverence to survive and break free?
Light of Days, The: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos (Young Reader's Edition)
Judy Batalion
Illustrator: Archival Photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The bravery of eight Jewish young women, among the many, as fighters and couriers against the Nazis in Poland is told. Photographs, glossary, sources, bibliography.
Judy Batalion
Illustrator: Archival Photos
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The bravery of eight Jewish young women, among the many, as fighters and couriers against the Nazis in Poland is told. Photographs, glossary, sources, bibliography.
Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America
Margarita Longoria, Ed.
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
A varied selection of fiction stories, poems, graphic format pieces, and personal essays about life as a Mexican-American. Many take place in the Rio Grande Valley.
Margarita Longoria, Ed.
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
A varied selection of fiction stories, poems, graphic format pieces, and personal essays about life as a Mexican-American. Many take place in the Rio Grande Valley.
Lore
Alexandra Bracken
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The last survivor of the House of Perseus, Lore battles for survival in an ancient deadly game of the descendants of Zeus. A complex story set in Manhattan.
Alexandra Bracken
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The last survivor of the House of Perseus, Lore battles for survival in an ancient deadly game of the descendants of Zeus. A complex story set in Manhattan.
Love in English
Maria E. Andreu
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Ana moves from Argentina to New Jersey and struggles to learn English to understand what is happening around her, and more importantly, to fit in.
Maria E. Andreu
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Ana moves from Argentina to New Jersey and struggles to learn English to understand what is happening around her, and more importantly, to fit in.
Love Is A Revolution
Renée Watson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
When 17-year-old Black teen, Nala, tells too many lies to impress a boy she likes, she learns an important lesson in loving herself first.
Renée Watson
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
When 17-year-old Black teen, Nala, tells too many lies to impress a boy she likes, she learns an important lesson in loving herself first.
Love Is for Losers
Wibke Brueggemann
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Londoner Phoebe is determined to avoid falling in love. In her diary, she explores her friendships, reacts to events in her life, and eventually, discovers her own sexuality.
Wibke Brueggemann
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Londoner Phoebe is determined to avoid falling in love. In her diary, she explores her friendships, reacts to events in her life, and eventually, discovers her own sexuality.
Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize
Margo Rabb
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Lucy's suspension from boarding school results in her being assigned to care for a wealthy woman with dementia — who thinks, possibly correctly, she's the target of a murder plot.
Margo Rabb
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Lucy's suspension from boarding school results in her being assigned to care for a wealthy woman with dementia — who thinks, possibly correctly, she's the target of a murder plot.
Made in Korea
Sarah Suk
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Two Korean-American teens, each trying to balance family duty with their own ambitions, find themselves in a hostile entrepreneurial rivalry, complicated by their mutual attraction.
Sarah Suk
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Two Korean-American teens, each trying to balance family duty with their own ambitions, find themselves in a hostile entrepreneurial rivalry, complicated by their mutual attraction.
Maybe We're Electric
Val Emmich
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Hiding in a museum during a snowstorm, Tegan, who has symbrachydactyly, is suddenly joined by Mac, school popular boy. An intense bond forms, but will Tegan's secret destroy everything?
Val Emmich
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Hiding in a museum during a snowstorm, Tegan, who has symbrachydactyly, is suddenly joined by Mac, school popular boy. An intense bond forms, but will Tegan's secret destroy everything?
Me (Moth)
Amber McBride
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
African-American Moth, 17, grieving for her deceased family, helps Sani, a Navajo boy, overcome depression by sharing her grandfather's hoodoo wisdom. In free verse.
Amber McBride
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
African-American Moth, 17, grieving for her deceased family, helps Sani, a Navajo boy, overcome depression by sharing her grandfather's hoodoo wisdom. In free verse.
Metal Fish, Falling Snow
Cath Moore
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Biracial Dylan, grieving her mother's sudden death, drives across Australia with her mother's devastated boyfriend, to a painful but ultimately healing destination. (see note)
Cath Moore
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Biracial Dylan, grieving her mother's sudden death, drives across Australia with her mother's devastated boyfriend, to a painful but ultimately healing destination. (see note)
Misfit in Love
S.K. Ali
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Janna, while helping to plan her brother's traditional Muslim wedding, bursting with guests and relatives, hopes to confess her feelings to her longtime crush.
S.K. Ali
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Janna, while helping to plan her brother's traditional Muslim wedding, bursting with guests and relatives, hopes to confess her feelings to her longtime crush.
Muted
Tami Charles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The Angelic Voices, three brown girls, long for their R & B songs to change their lives. Powerful words propel the action as one, 17-year-old Denver, risks everything for fame.
Tami Charles
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
The Angelic Voices, three brown girls, long for their R & B songs to change their lives. Powerful words propel the action as one, 17-year-old Denver, risks everything for fame.
Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir (Adapted for Young Adults)
Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Onwuachi, with Nigerian, Southern and Caribbean roots, faced racism and poverty on his difficult journey from the Bronx to high cuisine restaurants. A frank memoir, includes recipes.
Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Onwuachi, with Nigerian, Southern and Caribbean roots, faced racism and poverty on his difficult journey from the Bronx to high cuisine restaurants. A frank memoir, includes recipes.
Not Here to Be Liked
Michelle Quach
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Chinese American Eliza finds herself at the center of a schoolwide controversy over gender equality when her private outrage at being passed over for editor-in-chief of the Bugle becomes public.
Michelle Quach
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Chinese American Eliza finds herself at the center of a schoolwide controversy over gender equality when her private outrage at being passed over for editor-in-chief of the Bugle becomes public.
No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves
Lee Wind
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Extensive primary sources enhance a breezy tone depicting the lives of many possible LBTQIA+ people throughout history. Photographs, letters, footnotes, and author's note.
Lee Wind
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Extensive primary sources enhance a breezy tone depicting the lives of many possible LBTQIA+ people throughout history. Photographs, letters, footnotes, and author's note.
One Great Lie
Deb Caletti
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Researching an ancestral poetess for a summer writing program in Venice with her favorite author, Charlotte learns how powerful men historically abused and silenced women, then experiences it herself.
Deb Caletti
Ages: 14+
Published: 2021
Researching an ancestral poetess for a summer writing program in Venice with her favorite author, Charlotte learns how powerful men historically abused and silenced women, then experiences it herself.