Looking for an unforgettable collection of the best YA books about siblings? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger about issue-driven YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most emotionally honest stories about difficult topics for teens, such as sibling relationships, rivalries, and complexities.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than fifteen great novels in the roundup below. Each offers a unique perspective on this profound and beautiful relationship. Reading great YA books about siblings can remind us about why we love our sisters and brothers, despite our differences.
So discover your next great read for National Siblings Day in this list. Some are classics, and some are modern. Some are heartwarming; some are heartbreaking; and some are chilling. I’m confident you’ll find some new novels to love.
The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Sibling Tie-Ins
Sisters
What it’s about
A grieving teen investigates the mystery surrounding her anorexic sister's suspicious and tragic accident.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s easier to think about food and the physical pain inside my body from not eating than the other pain of not having Kat. My sister would totally understand this. She would. As long as I’m connecting to her this way—our familiar, hungry old way—she’s with me.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Delinquent Hero
For readers who love great “tear-jerkers,” The Delinquent Hero offers a tragic and raw exploration of sisterhood, eating disorders, and devastating loss. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, this gripping YA novel speaks directly to the grief of saying goodbye.
At its core is Molly, desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared. For Molly, reconnecting with Kat means slipping into their old patterns—the kind that consume and starve in equal measure.
"I'm not very hungry. I am, and I'm not. I am hollow, but this feeling seems less about food and more about Kat. At any rate, I do not want to eat."
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its heart-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened that night, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
A beautifully crafted novel, The Delinquent Hero has sparked conversations across book clubs and reader communities. I wholeheartedly recommend this memorable YA book about siblings.
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Sibling Tie-Ins
Three half-siblings
What it’s about
Three siblings who are adopted by different parents at birth are reunited.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It took us fifteen years to find each other, but we still did! And sometimes, family hurts each other. But after that's done you bandage each other up, and you move on. Together. You've got us now, like it or not, and we've got you.” ― Robin Benway, quote from Far from the Tree
This book was so good it made me cry. As in, I had to leave the couch for tissues. Prepare yourself.
Grace, Maya, and Joaquin are siblings that were adopted to different parents as infants—except Joaquin wasn’t adopted. He went into foster care and had a harder time of things.
At 16, Grace finds herself pregnant and giving her baby up for adoption, which is the triggering event for reuniting these siblings and sending them on a search for their biological mom. In the process, they learn what it’s like to be family with one another as well.
This book won the National Book Award, and there’s a reason. If you haven’t read this one yet and you’re looking for great YA books about siblings, give it a look. You will not regret it!
My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Sibling tie-ins
10 Walter Boys and 1 girl (all siblings)
What it’s about
After the sudden death of her parents, a girl relocates from east coast to mountains, where she finds herself surrounded by beautiful boys.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Love takes more than a couple days and a secret, shotgun marriage to develop into something worth dying for.” ― Ali Novak, quote from My Life with the Walter Boys
Jackie is an orphan who finds herself transported from a life of privilege and private school in New York City to a rural ranch in Colorado, where she shares a very crowded home with 11 boys and one tomboy. There were plenty of opportunities for this story to explore the themes of grief, sisterhood, and being an orphan more deeply, but instead, the book focuses on the love triangle that develops between Jackie and two of the brothers.
That’s just fine. The pages turned quickly. I thought I’d be too disoriented by all those gorgeous and talented brothers, but Novak does a good job of introducing them and making them unique as Jackie gets to know them. I felt her sense of being overwhelmed by the family initially, and then one by one, the boys (and sister) became individuals. The parents are kind.
I liked the ending. This is nice debut book and a sweet YA romance. I included My Life with the Walter Boys because Jackie very recently lost her parents, so this is a YA book about orphans and teens dealing with being on their own.
You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
Sibling Tie-Ins
Sister and brother
What it’s about
A gripping YA story about substance abuse, siblings, unrequited love, bullying, finding one’s voice, friendship, hope, and so much more.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Someone I used to know said that’s the problem with adults. They just see kids as they want them to be, what they aren’t, and not as they are. I think about that all the time. Like, how much time and pain and suffering could be eliminated if you just accepted the kid in front of you and stopped trying to fix them. Maybe there is no “fixing.” Maybe there is just heartbreak and love and trying to help them stay alive, whatever it takes.” ― Kathleen Glasgow, quote from You’d Be Home Now
Kathleen Glasgow knows how to make me cry.
You’d Be Home Now is a YA story about substance abuse, siblings, unrequited love, bullying, finding one’s voice, friendship, hope, and so much more. I couldn’t put it down.
Emory’s older brother Joey is struggling to recover from opioid addiction. Her overbearing mother assigns her the task of monitoring his progress, and when he stumbles, Emory tries to cover for him. Meanwhile, Emory is hooking up with the baseball star next door, and things have gone too far. She finds herself in a storm where everything—everything—is wrong!
I loved this book. I love all Kathleen Glasgow’s book. If you’re looking for a great read about siblings and substance abuse, this one’s for you. In fact, Kathleen Glasgow is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Sibling Tie-Ins
Brothers
What it’s about
A classic coming-of-age novel about brothers and friends.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“You know a guy a longtime, and I mean really know him, you don't get used to the idea that he's dead just overnight.” ― S.E. Hinton, quote from The Outsiders
Siblings from the Greasers rumble with rivals from the Socs, and violence ultimately escalates into death of one of the boys. Because the novel portrays gang violence, this classic YA book about siblings was controversial at the time of its publication in 1967 and is still banned in some schools today.
There’s a lot going on in this book, which is why it continues to resonate with readers today. The main character is a fourteen-year-old boy named Ponyboy; he looks like a James Dean sort with the hair and clothes but with a smart, bookish personality. From a sibling relationship perspective, Ponyboy and his older brother, Darry, have an unusually close bond. Darry is raising Ponyboy because their parents are dead. Ponyboy has another brother, Sodapop, who he shares a physical resemblance. These relationships between the three siblings is an important theme in the novel.
The Outsiders is a must-read, all-time-great YA book about siblings. And if you’re interested in other challenged and banned books like this one, check out my post on The Best Banned YA Books and Why You Should Read Them.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Sibling Tie-Ins
Twins - a boy and a girl
What it’s about
Told in alternating points of view, twins grow apart after a family tragedy and must find a way back to each other
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Sometimes you think you know things, know things very deeply, only to realize you don’t know a damn thing.” ― Jandy Nelson, quote from I’ll Give You the Sun
Half of the story is told by Noah, and half of the story is told by his older twin sister, Jude. Each sibling is telling their version of an accident that altered their future, and in the process, they also wrestle with separating from one another and becoming individuals. There is a lot of focus on art, romance, and being a twin.
Jandy Nelson’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and the alternate perspectives between the brother and sister gives so much depth to the themes of forbidden love, grief, art, jealousy, and ultimately the relationship between these siblings. This is a masterful YA book about siblings that you won’t want to miss.
In fact, I can’t talk about Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun without also reviewing her first novel, The Sky Is Everywhere, which is a different kind of YA book about siblings.
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Sibling Tie-Ins
Sisters
What it’s about
A beautiful novel about a grieving girl who falls in love with two boys: the cute new kid in school and her dead sister’s boyfriend.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her sister’s boyfriend the previous night? Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister’s boyfriend, period?” ― Jandy Nelson, quote from The Sky Is Everywhere
I love, love, loved this book! The writing is so lyrical, and the story is incredibly sad. It begins with protagonist Lennie, who is grieving the sudden death of her sister. Although Bailey is dead, the relationship between these siblings is very much alive on the pages of this novel. Lennie writes beautiful poems, and she spends time in their room and shares so many memories that I feel I know Bailey.
A charismatic new boy shows up at school, and Lennie ends up entering into 2 romances at the same time. This is the love triangle. One romance is with the new boy at school, and the other is with her dead sister’s grieving boyfriend. Sooner or later, she has to decide which one of these guys is the one she’s going to stick with. Oh, boy.
All of the characters are vivid, and the story is captivating. The creative visual aspect of the novel is also a nice touch; Lennie writes her poems on scraps and scatters them everywhere, and these appear at the beginning of chapters.
This book is another must-read for anyone looking for YA novels about siblings.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Sibling Tie-Ins
Sisters
What it’s about
A powerful story about a teen girl who falls for possessive and physically violent boyfriend after her sister runs away.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It's funny how someone's perception of you can be formed without you even knowing it.” ― Sarah Dessen, quote from Dreamland
I've read a couple Sarah Dessen books that were "okay," but wow, this one really, really grabbed me!
It starts when Caitlin's sister, Cass, runs away. I knew the story was about relationship abuse, and I was expecting the runaway sibling, Cass, to be with a bad guy, but no. After she disappears, Caitlin falls for a guy named Rogerson who ends up being the abusive one. Caitlin's downward spiral is emotional, realistic, and heartbreaking. From the first time Rogerson hits her, I kept waiting for someone to intervene or for her to wake up, but it went on and on until the climactic moment when something had to shatter.
I felt really bad for Caitlin. She seemed invisible to everyone who supposedly loved her. She was hiding her pain in front of everyone. And people she loved kept leaving her: first her sister Cass and then her new friend Corinna.
The sibling relationship in this book is that Caitlin lives in the shadow of a “perfect” older sister, and the parents remain focused on Cass, so no one notices that Caitlin is in trouble. If you’re looking for a YA book about siblings with an unexpected plot, check this one out. I couldn’t put it down.
Take Me with You When You Go by Jennifer Niven and David Levithan
Sibling Tie-Ins
A brother and sister
What it’s about
A brother and sister exchange letters after the older sister runs away.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Blood is thicker than water, I suppose. It can also leave a much crueler stain.” ― Jennifer Niven, quote from Take Me with You When You Go
Take Me with You When You Go is a story told through letters—emails to be precise—between a brother and his runaway sister. As their story and relationship unfolds through these exchanges, we learn about their home life and the reasons why Bea ran away.
I wanted to love this book because I love, love, love Jennifer Niven, but perhaps the collaboration with David Levithan is the reason it turned into something that wasn't really my cup of tea. I didn't really like Ezra or Bea. I didn't believe them that their home life was so terrible (maybe they were sort of terrible too? Are they reliable narrators of their own stories?). Ezra set his parents' house on fire without any repercussions, which seemed unrealistic. Bea seemed to be a selfish person rather than just a hurting one. She took from people and then left them. Ezra's "rants" in the emails are tiresome.
Still, I kept reading to the end because I wanted to know how the various story issues were resolved. So, there was decent plotting.
The cover is beautiful.
If you’re looking for YA books about siblings, you should check this one out, but I highly recommend Jennifer Niven’s other work, especially All the Bright Places.
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
Sibling Tie-Ins
Sisters
What it’s about
A prequel to popular We Were Liars shows that the Sinclairs have been liars from the beginning.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"They're doing just as I asked them to. As we Sinclairs always do. Pretending. Lying. Trying to have a good time.” ― E. Lockhart, quote from Family of Liars
Lockhart's prequel to We Were Liars does not disappoint! The narrator, Carrie, tells the story of the summer of the boys' visit to the island, but long before those events, there are ominous hints of what is to come. In her early teen years, for example, Carrie's father insists on a surgery to break her jaw, and an infection sets in.
But Carrie bends to his will. She is a "credit to the family."
This novel has some brilliant symbolism, a few great twists, some predictable story-lines, and other unexpected turns. I finished in 4 days because the pages turned fast and furious. I had to know the secrets these liars were keeping.
The pages are full of great details about summertime on the island. The lemon hunt was very vivid, as well as the details about clothing, food, and the picnic table. Lockhart painted a vivid sense of place, siblings, and privilege.
Family of Liars definitely one of my new favorite YA books about siblings!
Girl Made of Stars by Ashely Herring Blake
Sibling Tie-Ins
Twins - a girl and a boy
What it’s about
A girl must choose between loyalty and justice after her twin brother is accused of raping her best friend.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“This. This is why I never said anything. Because no one ever believes the girl.” ― Ashley Herring Blake, quote from Girl Made of Stars
Mara and her twin brother Owen are as close as any twins can be. So when Owen says he is innocent and never raped his girlfriend, Mara is faced with a difficult decision. She’s friends with the victim. Who is telling the truth? Her brother, who she knows as well as she knows herself, or the girl?
In addition to Mara’s confusion about her twin brother’s role as an accused rapist, she’s also dealing with her own sexual identity and relationship with her best friend, a girl named Charlie. Her parents pressure her to support her brother, but why would the victim lie? And in wrestling with these conflicts, Mara can no longer ignore a secret trauma from her own past and what happened to her.
This powerful YA book about siblings deals with rape, consent, teen relationships, sexual identity and so many issues that the conflict can seem a bit overwhelming at times. Yet the author handles the emotional issues in a beautiful, heartbreaking, and important way.
If you are looking for more books about these topics, you might want to check out my post on Which Poignant YA Books about Rape and Sexual Assault Should You Read Next?
This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis
Sibling Tie-Ins
Twin girls
What it’s about
A girl begins to sense the presence of her twin who was absorbed in the womb--and who is now trying to take control.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“All the stupid people I know are happy.” ― Mindy McGinnis from This Darkness Mine
What a disorienting and strange book!
Sasha Stone, high-achieving teen with a promising future in music, begins believing that she's sharing her body with a twin that she absorbed in her mother's womb. And, this twin sometimes takes over and does things. Things that Sasha herself would never do.
Well. Buckle up because this is a strange journey.
I began to believe that Sasha suffered from one type of mental illness, and that would explain this behavior and delusion. Then the plot took a hard left turn. And another. And in the end, I don't know WHAT happened. :-)
I love Mindy McGinnis books because she writes characters and stories that are unique. Nothing is cookie-cutter with her. In fact, Mindy MicGinnis is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing! You won’t want to miss this unusual and also heartbreaking YA book about siblings.
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalester
Sibling Tie-Ins
A brother and sister
What it’s about
A teen whose younger sister is a psychopath with disturbing tendencies.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Killing things shouldn't make you happy, Rosa. That's why they're worried.” ― Justine Larbalester, quote from My Sister Rosa
I went into this book with high expectations that Rosa would be some creepy 10-year-old future (or current) serial killer, and that story question drove the plot for me. What terrible thing will she do?
Although there are some slow points, the pacing in the second half of the book is excellent, and events took some thrilling and quite unexpected turns.
Most of the conversations between Che and his sister Rosa, who is a psychopath, are fascinating, dark, and disturbing.
Rosa shrugs. “How should I know? I asked Seimone lots of questions. She answered them all. I showed an interest. I know all sorts of things about her now.”
She’s a seriously messed-up kid.
Rosa smirks though she can’t see the phone. “I’m going to get a dog, Che. When I get it I won’t hurt it. You’ll see. I keep my promises.”
Indeed she does.
You don’t want to miss this chilling YA book about siblings. And if reading about characters with “empathy erosion” interests you, you’ll find a list of similar titles in my post on Chilling Teen Psychopath Books That Evoke Strong Emotions.
Willow by Julia Hoban
Sibling Tie-ins
Sister and older brother
What it’s about
A teen girl becomes an orphan after a tragic accident, and self-harm becomes her coping method.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It's hard to keep a secret when it's written all over your body.” ― Julia Hoban from Willow
In this complex novel about self-harming and grief, I met the wonderful character of Willow. She is an orphan with terrible secrets. Guilt. Pain. Numbness. And love.
I can’t speak about whether or not Willow suffers from a deep self-harming mental illness, or if she’s simply a teenager who doesn’t know how to deal with the terrible things that happened in her life. Cutting seems like an answer. She feels alone and sad. At any rate, the book felt emotional and honest to me. I loved reading her story and connecting with her pain as she journeyed to wholeness.
Be sure to check out this thought-provoking and heartbreaking YA book about siblings that wrestles with grief and the healing power of love.
The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe) by C.S. Lewis
Sibling Tie-Ins
Four siblings - two boys and two girls
What it’s about
Four siblings enter a wardrobe and find a fantasy world with an evil ice queen and a lion.
Why I Love It - Book Review
This classic children’s fantasy story works for young and old. I read it as a child and re-read it as an adult, and its timeless story is so appealing. Two brothers and two sisters discover a magic wardrobe that transports them to another realm where animals talk and evil ice queen turns creatures to stone. She corrupts the younger brother Edmund with Turkish Delight, but his siblings forgive him and eventually bring him back into the fold. There is ultimately a great battle and sacrifice.
It's a great book, full of symbolism. This award-winning YA book about siblings definitely deserves all the accolades, hype, and great reviews it has received over the many years since its release. The movie is wonderful too.
There are 7 books in the Chronicles; all of them are great.
Other YA Books about Siblings
If you are looking other YA books about siblings, check out the Best Siblings List on Goodreads, which includes the classics like Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic, including Heartbreaking YA Books about Sisters.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
