Find your next great read for National Siblings Day by exploring my reviews of these great YA books about siblings.

If you’re lucky enough to have one or more siblings, then you understand the complexity of this relationship. Good shared experiences filled with joy and love run alongside bitter fights, anger, envy, and resentments. Some siblings remain close into adulthood—talking and seeing each other all the time—while others grow apart as time, distance, or circumstances separate them.

Reading great YA books about siblings can remind us about why we love our sisters and brothers, despite our differences. Seeing another point of view that is different from our own can provide insight and help us feel compassion and empathy. Storytelling can be the window that reveals insights about other people.

Here is an eclectic list of YA books about siblings. Some are classics, and some are modern. Some are heartwarming; some are heartbreaking; and some are chilling.

The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess

“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

Wow! The Delinquent Hero grabbed me from the first page and never stopped!

Although pitched as an action-packed murder mystery, this YA is also a raw and unforgettable story about a complicated sisterhood, eating disorders, and loss. It’s hard to put down. The present story line is an investigation of the odd circumstances and events that landed Kat in the hospital on a ventilator, but as the hours and days unfold, the close relationship between these sisters becomes apparent, and Molly finds herself connecting with her older sister in their same old way:

"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."

Everyone is saying Kat fell and hit her head, causing a catastrophic brain bleed. She’s severely malnourished and on life support, and in a few days, the doctors will remove the machines.

But when 18-year-old Molly visits her sister’s rental house, it looks more like a crime scene that someone cleaned up. Rather than face her grief about what's happening, she becomes a detective and asks hard questions about the inconsistencies in stories, the crime scene at the house, and the knife beside her sister's bed. Kat was afraid of something. What?

What I love most about The Delinquent Hero is the puzzle that Molly is trying to solve—not just about the how this terrible thing happened, but also about her sister herself. It’s a great novel that shows the way eating disorders can impact the people who love them the most. There is so much pain in trying to answer why?

You won’t want to miss this great new YA book about eating disorders, sisterhood, and grief. Fans of Wintergirls will enjoy this one.

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

“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!

You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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 as well. She (and also Jandy Nelson) are on my list of YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited.

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

"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

“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?

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalester

“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.

The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe) by C.S. Lewis

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.

Do you have any personal favorites to recommend to me? I’m always looking for another great read in this category.

Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.