Siblings can be your best friend, your biggest rival, and the person who drives you up the wall, sometimes all in the same afternoon! These middle grade books about siblings capture all of it: the arguing, the protecting, the jealousy, and the fierce love underneath. As a mom of two boys, I see these relationships play out every day, and so do the kids in my classroom.
Whether it’s brothers and sisters learning to get along, a big brother stepping up when it matters most, or sisters surviving on their own, these stories help kids see their own families a little more clearly. They’re great for independent reading, read-alouds, or sparking conversations about family at home. Scroll down to find the right sibling story for your reader, ages 9+.
Middle Grade Books About Siblings
Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall
Ages 8+
One of my fourth-grade students recommended this book to me and declared it her favourite. It’s a shorter chapter book with cute drawings, and each chapter is its own little adventure for the two sisters, Stella and Marigold.
Goodbye French Fry by Rin-Rin Yu
Ages 9–13
The cutest story of a sister and a brother! Wholesome from start to finish, with underlying themes of microaggressions, racism, standing up for yourself, believing in yourself and family love. Just the sweetest.
The Final Year (novel in verse) by Matt Goodfellow
Ages 9–13
A heartwarming novel in verse about a big brother who struggles with anxiety and managing his emotions, until tragedy strikes and his little brother needs him more than ever. I’ve recommended it to adults and to fourth and fifth graders, and every single one of them hugged this book.
Out of Range by Heidi Lang
Ages 9–13
These three sisters do NOT get along, and their parents are fed up, so they send the girls to a summer camp where they’ll have to learn to get along. On a hike, they get separated not only from their trek leader but from each other. A fantastic Hatchet-esque survival story with girls leading the adventure.
Stopping the Shots by Lorna Schultz Nicholson 🇨🇦
Ages 8–13
Three brothers live on a farm in small-town Canada. Two are hockey-obsessed, and the third is autistic and loves his brothers. The hockey brothers face big decisions as a family, against each other and for each other… Will competition tear their family apart?
Last Year with Maddy by Anna Rosner 🇨🇦
Ages 9+
Such a heartfelt story. Maddy is torn between a friendship and her love for her brother, especially when she can’t quite figure out what’s happening with him, or with her whole family. It gets heavy at times, but it’s so worth the read. My students read it and would look up at me while reading it, “Oohhhh poooorrr Maddy”.
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