7 YA Books About Twins
There’s just something about twins that’s so fascinating to those of us who aren’t one, isn’t there? (And probably really fun to read about if you are one, too!) The idea of having never spent a moment alone in the womb, only to emerge into the world and maybe be best friends or maybe clash hard; maybe have everything in common or maybe have nothing; maybe look exactly alike or maybe look nothing alike; maybe be the same gender or different genders…every assessment of commonality feels like its own interesting facet to be explored. Here are seven of our favorites that do it best.
The Upside of Unrequited, by Becky Albertalli
The only thing easier to love than Albertalli’s sophomore novel is its cast, helmed by Molly Peskin-Suso. Molly’s entire life has been filled with anxiety, jabs at her weight, and unrequited crushes, so when her twin, Cassie, falls hard and fast for a new girl, Molly could not feel more left behind. But Cassie’s got a solution! It just so happens, her new girlfriend has the perfect, cute friend for Molly who just might end her unrequited streak and keep her and Cassie in the same social circle. But what if “the perfect guy” for her doesn’t appeal to her nearly as much as her chubby, nerdy coworker does? Can Molly follow her heart even if it leads her away from her twin?
Untwine, by Edwidge Dandicat
When a tragic accident lands Giselle and the rest of her family in the hospital, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Her twin, Isabelle, has always been the closest person in the world to her; they came out of the womb holding hands and have barely let go since. But when she wakes up, she has no idea where her parents are and whether they’re alive, and despite having practically shared a brain with Isabelle their whole lives, for the first time she doesn’t know Isabelle’s fate either. Who would she be without Isabelle? What would life be like if she were no longer a twin? Can she survive finding out?
I’ll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson
Jude and Noah are the best of friends at 13, and worlds apart at 16. Both eras are depicted in alternating timelines in Nelson’s Printz Award–winning sophomore novel. But what happened in between, while Noah was falling in love with the boy next door and Jude was pursuing art and passion? Neither one truly knows, and they’ll have to reconnect and fill in the blanks if they ever hope to find their way back to the friendship they once shared, something they both desperately need following the death of their mother.
One, by Sarah Crossan
For 16 years, conjoined twins Tippi and Grace have been literally joined at the waist, living every moment of their lives together and loving maintaining both their closeness and their individuality while doing so. And now, as they start at a new school and make new friends, their lives are flourishing more than ever, despite difficulties at home. But when the separation operation they’ve never wanted becomes an inevitably for health reasons, there’s a lot for both to consider as they prepare for their lives to change for good.
Jerkbait, by Mia Siegert
Robbie and Tristan haven’t been close since they shared a womb, but when Robbie attempts suicide, they have no choice but to share space in order to keep him safe. Now that they’re sharing a room, Tristan finally sees there’s more to his hockey star brother, including the toll that being closeted has taken on him as he considers the ways it may limit the future in pro sports everyone has always imagined for him. Robbie’s finds his only solace in an online stranger, but when even that turns into a dangerous secret, Tristan may have to put his own future on the line to save the brother he’s only just getting to know.
This Side of Home, by Renee Watson
Maya and Nikki have spent their lives generally on the same page, but when gentrification comes to their Portland neighborhood, they’re stunned by how differently they feel on the issue of the home they’ve always known turning into something neither of them recognizes. While Nikki loves watching the streets fill with cute shops, Maya worries about what it means for the people getting priced out and losing their cultural touchstones. With every discussion, the twins move further apart, as the differences in their value systems are cast into high relief. Can they find common ground, or have they lost their bond forever?
Gemini, by Sonya Mukherjee
The key to life for Clara and Hailey’s family has been to stay in their small town forever, surrounding themselves with people who’ve long ceased to be surprised by the presence of conjoined twins. But when talk of the future comes calling and a new guy comes to town, Clara and Hailey are forced to acknowledge they have very different visions of what they want from the rest of their lives. They’ll have to figure out what they want as individuals and how they can both have the future they want and deserve, unless they want to tear themselves apart for good.