Circle of Friends
Amicable Reads for National Best Friends Day
What are friends for? Find out when you and your besties explore this collection of fiction featuring phenomenal friendships. Bond over your favorite fictional duos and trios, and then challenge your friends to a Vocab Jam using our curated word lists.
The Friendship WarWhen sixth-grader Grace inspires a new craze for collecting buttons at her school, she inadvertently starts a war with her best friend.
Early DeparturesWhen a technological miracle allows Jamal's best friend, Q, to be brought back to life for a few weeks, Jamal must decide whether to tell Q the truth about what happened to him.
Bridge to TerabithiaJess and Leslie spend their free time playing in the fantasy land of Terabithia; but when tragedy strikes, one of them will have to learn to cope with loss in the real world.
When You Were EverythingCleo tries to build new friendships while she mourns her relationship with her former best friend.
StargazingMoon is unlike anyone Christine has ever met — but jealousy and an unexpected emergency test their friendship.
Every Soul a StarMiddle schoolers Ally, Bree, and Jack strike up an unexpected friendship when they meet at a remote campground to watch a solar eclipse.
The Season of Styx MaloneDuring one action-packed summer, brothers Caleb and Bobby Gene team up with smooth schemer Styx Malone in an attempt to escape their small town.
Odd One OutCoop and his neighbor Jupiter are best friends — despite Coop's unrequited crush. But when Rae moves to town, she threatens to disrupt their friendship.
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. JamesAfter a heart transplant, Sunny St. James resolves to reinvent herself — but she must navigate complicated relationships with her new best friend and with the mother who abandoned her.
AwkwardMiddle school gets off to a rocky start for Peppi Torres after an awkward encounter with Jaime Thompson — and things only get worse when Peppi's art club begins feuding with the science club. Can Peppi save the day?
Darius the Great Is Not OkayDarius has always struggled to fit in: he suffers from depression, he is bullied at school, and he can never seem to meet his father's high expectations. When Darius's family travels to Iran to visit his grandparents, Darius finds a place where he belongs, and a true friendship, for the first time.
The MisfitsIn this novel, James Howe introduces four middle-schoolers who decide to take a stand against cruel name-calling. Study this essential vocabulary from a book all about the power of words.
The Sky at Our FeetBelieving that his mother has been deported to Afghanistan, twelve-year-old Jason runs away to New York City, where he meets Max, a mischievous girl with epilepsy.
Shouting at the RainGrowing up on Cape Cod, Delsie tries to weather stormy relationships with friends and family.
The Thing About JellyfishIn this novel, a seventh grader struggles to come to terms with the drowning death of her best friend.
The First Rule of PunkTwelve-year-old Malú loves punk rock, but her mother and the strict principal at her new school definitely do not. With the help of her fellow "misfits," Malú fights to express who she truly is.
The Inexplicable Logic of My LifeSal has always felt at home with his adoptive father, his beloved grandmother, and his best friend, Samantha. But as his senior year progresses, Sal struggles with volatile anger, unexpected tragedy, and changing relationships with friends and family.
CrenshawAs his family struggles financially, Jackson deals with hardship with the help of his imaginary friend, a giant cat named Crenshaw.
Monday's Not ComingWhen Claudia's best friend disappears, Claudia is determined to find out what happened to her.
BreadcrumbsIn this modernized fairy tale, Hazel must journey into an icy forest to rescue her best friend Jack from a snow queen.
Raymie NightingaleRaymie enters a local pageant, hoping that the publicity will encourage her absent father to reach out to her. She meets Louisiana and Beverly in a baton-twirling class, and the girls forge a friendship that will help each of them cope with their own losses.
The OutsidersIn the 1960s, tensions between two rival gangs separated along economic lines reach a violent breaking point.
Leah on the OffbeatIn this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda, Leah Burke navigates difficulties during her senior year: her mom's new relationship, college admissions, tensions among her friends, and a painful crush.
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyIn this historical novel, Turner Buckminster confronts racism when town elders expel an African American community, including Turner's friend Lizzie, from their island home.
All the Bright PlacesTwo teenagers in crisis offer each other unexpected support—but while Finch helps Violet heal from trauma, his own life is falling apart.
Barely Missing EverythingBest friends Juan and JD are determined to achieve their dreams, but they must fight against prejudice and poverty and cope with difficult family secrets.
Will Grayson, Will GraysonIn this collaboration by popular novelists John Green and David Levithan, the lives of two teenagers named Will Grayson intersect unexpectedly.
A Separate PeaceSet during World War II, this novel traces the friendship and rivalry between two boys at boarding school.
The ChosenIn the 1940s, two Jewish teenagers from different backgrounds develop a deep friendship as they pursue their ambitions.
Freak the MightyFreak the Mighty tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an awkward, lumbering outcast and a physically challenged genius. Together, the two boys become a force for good.
Anything But TypicalA twelve-year-old boy with autism strikes up an online friendship but worries about meeting his new friend in person.
Turtles All the Way DownSixteen-year-old Aza investigates the disappearance of a local billionaire and navigates complicated relationships with her mom, best friend, and a new romantic interest, all while trying to manage obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hello, UniverseThe lives of four children (and a guinea pig named Gulliver) intersect in unexpected ways in this Newbery Medal-winning book.
Nowhere BoyA fourteen-year-old Syrian refugee and a lonely thirteen-year-old American boy strike up a friendship when they unexpectedly meet in Belgium.
Roller GirlIn this graphic novel, Astrid deals with changing friendships during a summer at roller derby camp.
Wilder GirlsWhen the Tox begins to infect students at the Raxter School for Girls, Hetty attempts to discover the truth about the mysterious illness — and the disappearance of her best friend.
SpinWhen a popular DJ is murdered, her friends Kya and Fuse must team up to solve the crime.
The One and Only IvanInspired by true events, this award-winning novel by Katherine Applegate tells the story of a captive gorilla and the elephant he befriends.
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the WorldAfter her house is destroyed by a tornado, 12-year-old Ivy must navigate changing relationships with her family and friends.
Liar & SpyWhen Georges moves to a new apartment building, he meets Safer, who enlists Georges in a scheme to spy on a mysterious neighbor. Learn these words from the novel by Rebecca Stead.
They Both Die at the EndAfter receiving calls from Death-Cast informing them that they have less than 24 hours to live, strangers Mateo and Rufus connect through an app called Last Friend.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the UniverseAristotle and Dante are two teenagers with classical names and loner attitudes. When their paths cross, they develop a friendship that will change their lives.
Code Name VeritySet during World War II, this historical novel tells the story of Julie, a British spy, and Maddie, a pilot. When the friends' plane goes down, Julie must fight to survive in Nazi-occupied France.
The Perks of Being a WallflowerIn letters addressed to an unnamed friend, Charlie describes his experiences as a high school freshman.
The Prince and the DressmakerAn inventive seamstress befriends a prince with an eye for unconventional fashion.
The Tiger RisingTwelve-year-old Rob and his new friend, Sistine, discover a caged tiger in the woods.
Goodbye StrangerBridge, Emily, and Tab are best friends who make a promise never to fight – but when seventh grade arrives, keeping their promise is more difficult than they expected.
Ghost SquadWhen best friends Lucely and Syd accidentally summon evil spirits to their town, they must figure out a way to reverse the spell and defeat the spirits.
Race to the SunSeventh-grader Nizhoni, her brother, and her best friend must pass a series of difficult tests and travel to the House of the Sun in order to defeat ancient monsters.
Dragons in a BagJaxon and his friends Vikram and Kavita are unexpectedly tasked with delivering a bag of baby dragons to a magical land.
King and the DragonfliesKing tries to help his best friend escape a troubled home while coping with the death of his brother.
Paper TownsWhen his old friend (and crush) Margo disappears, Quentin tries to find out what happened to her by following the clues she left behind.
The Wind in the WillowsKenneth Grahame's classic novel recounts the adventures of four woodland friends: Mole, Rat, Badger, and the irrepressible Mr. Toad. Read the full text here.
Silent to the BoneConnor's best friend Branwell hasn't said a word since he was accused of seriously injuring his younger sister. Connor is determined to find out what really happened so that Branwell can clear his name.
We'll Fly AwayBefore he was convicted of a terrible crime, Luke and his best friend Toby dreamed of escaping their small town. Moving between Luke's letters to Toby from prison and flashbacks to the boys' senior year of high school, this novel explores the challenges and choices that led Luke to death row.
The Moon WithinEleven-year-old Celi faces the challenges of growing up, including crushes, changing relationships with friends, and honoring her family obligations and heritage.
Under a Painted SkyWhen 15-year-old Samantha, a Chinese-American girl living in Missouri in the mid-19th-century, finds herself on the wrong side of the law, she and her best friend embark on a journey westward, following the Oregon Trail.
Small StepsIn this sequel to the novel Holes, Theodore "Armpit" Johnson is hoping for a fresh start, but he gets caught up in a series of strange adventures when he reconnects with his old friend X-Ray.
Keep It Together, Keiko CarterKeiko has always counted on her best friends, Audrey and Jenna — but the girls' friendship is tested as they navigate seventh grade.
The School for Good and EvilSweet, angelic Sophie and moody Agatha are shocked when Agatha is sent to the School for Good and Sophie is sent to the School for Evil. Did the School Master make a mistake or does he know the two girls better than they know themselves?
After Tupac and D FosterIn 1995, a new arrival to their New York City neighborhood changes the lives of Neeka and her best friend.
The Beauty That RemainsAfter suffering painful losses, three teens find solace in music — and each other.
Same Sun HereMeena and River, twelve-year-olds from very different backgrounds, become pen pals.
When Zachary Beaver Came to TownIn this coming-of-age story, a thirteen-year-old boy learns about loss and friendship over the course of one eventful summer.
The PinballsThree children strike up a friendship as they try to navigate life in foster care.
The School StoryA twelve-year-old girl poses as a literary agent in order to get her best friend's novel published.
Turtle BoyA seventh grader begins to come out of his shell after he forms an unexpected bond with a terminally ill teen.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsA pair of magical jeans helps four best friends feel close even when they can't be together.
A Place at the TableA cooking class brings together two sixth graders from different backgrounds.
The Shape of ThunderA year after a devastating tragedy, Cora and Quinn attempt to rebuild their friendship — and find a way to change the past.
When We Were InfiniteBeth, Sunny, Grace, and Brandon make a vow to protect their friend Jason, but tensions strain their relationships with one another.
Why We FlyHigh school cheerleaders Eleanor and Chanel face a tumultuous senior year after their decision to kneel during the national anthem at the first football game of the season.
Frankie & BugMiddle graders Bug and Frankie form a close friendship when they team up to uncover the identity of the LA-area criminal called the Midnight Marauder.
No VacancyTo help save her family's failing motel, eleven-year old Miriam and her friend Kate invent a miraculous story to lure in new customers.
In the Wild LightCash and Delaney's friendship is tested when they get the chance to leave their working-class community to study at an elite prep school.
The Henna WarsSet in Dublin, Ireland, Nishat and her childhood friend Flávia contend one another in a high school contest to create the best henna business.
WillodeenAfter a birthday gift brings magic to eleven-year-old Willodeen and her friend Connor, Willodeen goes on a mission to protect her favorite strange beasts known as screechers.
KaleidoscopeThrough an intricate series of short stories that span time and space, a young boy grieves over the death of his best friend, James, while remembering the happy times they spent together.
Millionaires for the MonthAfter finding and returning the wallet of a social media billionaire, Benji and Felix must forge a friendship and spend a five-million-dollar cash reward before their time runs out. Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–14, Chapters 15–30, Chapters 31–44
Kings of B'MoreWhen sixteen-year-old Harrison Meredith finds out that his best friend Linus Munro is moving away, he plans a surprise day of adventures.
You Go FirstTwelve-year old Charlotte Lockard lives in Pennsylvania while eleven-year-old Benjamin Boxer lives in Louisiana, but they connect through an online Scrabble game and their shared troubles.
Falling ShortCalifornian sixth graders Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman describe how their best friendship helps them through their troubles at home and in school.
Kristy's Great IdeaIn this first book of The Baby-Sitters Club series, twelve-year-old Kristin Amanda Thomas comes up with the idea to team up with other baby-sitters to advertise and make appointments for individual services in their small Connecticut town.
One Half from the EastThe youngest of four daughters, ten-year-old Obayda must pretend to be a boy to help her family in Afghanistan.
Honey and MeHaving known Hencha “Honey” Wine since they were two years old, Milla Ruth Bloom is surprised when sixth grade and their upcoming bat mitzvahs bring on unexpected challenges to their friendship.
Be Real, Macy WeaverIn both South Carolina and Maryland, eleven-year-old Macy, desperate for a best friend, weaves a web of lies that she hopes would be impressive.
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