They say two is better than one. I don’t know about that, but I do know that I love a good story about twins.
I always think it’s interesting to see the family dynamics that different authors give twins. I’m not a twin, but it’s fun to imagine what that relationship would be like.
For this post, I gathered up 15 tales about twins that I think you’ll enjoy. Do you have a favorite twin book? Come over to my Instagram page and tell me about it. .
You’ll see that lot of these books are part of a series. I wonder if the authors couldn’t stop at one because twins can’t be contained in just one book? I know I couldn’t squeeze everything about “my” twins, Jessica and Oliver, into just one story. I guess that, sometimes, two really is better than one.
Happy Reading!
1. The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
This is one wild ride across America with a great set of twins. Those names, though…what were their parents thinking? The photos and maps really help you follow their journey to some of the zaniest tourist spots in the U.S.A.
Amazon Description: Coke McDonald and his twin sister, Pepsi, think their family’s cross-country RV vacation is nothing to get excited about…until they’re chased off a cliff, locked in a burning school, and receive mysterious messages in codes and ciphers. From California to Wisconsin, it’s a race against time to find out who’s after Coke and Pep, who’s leaving the notes…and just what being a part of The Genius Files entails!
2. The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) by Tony DiTerlizzi
I love this series and the movie they made out of this book. When they make a movie out of a book I like, it makes me so happy to know other people appreciated the story, too. For more books-turned-movie, check out my post from last summer: 10 Great Books Turned Into Movies for Middle-Graders
Amazon Description: After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they’ve just moved into, Jared; his twin brother, Simon; and their older sister, Mallory, discover that there’s a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own—the world of faerie.
The Grace children want to share their story, but the faeries will do everything possible to stop them…
3. Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
This author also wrote another book I love, Stargirl. You should definitely read that one, too.
Amazon Description: Jake and Lily are twins. Despite their slightly different interests and temperaments, they feel exactly the same—like two halves of one person.
But the year they turn eleven, everything changes. Their parents announce it’s time for separate bedrooms. Jake starts hanging out with a pack of boys on the block. And Lily is devastated, not to mention angry. Who is she without Jake?
And as her brother falls under the influence of the neighborhood bully, he also must ask himself—who is the real Jake?
4. Welcome to Superhero School by Gracie Dix
I always thought twins were interesting, so when I decided to write a book about superheroes I knew I had to make them super twins!
Amazon Description: From subterranean sewers to lush jungle, from dinosaurs to dragons, our heroes will be pushed to their limits in ways they’d never imagined. Will their collective Powers—Flight, Morphing, Invisibility, Mind Reading, and more—be enough for them to overcome the malevolence of Vork? Or will they stumble over their own doubts and painful histories?
This action-packed journey of friendship, hardship, and humor will take our heroes to thrilling new heights and a deeper understanding of their own place in the world. But will that be enough—or will Vork always be one step ahead?
5. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry is a great author and The Willoughbys is such a fun read. Have you seen the animated version of this book on Netflix? You should!
Amazon Description: The Willoughbys—Timothy; his twin brothers, Barnaby A and Barnaby B; and their little sister, Jane—are old-fashioned children who adore old-fashioned adventures.
Unfortunately, the Willoughby parents are not very fond of their children, and the truth is that the siblings are not too keen on their parents either. Little do the Willoughby kids know that their neglectful mother and father are hatching an evil plan to get rid of them! Not to worry—these resourceful adventurers have a few plans of their own. But they have no idea what lies ahead in their quest to rid themselves of their ghastly parents and live happily ever after.
6. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
This is one of my favorite fantasy series. It’s packed with action and adventure!
Amazon Description: Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.
Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret–behind the mirage of the “death farm” there is instead a place called Artime.
In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.
But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.
7. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
You could say this book about basketball is a slam-dunk. (See what I did there?)
Amazon Description: “With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he’s got mad beats, too, that tell his family’s story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander.
Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story’s heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
8. Astrotwins – Project Blastoff by Mark Edward Kelly
You can’t go wrong with a book about twins who want to build a rocket, written by a real-life astronaut who is also a twin.
Amazon Description: It’s a long, hot summer and Scott and Mark are in big trouble for taking apart (aka destroying) their dad’s calculator. As a punishment, they’re sent to their grandfather’s house, where there’s no TV and they have to do chores. And Grandpa is less tolerant of the twins’ constant bickering. “Why don’t you two work together on something constructive. What if you built a go-kart or something?” Grandpa suggests.
But it’s not a go-kart the twins are interested in. They want to build a rocket. With the help of Jenny, nicknamed Egg, and a crew of can-do kids, they set out to build a real rocket that will blast off and orbit the Earth. The question soon becomes: which twin will get to be the astronaut?
9. Troubletwisters by Sean Williams
Fast-paced and full of suspense! Also, talking cats.
Amazon Description: Jaide and Jack Shield’s lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they’re around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house…from the inside.
Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X—a relative they’ve never, ever met. At Grandma X’s house, things are even stranger. Weather vanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk.
Jaide and Jack don’t know the reason behind all this strangeness. They don’t know that they’re troubletwisters, and that they must defend the world against a dark, evil force. The time has come for them to discover the truth–and the powers that come with the truth. Are they ready?
10. Elementals: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman
They say that twins have a special bond, so can you imagine being separated from your special sibling…maybe forever?
Amazon Description: Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives.
So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he wonders whether they are even related. Family or not, Rayna is Anders’s only true friend. She’s nothing like the brutal, cruel dragons who claimed her as one of their own and stole her away.
To rescue her, Anders must enlist at the foreboding Ulfar Academy, a school for young wolves that values loyalty to the pack above all else. But for Anders, loyalty is more complicated than obedience, and friendship is the most powerful shapeshifting force of all.
11. The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer
I love the Artemis Fowl books, don’t you? (Another book-to-movie winner!) This series stars Artemis’ younger twin brothers and it’s so much fun. I just found out Book 3 comes out Oct. 19, so you can bet I’ll be reading that as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Amazon Description: One week after their 11th birthday, the Fowl twins – scientist Myles, and Beckett, the force of nature – are left in the care of house security (NANNI) for a single night. In that time they befriend a troll who has clawed his way through the earth’s crust to the surface. Unfortunately for the troll, he is being chased by a nefarious nobleman and an interrogating nun, who both need the magical creature for their own gain, as well as a fairy-in-training who has been assigned to protect him.
The boys and their new troll best friend escape and go on the run. Along the way they get shot at, kidnapped, buried, arrested, threatened, killed (temporarily), and discover that the strongest bond in the world is not the one forged by covalent electrons in adjacent atoms, but the one that exists between a pair of twins.
12. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea: Book One by Ellis Weiner
These twins are smart, sarcastic and funny. Plus there are puzzles to solve and adventures to enjoy.
Amazon description: Suppose there were 12-year-old twins, a boy and girl named John and Abigail Templeton. Let’s say John was pragmatic and played the drums, and Abigail was theoretical and solved cryptic crosswords. Now suppose their father was a brilliant, if sometimes confused, inventor. And suppose that another set of twins—adults—named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean, kidnapped the Templeton twins and their ridiculous dog in order to get their father to turn over one of his genius (sort of) inventions. Yes, I said kidnapped. Wouldn’t it be fun to read about that? Oh please. It would so. Luckily for you, this is just the first in a series perfect for boys and girls who are smart, clever, and funny (just like the twins), and enjoy reading adventurous stories (who doesn’t?!).
13. The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey
I love a book that makes you laugh out loud and also makes you think. This is just the first adventure of the Tapper Twins so if you like it, be sure to check out the rest of the series.
Amazon description: Twelve-year-old twins, Claudia and Reese, who couldn’t be more different…except in their determination to come out on top in a vicious prank war. But when the competition escalates into an all-out battle that’s fought from the cafeteria of their New York City private school all the way to the fictional universe of an online video game, the twins have to decide if their efforts to destroy each other are worth the price.
14. The Trouble with Twins by Kathryn Siebel
Have you ever felt left out? Then even if you’re not a twin, you’ll understand how Henrietta feels.
Amazon description: Imagine two twin sisters, Arabella and Henrietta—nearly identical yet with nothing in common. They’re the best of friends . . . until one day they aren’t. Plain and quiet Henrietta has a secret plan to settle the score, and she does something outrageous and she can’t take it back.
When the deed is discovered, Henrietta is sent to live with her eccentric great-aunt! Suddenly life with pretty, popular Arabella doesn’t seem so awful. And, though she’s been grievously wronged, Arabella longs for her sister, too. So she hatches a plan of her own and embarks on an unexpected journey to reunite with her other half.
15. The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories, 1) by Chris Colfer
If this looks familiar it could be because it was in my last post on fairy stories. But it’s one of my favorite authors and stories, so it’s totally worth a repeat in case you missed it last time.
Amazon description: The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.
But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.
SO many twins! What’s your favorite twin story? Come on over to my Instagram account and let’s talk about it.