1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: Friendship+books= Harry Potter. It's as simple as that. It is the first book that comes to mind and it illustrates friendship perfectly. Your friends are your family, and I can't think of many other books that show that fact so clearly.
2. Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson: The main character, Vin, grew up knowing to never trust anyone. That lesson was pounded into her constantly by her brother, and she stuck to that rule. Until she met a group of unusual people. They teach her about friendship, the ups and downs and what it truly means to be a friend.
3. Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg: Can a guy and a girl really be best friends? YES! This is a sadly neglected topic in so much of YA Fiction, or fiction at all. I've always had a blend of guys and girls as friends. This book shows both and is a refreshing change.
4. Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor: This book is beautiful. I was up way past any reasonable hour reading this. Zoe and Olivia have a friendship so similar to some of my own that I instantly connected with them.
5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: I know this book will be on many lists. The friendship between Maddie and Queenie is so wonderful! They maintain an incredible friendship through WWII, not exactly the easiest of times.
6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta: Narnie, Jude, Tate, Fitz and Webb? I feel a bit teary just typing their names. They aren't just friends, together they form a family. They all know the ugliest sides of each other, but they also see the beautiful parts too. Taylor and her friendships are much different, but also fantastic representations of friendship.
7. Young Wizard Series by Diane Duane: Friendships in EVERY form. You want a book that shows just how many different kinds of friendships you can have? This is it. Kit and Nita meet and become best friends. A boy and a girl. Best friends. I can't say much more without spoiling it for you, but on their journey's they meet incredible "people" (some are actually people, some are... not quite people) and form friendships with them. Every walk of life, it doesn't matter, friendships are formed.
8. Study Series by Maria V. Snyder: Yelena emerges from the lowest of places possible at the beginning of the story. By the end she has formed relationships that will last lifetimes. Ari and Janco are some of my favorite characters ever. After an initial rocky start, they decide they like Yelena and form a fantastic friendship. But that's not all, the series is peppered with unlikely but delightful friendships.
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Liesel forms an array of unlikely friendships, from Rudy to Max to.... well, if you haven't read it, I won't spoil some of the other friendships... To those who have read it, the woman with the books. ;) Liesel loses so much right at the beginning of the book, but gains so much. She even, unknowingly, forms a relationship with our... distinguished narrator.
10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Unusual friendships in very unusual times. There are many I could mention, but my personal favorite is the friendship that is formed between Minnie and Celia.
What made your list? Comment below or leave a link!
Good list, Harry Potter made my list as well because as you mentioned Harry Potter is kind of a given for this topic and I also love all of Liesel's unlikely friendships in The Book Thief. I think that Mistborn and Better Off Friends sound like interesting reads.
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