Subject
Siblings -- Fiction Books
Best books
E. (Edith) Nesbit
The Railway Children
"The Railway Children" by E. Nesbit is a children's book published in 1906. When their father is suddenly imprisoned for espionage, three siblings—Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis—move with their mother from London to a modest house near a railway. There, they befriend an elderly gentleman on the morning train and encounter various adventures involving Russian exiles, injured travelers, and railway workers. The children must navigate their changed circumstances while holding onto hope that their father's name will be cleared.
George Eliot
The Mill on the Floss
"The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1860. It follows siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver as they grow up at their family's mill in rural England. Their close but troubled bond is tested by family bankruptcy, forbidden friendships, and conflicting desires. Maggie struggles between her passionate nature and social duty, caught between her intellectual connection with Philip Wakem and her attraction to Stephen Guest. The novel explores the tension between personal yearning and family loyalty in provincial Victorian society.
William Faulkner
The sound and the fury
"The sound and the fury" by William Faulkner is a novel published in 1929. The story follows the declining Compson family of Jefferson, Mississippi, told through multiple perspectives including stream of consciousness narration. The family consists of three brothers—Quentin, Benjamin, and Jason—and their sister Caddy, along with their black servant Dilsey. Through fragmented narratives spanning childhood trauma to adult consequences, the novel explores family decay, disability, honor, and loss across different time periods in the early twentieth century.
Willa Cather
O Pioneers!
"O Pioneers!" by Willa Cather is a novel published in 1913. It follows Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish-American immigrant who inherits her family's Nebraska farmland and fights to build prosperity on the harsh prairie while neighbors abandon their dreams. As the land transforms under her determination, two forbidden romances unfold—one between Alexandra and an old friend, the other between her brother Emil and a married woman—testing loyalty, passion, and the price of survival in an unforgiving frontier.
E. (Edith) Nesbit
Five Children and It
"Five Children and It" by E. Nesbit is a children's fantasy novel published in 1902. When five siblings discover a grumpy, ancient sand-fairy called the Psammead in a gravel pit, they're granted one wish per day—but there's a catch. Each wish vanishes at sunset, and every desire goes hilariously and dangerously wrong. From unwanted beauty to unspendable riches, from inconvenient wings to a besieged castle, the children learn that getting what you wish for isn't always what you want.
Charles Brockden Brown
Wieland; Or, The Transformation: An American Tale
"Wieland; Or, The Transformation: An American Tale" by Charles Brockden Brown is a novel published in 1798. Often considered the first American Gothic novel, it follows Clara Wieland and her family as they experience mysterious disembodied voices that lead to devastating consequences. When a strange visitor named Carwin arrives with the ability to throw his voice, the line between supernatural phenomena and human deception blurs fatally. Religious fanaticism collides with rationality as Clara struggles to understand the horrifying events that destroy her once-peaceful family.
George de Horne Vaizey
A College Girl
"A College Girl" by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey is a novel written in the late 19th century. This fictional narrative revolves around the experiences of Darsie, a young girl who leaves her family to become a companion to her elderly aunt. Throughout the story, Darsie navigates the complexities of her social life, her education, and ultimately, her romantic interests, which impact her future. At the start of the novel, we learn about Darsie's vibrant personality and her upbringing as the second daughter among many siblings. The opening describes her encounters with both her family and the wealthy Vernon family, who play a significant role in her life. Initially, Darsie is mentored by her aunt in manners and etiquette, but as the story progresses, it hints at deeper themes of education, ambition, and personal growth. The narrative sets a backdrop of youthful adventures as Darsie prepares for her academic journey to Cambridge against the backdrop of familial expectations and societal norms. Ultimately, the tone combines humor and nostalgia, establishing a foundation for Darsie's development as she navigates the challenges ahead.
E. (Edith) Nesbit
The Story of the Treasure Seekers Being the Adventures of the Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune
"The Story of the Treasure Seekers" by E. Nesbit is a novel first published in 1899. Six siblings—Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and H.O. Bastable—embark on imaginative adventures to restore their family's lost fortune after their widowed father faces financial ruin. From digging for treasure to attempting daring rescues, the children try every scheme they've read about in books. Narrated by young Oswald, who playfully conceals his identity, the story captures childhood imagination, sibling dynamics, and creative problem-solving with charm and humor.
Honoré de Balzac
The Girl with the Golden Eyes
"The Girl with the Golden Eyes" by Honoré de Balzac is a novella published in 1835. This dark tale of obsession follows Henri de Marsay, a wealthy heir who becomes infatuated with the mysterious and beautiful Paquita Valdes. He devises a plan to seduce her, but his success leads to a disturbing discovery about her other lover. What begins as a story of desire spirals into jealousy, violence, and a shocking revelation that connects de Marsay to Paquita in an unexpected way.
Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge
The Pillars of the House; Or, Under Wode, Under Rode, Vol. 1 (of 2)
"The Pillars of the House; Or, Under Wode, Under Rode, Vol. 1 (of 2)" by Charlotte M. Yonge is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story explores themes of family dynamics, social expectations, and personal sacrifice through the lives of the Underwood family, particularly focusing on their son, Felix Chester Underwood, and his siblings as they navigate childhood and the challenges of their circumstances. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Felix and his family as they celebrate his birthday amidst a backdrop of financial constraints. The children are filled with excitement over a birthday gift from Felix's godfather, Admiral Chester, which sets off a chain of discussions on how to spend the money. Felix displays a selfless spirit, wanting to use part of the money to buy new clothes for his sisters, highlighting the family's love and support for one another despite their struggles. The opening chapters paint a vivid picture of their domestic life, blending joy with the realities of their situation, suggesting that themes of sacrifice and familial love will be central to the evolving narrative.
Emilia Pardo Bazán
La madre naturaleza (2ª parte de Los pazos de Ulloa)
"La madre naturaleza (2ª parte de Los pazos de Ulloa)" by Pardo Bazán is a novel published in 1887. This continuation follows Perucho and Manuela, two young people raised in rural Galicia who fall deeply in love—unaware they are half-siblings. As nature's pull clashes with society's moral codes, the story explores themes of forbidden passion, spirituality versus instinct, and class divisions. When the truth of their relationship is revealed, the consequences force a reckoning between natural desire and cultural expectations in nineteenth-century Spain.
Henry James
The Europeans
"The Europeans" by Henry James is a novel published in 1878. Two sophisticated European siblings arrive in puritanical New England to meet their distant American cousins. Eugenia seeks a wealthy husband after her morganatic marriage faces dissolution, while her brother Felix embraces their relatives' simpler life. Cultural clash and romantic entanglements unfold as European worldliness meets New England propriety. Felix falls for his cousin Gertrude, but misunderstandings, white lies, and differing values complicate everyone's hopes for happiness across the Atlantic divide.
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