My Favorite 2000s YA Book Sidekicks!
I’m thinking about my Favorite 2000s YA Book Sidekicks! I’ll tell you mine and you tell me yours!
This post was originally published in 2012 and updated in 2024.
We tend to gush over lead characters, but what about those in supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites?
I love sidekick characters. Behind every great hero/heroine is a great sidekick. I definitely think that many of them have so much personality that they deserve their own books! Here are some of my favorites.
- BFFs
- Best friends
- Frenemies
- Found family
Some of My Favorite Guy Sidekick Characters:
Simon from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.
Beau from the Eternal Ones series by Kirsten Miller
Hana from the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. (Yeah, she got a novella. But I hope she pops up in book three.)
On the contemporary front, Sarah Dessen always writes great secondary characters: Deb from What Happened to Goodbye, the Clementine’s girls from Along for the Ride.
Call me crazy — I even love control freak Jennifer from This Lullaby.
Tell me in comments — who are your favorite supporting characters? Here’s what my commenters thought back in 2012!
“Grimalkin from the Iron Fey series, Cole St. Clair from the Wolves of Mercy Falls, and Adam from If I Stay..”
“Sam Yu from White Cat, Kenji from Shatter Me, and DEFINITELY Simon from TMI series and Hana from Delirium.”
You might also like to check out my list of Best YA Friend Group Mysteries.
Ooo. I'd say Grimalkin from the iron fey series, Cole St Clair from the wolves of mercy falls, Adam from If I stay. And R2D2 for the win
R2D2 is the best. I'd vote for him if it were open to movie sidekicks.
Grimalkin from Iron Fey! 🙂
I have not read that series — but clearly he's a popular choice!
I'm guilty of not reading that series either
oh this is such a great question! I'll have to say Sam Yu from White Cat, Kenji from Shatter Me, and DEFINITELY Simon from TMI series and Hana from Delirium. love those two so, so much!
I'm listening to the White Cat audiobook while I walk the dog in the mornings (great audiobook BTW narrated by Jesse Eisenberg) and I love Sam!!!!!
Kenji is also a great choice — I'm really looking forward to reading more about him in Unravel Me. He better show up in that book!!!!
Okay, exclamation point abuse. Working on that.
I like Stevie Rae from the House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. She's a leader on her own and I think that's great
I have not read any of those books, but I like the name Stevie Rae. She sounds tough!
I love all the secondary characters in The Mortal Instruments. It is part of why I love the books so much!
I love this!! I have to go make my post. 🙂 I love Bailey, Poppit, and Widget from the Night Circus and all the characters in HP are fantastic. And Percy Jackson, too.
Okay, coming to check out your post now…..
I must admit that I could not get into the Night Circus. Everyone I know loves it. I'm going to try again this summer.
I love Kaitlyn from Descended by Blood. Also Issie from the Need series. Of Course I love Simon from TMI he is super. I love all the secondary characters in that series. I also really adore the secondary characters in the Soul Screamers series too.
That's true about the Soul Screamers series!
I so rarely like secondary characters! I LOVE Simon though but I felt like he was a main character especially in the 4th book. And he so deserves it because he is my favorite I think out of everyone.
I must be a sidekick myself, because I always am drawn to the sidekicks!
I need to read book 4 b/c I like Simon!
Well, I think everyone agrees about Cassandra Clare's characters. I think Ally Carter does great side characters in all her books (The Heist Society and The Gallagher Girls).
Have not read GG, but you're right, all the characters in Heist Society are very well done!
Yes to Simon! Love him and the way he evolved through the books. One of my favorite secondary characters is Tiny Cooper from Will Graysn, Will Grayson.
Yes, I read your post 🙂
I agree that the characters in Will Grayson are all great. How can you go wrong with a book by two such amazing writers?
Darn blogger won't let me reply to your comment thru the thread.
Anyways, House of Night is worth the read. It gets super magical though as the book progress into the series.
I've just finished reading GAME OF THRONES. There are a plethora of worthy side-Kicks.
I am a little late, but I LOVED Beau from The Eternal Ones. Have you read All You Desire yet? It will break your heart a little…
Simon and Grimalkin are my favorite sidekicks!