The HeART of Loyal Sidekicks

 

You may have heard that I have a new book coming out in October. The Barbary Chronicles: The Lost Prince, published with Charlesbridge Moves.

No one plays the game like Jack London. Only eleven years old, she can pickpocket and flummox any unsuspecting rube who wanders into the muck of the Barbary Coast. Jack may be little, but she's clever and bold. With the help of a devoted stray dog, a kidnapped prince, and the scummiest ex-best friend ever, she'll do everything she can to save her found family. 

At the heart of Jack’s story are the loyal sidekicks, including her dog Alaska.  From an advanced review by Publisher’s Weekly : “…  memorably rendered supporting characters and themes of loyalty, found family, and resilience give the story emotional depth.”

Every great character is made all the more great because of the heart of a loyal sidekick.  Frodo can’t do what he needs to do without Samwise Gamgee’s steadfast loyalty and  enduring goodness in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Timba and Pumbaa live by "Hakuna Matata" to help Simba reclaim his home. Toto walks the yellow brick road and ultimately reveals the secret of  the man standing behind the curtain, helping Dorothy to find her way home. And, of course, the great white owl herself, Hedwig.

What makes a HeArtful Sidekick?

Supporting characters  need to have a presence of their own and not merely serve as a function of the plot. They need backstories and personalities, complete with flaws and foibles and weird quirks all their own.  Supporting characters -- as the adjective implies -- support the protagonist much like a support beam. They provide the framework of the narrative in important ways. 

Secondary characters personify and reinforce the narrative’s theme. Oftentimes they provide the emotional depth of the story.  They are the companion that keeps the protagonist going when all is lost.  They can be a mentor who advises, or a foil who provides contrast, nagging the hero that they are doing everything wrong. They have their own needs and wants, and suffer from their own traumas. And they are often dynamic in nature, changing in interesting ways as they connect with the protagonist. 

Or they can be the antagonist, actively opposing the protagonist to make the protagonist’s life harder, but in doing so, they force the protagonist to change in interesting ways to move the plot forward.

Developing dynamic sidekicks that readers can connect to is much like developing the protagonist. For more hints about creating great characters, check out this new YouTube series by our own Holly Schindler:

  

For further study in unforgettable, heartful loyal sidekicks,  you might be interested in reading these classic adventures!

Alexander, Loyd. The Book of Three. Taran wanted to be a hero, and looking after the  oracular pig Hen Wen wasn't exactly heroic. But the day that Hen Wen vanished, Taran was led into an enchanting world. With his band of followers, he confronted the Horned King and his terrible Cauldron-Born. These were the forces of evil, and only Hen Wen knew the secret of keeping the kingdom of Prydain safe from them.

Arden, Katherine. The Bear and the Nightingale. Inspired by Russian fairy tales, this novel follows the experiences of a wild young girl who taps the mysterious powers of a precious necklace given to her father years earlier to save her village from dark and dangerous forces.

McKinley, Robin. The Outlaws of Sherwood. Inspired by the English ballads, the novel follows Robin Longbow, but his sidekick Marian steals the show as one of the outlaw's best archers.

Natsukawa, Sosuke. The Cat Who Saved Books. When a talking cat demands that Rintaro help him save books, they embark on an amazing journey, liberating books from their neglectful owners and meeting a colorful cast of character along the way.

Ponti, James. The City Spies series. In this action-packed series, five foster-care misfits turn MI6 agents set out to save the world. The real power  of the books is found in the deep connection and loyalty of the kids.

Pyle, Howard. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. The original story, inspired by traditional English ballads, Robin Hood and his band of merry sidekicks fight corrupt authorities to help the poor.  This remains one of my favorite reads!

Who are your favorite literary sidekicks? I have to admit, I'd love to hang out with the Artful Dodger for an afternoon.

Don't we know, loyal sidekicks make the best of friends. Do you have a loyal sidekick you'd like to celebrate? Give them a shout out in the comments!

The Barbary Chronicles, coming October 2026!  You can preorder your copy here! 

Thank you for reading!

Bobbi Miller

Cover illustration for Barbary Chronicles by Allysa Adams. To see more of her wonderful work, visit her website here.