In honor of Women’s History Month, here's a list of some of my all-time favorite female literary characters! These are girls and women who sometimes take the lead and, at other times, play a supporting role. One thing I know: I have loved being part of the journey taken by these fierce females, from beginning to end. 

1. Hermione Granger

Hermione is my all-time favorite supporting character and the driving force behind Harry Potter’s success (in my humble opinion). Although the relationship between Hermione and Harry doesn’t get off to a great start, there are some things "you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them" (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone).  

I admire Hermione because she is a smart, gutsy girl who believes in herself and is not swayed by the strong male personalities that surround her. She is confident in her knowledge and not afraid to take charge. She consistently helps solve problems and moves the Harry Potter stories forward. I believe the boys would have been caught wandering around the Forest of Dean pretty quickly if not for Hermione. 

You can start reading about Hermione’s journey (and Harry Potter's) in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.
 

2. Elizabeth Bennet (aka Lizzie)

Although Elizabeth Bennet is a classic figure from English literature, the early-19th century English setting of Pride and Prejudice does nothing to diminish her wit, humor, and all-around relevance to modern readers. Lizzie is the second of five daughters, all unmarried when the novel starts, and her single status is a great source of concern for her mother, Mrs. Bennet, who believes marriage to a prosperous man will be the only way her daughters (and, in turn, she and Mr. Bennet) will be able to escape total destitution.  

Despite her high-strung mother, Lizzie retains her sense of humor and self, refusing to conform to societal stereotypes and expectations.

I love that this love story shows how you must be true to yourself first. I think Lizzie sets an amazing example for being true to oneself, even if it means being a little unconventional.

Laugh and love along with Lizzie in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.
 

3. Tess Kendrick

The Fixer may be my favorite read of 2018 thus far, and it is because of its fierce female protagonist, Tess Kendrick. When 16-year-old Tess is uprooted from the Montana farm on which she has always lived with her grandfather, and brought to live with her older sister, Ivy, in Washington, D.C., she has no idea that Ivy is a "fixer." Ivy makes problems disappear for people—powerful people. But covering up secrets comes as at a price, as Tess finds out when she unintentionally assumes the "fixer" role at the prestigious Hardwicke School, attended by the children of all those powerful people.

The quality I admire most about Tess is her loyalty to her friends. Her deduction and persuasion skills are also pretty impressive… if a bit unorthodox at times. 

Checkout Tess in The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. A must-read for fans of mysteries and thrillers. 

4.   May

I Am Princess X is not your traditional once-upon-a-time story. May and Libby’s friendship was forged in fifth grade exile when they created the character of Princess X; May wrote the stories and Libby drew the pictures for their formidable warrior princess. When channelling Princess X, the girls feel indestructible.

All that changes when Libby is in a car crash with her mom and their car goes over the side of the Ballard Bridge. In one fell swoop, May loses both Libby and Princess X. Flash forward a few years: May is sixteen, and Princess X stickers and drawings begin popping up on the streets of Seattle. As May digs deeper into this mystery, she finds an underground world of Princess X, cultivated by a webcomic. She begins seeing similarities between Princess X and Libby, which can only mean that Libby must be alive… right? To find Libby, May must forge new friendships and persevere in the face of challenges.

We don’t see enough books focusing on the power of female friendships, and that is one reason I love I Am Princess X. There is an unbreakable bond between May and Libby that makes May strong even when no one else sees her that way.

I love May and Libby, and hope you will check out their story in I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest.
 

5. Annabeth Chase

Annabeth Chase is nobody’s fool. In fact, as the daughter of Athena, she probably has more wits than most of us. This girl is truly brilliant when it comes to strategizing and she won’t back down from a challenge. At the beginning of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, she has a chip on her shoulder—but as she and Percy get to know each other, they are able to respect each other’s strengths and become a formidable team.  

I like the give-and-take between Annabeth and Percy as they work together to save the world. Similar to the relationship between Hermione and the boys of the Harry Potter series, we have to wonder how far Percy and Grover would really make it without Annabeth there by their side.

The journey begins in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan.

6. Alex Kirtridge (aka Little Kirtridge)

In See No Color, Alex is a fantastic protagonist that female readers will be able to identify with. She struggles with the problems many young women face (a changing body, keeping up with the boys, falling in love), but also has unique challenges to deal with as a transracial adoptee.  

Alex has always been defined by her exceptional skills on the baseball field and status as an adoptee. As things begin to fall apart on the field, Alex’s personal life is affected as well. No longer able to define herself with the simple facts, Alex must redefine herself.  

Anyone who has ever questioned who they are, or how they fit in with their family and friends, will relate to this See No Color. I think this is an important book that can help us look at the ways we define ourselves, whether it is through appearance, activities, friends, or family.

Find out how Alex redefines herself in See No Color by Shannon Gibney.
 

7. Starr Carter  

As the protagonist in Angie Thomas’ debut novel The Hate U Give, Starr Carter is hands down our fiercest female of 2017. When she is the sole witness to the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer, Starr's world is shaken.  As Khalil’s story begins sweeping the nation, and he is portrayed as a thug and drug dealer, Starr must decide whether to come forward and speak for Khalil. Her life changes, as she can no longer move easily between the poor neighborhood where she grew up and her fancy, suburban (mostly white) prep school.

This is one of the first major novels for young people to address the Black Lives Matter movement and activism through the point-of-view of a teenage female protagonist. It is a must-read for our teens who hope to play a role in reshaping and defining culture in the United States. (We recommend reading it before it gets to the big screen in 2018!).

Checkout Starr’s journey in The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
 

8. Sarah Dunbar

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School in Virginia, in 1959.  She knows she’s smart—but in the new school, she’s told she’s stupid. She is harassed by fellow students and is particularly troubled by the emotions sparked in her by Linda Hairston, the daughter of the town’s most vocal opponent of integration.  When the two are forced to work together on a school project, they must reassess all their beliefs surrounding race, power, and love.

I admire the way Sarah refuses to be suppressed and speaks her mind in the face of extreme racism. I think we can all learn something from her when it comes to resilience and finding your voice.

Read about Sarah in Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley.

9.  Clara Lemlich

While we may see bits and pieces of ourselves in all these female characters, Clara Lemich is the real deal. Audacity is inspired by the true story of Clara, a young Russian immigrant who came to New York with her family at the turn of the 20th century. While her family attempts to retain the traditions of their Russian and Jewish roots, Clara can no longer accept their lifestyle as the norm. As she joins the factory workers on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Clara becomes caught up in the fight for labor and women’s rights.

To me, Clara embodies a passion and selflessness twe should all strive for in our lives.  

As we move from Women’s History Month into Poetry Month, Melaine Crowder's Audacity, a novel written in verse, should definitely be on your "to-read" list.

10.  Vanessa Doherty (aka Nessa)

Nobody expects Nessa Doherty to survive The Call.  When The Call happens, it means The Sidhe are close and are coming to get you, and torture you. Very few people survive the three minutes of hell in the Sidhe’s magical land; fewern people survive unscathed, and certainly no one who’s crippled has ever survived.  

Nessa survived polio as a young child but it has left her with nearly no use of her legs. Although no one expects her to survive The Call, Nessa is a woman determined to control her own destiny.  

We can all take a page out of Nessa’s book when it comes to guts and determination.

Read about Nessa in the horrifying and thrilling book, The Call by Peadar O’Guilin.

I hope you'll read these books and will be as inspired by these fierce and fabulous females as I am. If you have any recommendations for others, or for next year’s list, please comment below!