Strong Female Characters

January 19, 2014

By Colleen Houck

I recently wrote a blog post about my favorite heroines of television and movies and sadly I could only think of a handful. In recent years though heroines in literature are stepping into the spotlight and it’s an exciting thing to see.

My favorite female character is Scarlett O’Hara. In the movie Gone With the Wind she starts off a spoiled plantation girl determined to have everything. As the story progresses we see her change, becoming a woman determined to save what is most important to her. The object that she loves the most shifts through the book but her inner strength and dogged conviction never falter. What I learned from her is that a true heroine never gives up.

In True Grit we see a young woman determined to avenge her father by finding and killing the man who murdered him. Never does she falter or doubt her course and whether you agree with her decisions or not you have to admire her unwavering strength.

Another of my favorite characters is Meg Murry from Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. As a youth I admired Meg’s bravery in overcoming strange worlds and fighting to save her little brother and rescue her father.

But these books were written many years ago. Are there any current young adult books that give us heroines to admire? My answer is yes!

I’ve been reading young adult novels almost exclusively for the past few years and I’ve found a rich landscape of amazing young women in these books. In fact, almost every young adult novel is written in the point of view of an interesting, dynamic, and strong young woman.

Some of my favorites are…

Grace Divine from Bree Despain’s Dark Divine series.
Jacinda Jones and her twin sister Tamra from Sophie Jordan’s Firelight series
Amy Martin from Beth Revis’ Across the Universe series
Tally Youngblood from Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series
Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series
Grace Brisbane from the wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater
And Lyra Belacqua from His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman

These are just a few samples of the many exciting female characters that are gracing the pages of today’s young adult books. These women inspire me as they sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others, pick up weapons, and head into danger.

As many YA books are being optioned for film and television the possibility that we will see young women of character who take destiny into their own hands is a triumph. For years women have been in supporting roles or just serve as arm or eye candy. Even being cast in the role of a Bond girl is changing as we see smart, sassy, and tough as nails women begin to come into their own.

Thrilling stories are waiting, some just around the corner.

It’s a great time to be a heroine.

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Colleen Houck

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Strong Female Characters

January 19, 2014

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Colleen Houck