1. Levi in Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell---he is just the best boyfriend and not a typical male character usually found in YA lit.
2. Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen--- she single-handedly holds her family together in the face of financial demise, and unfair prejudice against her sister and her for their poverty.
3. April May in An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green---April is the protagonist in the part Sci-Fi novel who discovers and names the Carls. She becomes famous overnight and has to grapple with what fame means.
4. Leni in The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah--- Leni is a teenager when her parents move her to the bush of Alaska and she learns a whole new way of life among other Alaskan characters and how to cope with a father who is seriously mentally ill.
5. Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling--- Hermione is such a model student and friend, smart and capable.
6. Werner Pfennig in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr---Werner was a German orphan forced to serve the Third Reich because of his radio skills. In the end, he is true to his nature and saves another character I admire, Marie-Laure. He is a hero.
7. Vascilisa in The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden--- She believes the fairy tales told by her nurse and she helps protect her home in Northern Russia as she placates the household spirits.
(I haven't read the other two books in the series, yet.)
8. Zelie in The Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi---I love this story set in Nigeria which includes Nigerian folklore. Zelie learns to use her magic for good.
9. Wade Watts in Ready, Player One by Ernest Cline--- Wade is just a kick-ass character who solves a puzzle and does the right thing along the way, hitting "the man" where it hurts.
10. Lireal in the Abhorrsen series by Garth Nix--- she saves the kingdom and remains humble.
Join me in my new Reading Challenge to read books you own. Check out the link for the details.
