Top Ten Favorite Heroines From Books

Every Tuesday the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish host a book related Top 10.

This week is Top 10 favorite heroines from books (or movies/TV). I’m going with non-action figure heroines.  No Katniss or Celaena or Hermoine.  These are all women or girls who I find extraordinary in their ordinary lives.


1) Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind – Scarlett is without a doubt a selfish character.  But you can’t argue that she’s a survivor and she keeps her family fed and alive during the Civil War and it’s aftermath.  She becomes a business woman in an era where women DO NOT DO THAT and while I do not approve of her business practices she’s a pretty amazing character.










2) Abeline from The Help – There was nothing for Abeline to gain by talking to Skeeter.  It was all risk for minimal (if any) reward.  But sometimes the most heroic moments come from deciding the risk is worth it if it will improve things for whoever comes next.











3) Ramona Quimby – If I have kids I want them to have Ramona’s imagination.












4) Cath Avery from Fangirl – I can’t quite put into words how much I love Cath. Rainbow managed to balance a character with somewhat extreme social discomfort with a character who likes herself enough not to compromise on what she deserves.  Cath is different things to different people, but all those pieces come together as a cohesive person. 










5) Judith from All the Truth that’s in Me – If you haven’t read this book you should if only because it’s written in second person and that’s different (but incredibly well executed).  You should also read it because the heroine puts other people before herself and speaks up when she’s not sure it will help.  Bonus – isn’t that cover cool?!










6) Veronica Mars – I don’t think Veronica requires explanation












7) Eva from We Need to Talk About Kevin – Eva is the quintessential unlikable heroine, but she’s memorable.












8) Cleo Berry from A Death-Struck Year – Cleo sacrifices her own health and safety to help during an influenza epidemic.












9) Theo from Pointe – I just finished this book so I’m a little nervous about including Theo on a Top 10 list so soon.  I love characters that grow and that accomplish things that scare them.











10) Meg from Going too Far – Meg was just fun.  She’s self destructive, but the perfect amount of sarcastic entertaining.