Looking for something good to read that has a kick-butt female protagonist? Here are some suggestions of some worthwhile books!
1) The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (Fantasy).
Photo courtesy of crackingthecover.com.
“The Princess Academy” is a fantasy book about a girl named Miri from a poor mountain district in her kingdom. There has been a prophecy foretelling that the next princess shall hail from Miri’s small village, so Miri’s life gets turned upside-down as she and all of the village girls undergo princess training.
This book is great for anyone who loves princess stories or anyone who likes a nice fairy tale. Miri is hardly your typical damsel in distress, though, as she’s clever, smart, and very independent. As she learns how to be a princess, she grows up and learns confidence and how to think for herself. Miri is a brave young girl whose determination is inspiring.
2) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
Photo courtesy of goodreads.com.
Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist just coming out of a devastating lawsuit. Lisbeth Salander is a computer genius and researcher extraordinaire. Blomkvist gets hired to solve the case of the disappearance of a young girl named Harriet, whose loving and very rich uncle has been tormenting himself for forty years over his neice’s disappearance. Along the way he meets Salander and the two work together to solve the mystery and uncover the dark truth of Harriet’s family.
Salander is a very independent young woman who is extremely intelligent. She can look after herself in more ways than one, and she’s always willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Even when the true danger of the case comes to light, Salander is fearless and charges in headfirst to save the day. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and can’t stand injustice, and her strength and courage are inspiring.
3) The Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene (Mystery).
Photo courtesy of goodreads.com.
Most everyone has heard of the famous amateur sleuth, Nancy Drew. These books are classic mystery novels, and Nancy and her friends often get themselves into trouble while they track down criminals and help Nancy’s lawyer father with his cases.
Nancy’s stories are set in the 1950s, when women were being encouraged to return to the household after World War II. Housewifery was accepted as a woman’s proper place, but Nancy smashes through all of those societal conventions and solves mysteries instead. Nancy’s brave, smart, and very persistent, and she can think for herself. She’s a very put-together and mature young lady who is her own person.
4) Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Fantasy).
Photo courtesy of goodreads.com.
Katsa is a Graceling, a person with an uncanny skill or ability. As it turns out, Katsa has the ability to kill, and since she was a child she’s been an assassin. Until she decides that she no longer wishes to be used. Katsa sets off to find out the truth about her gift with the help of her new friend Po, and she goes on to unravel a plot to take over her kingdom.
Not only does Katsa have superhuman powers, but she’s also a very sassy and independent woman. She decides to break free from the people who have been controlling her life and when she does she doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. Instead, she becomes a hero and shows great bravery and strength as she fights to save her kingdom from ruin.
5) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Historical Fantasy).
“A Great and Terrible Beauty” is set in Victorian-era England, but with a twist. Upon her mother’s death, sixteen-year-old Gemma is sent to an exclusive boarding school, and there she discovers the mysteries and secrets of her family’s past—a past that includes magic and an alternate realm. As she puts together the pieces of her family’s history, she learns to cope with her recently discovered powers and the weight of the knowledge she’s discovered.
Gemma and her friends Felicity, Ann, and Pippa form their own sisterhood and they throw off the restraints of their society when they enter the realms and learn about magic. When they encounter danger in the realms and have to fight for their lives they support each other and work together to save themselves. The story is about girl power—there aren’t any guys around to play the handsome prince. The four friends wouldn’t have it any other way. Their friendship grows and they realize that all they need are each other.
If you’ve read any of those books or are interested in reading them, let us know in the comment section below.