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Our Favorite YA Heroines
The young women in these stories have made their mark on literary history.
Published on June 16, 2023
The Hunger Games
Suzanne CollinsIt’s hard to overstate how much Katniss Everdeen lit a fire in nearly everyone’s hearts almost immediately upon “The Hunger Games” series’ release. Over a decade after the first movie adaptation came out, Katniss is still the highest-grossing action-movie heroine. We love her resourcefulness, her grit, and above all, her compassion in the face of impossible circumstances.
The Hate U Give
Angie ThomasStarr Carter is, well, a star. There’s a reason Thomas’ book remains dominant long after its release: Starr is a fantastic heroine, surrounded by a supportive, charming family. They’re all doing their best to change a cruel and complicated system with kindness (and humor).
Shadow and Bone
Leigh BardugoThe meteoric rise of Alina Starkov from overlooked orphan to heroic Sun Summoner has been great to witness. But there are SO MANY great women in Bardugo’s extended Grishaverse, it’s hard to choose a favorite. There's grumpy, powerful Bahgra. There’s the beautiful, bold Tailor, Genya. There’s the morally upstanding thief, Inej. We could keep going, but we only have so much space.
Tris's Book: This Second Book of the Beloved, Bestselling Circle of Magic Quartet
Tamora PierceAs with the aforementioned “Shadow and Bone” series, Pierce’s feminist fantasy saga, which starts with the series “The Ciricle of Magic,” is full of favorite-worthy female characters. The sharp-tempered Tris tops our list, followed closely by the fiery Daja (we apologize to all the Sandry fans out there, but rooting for a noble is boring). “Tris’s Book” also features pirates, so it definitely wins.
Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles
Marissa MeyerCinderella (known now by the much cooler name, Linh Cinder) is a cyborg in this fantastic, futuristic amalgamation of fairy tale retellings, sci-fi adventures, and romantic intrigue. As a disabled, Asian mechanic, Cinder is an inclusive hero that anyone can rally around.
Graceling
Kristin CashoreIn this high fantasy series, a teen named Katsa is a Graceling, one of the unfortunate few who are graced with special powers. Hers is a particularly accursed gift: She’s very skilled at taking other people’s lives. Katsa and her book series are — quite literally — killing it.
Red Queen
Victoria AveyardMare Barrow has red blood but Silver powers. This, along with her unwavering strength and wit, threatens to destroy the basis of an unjust social caste system. Like many a great YA heroine, she’s also in a love triangle, with a dark twist. This is a deft series that blends the best of fantasy and dystopian tropes.
Star Daughter
Shveta Thakrar“Star Daughter” shines for its intricate worldbuilding inspired by Hindu mythology. The titular star daughter is Sheetal, a half-human, half-celestial being determined to save her mortal father and learn more about her heritage among heavenly beings. Worlds and cultures collide in this magical journey of self-discovery.
Sadie: A Novel
Courtney SummersSadie has a stutter, a switchblade, and a will of steel. She’s determined to kill her sister’s murderer, and she won’t let anyone or anything get in her way. Sadie displays awe-inspiring conviction and tenacity. The audiobook version has received immense praise for its full-cast production and dedication to reproducing the in-story podcast called “The Girls” — and we can confirm it’s well worth the listen.
Archivist Wasp: a novel
Nicole Kornher-StaceThis is for all those who like their YA literary and their heroines tough. Wasp questions whether she’s destined for the dangerous job of the Archivist, a ghost hunter. Ghost stories and post-apocalyptic tales collide in this unique mashup.