February is Love of Reading Month and we’re counting down our top five heroines in literature. These loveable yet powerful characters play an important role in challenging the minds of countless readers and that is in itself is a timeless story. Not only do these characters represent life, love and coming of age, they show the world through the eyes of a young lady. How is it possible to so accurately capture the essence and adventure of growing up as a girl? These protagonists are written by some of the most ground-breaking authors of all time, who are also women.

A Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel, adapted & illustrated by Hope Larson.

5. Meg Murry of A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Published in 1962, the classic A Wrinkle in Time has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Among other elements, a sense of wonder, magical realism and excellent character development are what make this book a mainstay. Meg Murry travels through time and space to discover the unknown. She remains a role model for readers who want to change the world – and other worlds while they’re at it.
4. Tita de la Garza of Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
This 1989 book, originally published in Spanish, is a beloved contemporary work. This epic tale of love, passion, food and sisterhood became an instant classic. Like Water for Chocolate has had its bouts with censorship from school districts around the United States, but continues to be a staple of great literature. Tita’s expression of love through food is a theme that is too powerful to be denied.
3. Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games is one of the most recent trilogies to gain international acclaim. Though this series has had its own challenges with censorship, Katniss Everdeen continues to inspire boys and girls of all ages to be the heroes and heroines of their own stories.
2. Janie Crawford of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Janie is the heroine and narrator of Zora Neale Hurston’s powerful novel about love, life and endurance. Janie provides the perspective through which the reader sees African-American life during turn-of-the-20th-century Florida. Throughout success and struggle, Janie keeps her belief in true love.
1. Scout Finch of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Scout Finch continues to be one of the most surprising and beloved figures in literature. Her profound observations and innocent narrative create a timeless lens for readers to see the world. With just the right amount of sass, Scout can get away with saying things like, “Pass the damn ham.”
We would love to hear from you in the comment section about your favorite characters who grace the pages of classic literature. In the meantime, check out some of the Love of Reading events going on at Bookmans locations around Arizona. For all our event listings, check out our Events Calendar. Here’s to the love of reading!