Lately, there have been well-written female characters in media, and ones that may not have been noticed have finally been getting brought to light.
However, when it comes to female book characters, those in the world of YA Lit have been overlooked, especially if they don’t come from dystopian worlds. Here are some books you may not have heard of, featuring some really great female characters.
1. “Let’s Get Lost” – Adi Alsaid
“Let’s Get Lost” has multiple narrators throughout, all of whom have one thing in common: meeting Leila. Leila encounters each of these narrators while on a trip to Alaska after losing her memory. Whether it’s aiding her newfound friends or trying to uncover the mysteries of her own past, Leila shows that even in hard times, it’s good to have perseverance and not shut yourself off from others.
2. “The Moon and More” – Sarah Dessen
I’m a longtime fan of Sarah Dessen and her romance books, so I wasn’t expecting anything different when going into this one. At first, “The Moon and More” seems like it’s going in this direction, but I like the way it ends up so much more. The main character and narrator, Emaline is amazingly smart and creative, and shows it throughout the book. She also deals with issues with her family, friends, relationships and her work life in a realistic but well-handled way. She learns that despite life not always ending up how you would expect it to, if you work hard and do what you love, you might end up in a better place than what you would imagine as perfect. All of these are qualities to admire.
3. “Since You’ve Been Gone” – Morgan Matson
First of all, the book doesn’t have anything to do with the popular Kelly Clarkson song, though it would be pretty funny if it did. “Since You’ve Been Gone” follows Emily, who is a pretty shy girl who usually sticks to the side of her much more outgoing best friend Sloane. However, when Sloane goes missing, Emily has to step majorly out of her comfort zone and do things she would normally never do on her own, all to try to find Sloane. Emily is a good example of how a strong female character can exist without meeting the stereotype of being outgoing or physically strong. It is Emily’s emotional strength and her loyalty to her friend that truly make her relatable and admirable.
4. “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before / P.S. I Still Love You” – Jenny Han
I’ve listed these together because the second is the sequel to the first, and so they feature the same set of characters. These books are fairly popular in the world of YA Lit, but I found them worth mentioning. The main character and narrator of both of these books is Lara Jean Song Covey, who has written an unsent letter to every boy she’s ever had a crush on. When the letters accidentally get sent, she has to deal with the aftermath. However, besides her ability to act under pressure, which she obviously has to do in this situation, what I like best about Lara Jean is her relationship with her sisters. The relationship between the three sisters is not one without the fighting or disagreement that is typical in sibling relationships, but also is uplifting and mutually supportive. Lara Jean’s protective relationship with her younger sister in the aftermath of their mother’s death is especially great.
Some of these may be books you have read, but hopefully some of them are new and you find something good to add to your bookshelf!