I have been an assistant Librarian for about a year now, and I have noticed a lot of girls mention Twilight when we talk about love stories. I have a real problem with this. Now don't get me wrong, I do like the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers. However, there are lot of things that I do not like about Bella's character. The fact that she falls apart when her short-term boyfriend Edward leaves her. I realize she knows his secret and in a sense she feels closer to him for this reason, however, YOU'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND! GET OVER IT! This is just one of the many reasons I have a problem with Bella.
So in light of this, I want to share a list I shared with my young library girls, when they come asking for a Young Adult or Middle-School love story.
1. Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen is a very strong female character. She doesn't let a guy hold her back from providing for her family. She always goes above and beyond to make sure her family has what they need. Protecting Prim in the very first book is one of the biggest things that sets her apart from other female characters. Family means everything to her. She doesn't even let her best friend get in the way of what she wants. However, she does fall in love with Peeta over the course of the series.
Katniss becomes more than just a lonely girl waiting on a man to make her dreams come true. She is more than just a love story. Her love story does not define her character.
2. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
There are so many great Female characters in Harry Potter. Hermione Granger. Ginny Weasley. Angelica Johnson. Molly Weasley. Lily Evans-Potter. Minerva McGonagall. Need I go on...
The we follow two great love stories throughout this series: Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley and Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger. Both female characters are strong and independent. Hermione does look for Ron's approval or permission to go after what she wants or feels is right. Ginny does start a love interest with Harry and eventually marries him, but not before she goes on to make Chaser with the Hollyhead Harpies. They led strong lives and are their own character before turning to a man. Neither girl falls apart helplessly without a man; in fact they are both fighters in the GREAT BATTLE!
3. House of Night Series - P.C. & Kristen Cast
Zoey Redbird in my opinion is the definition of a BADASS woman! She gets turned into a vampire after she is "marked" and becomes the top vamp at her school within a year. Side stepping the top girl and her boyfriend who tries to hit on her in the process. She defeats the high priestess and stops the darkness from winning! I mean come on!
4. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
Rose Hathaway is a guardian of the most Elite vampires in the world. Her best friend and assigned vamp has some seriously awesome and wicked skills. A VERY RARE skill in fact. This makes her the most sought after vamp and it's Rose's duty to keep her safe. Rose trains like nobodies business and it takes a super elite assassin to track the girls down after they leave campus.. which says a lot about ROSE! She is reluctant, but in the end falls in the love with the super elite assassin. But she never lets him persuaded her from her duties to protect her best friend. Her job and the lives of many other vamps is in her hands.
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians -Rick Riordan
Annabeth Chase is the daughter of Athena and very much her daughter. She is sassy, witty and wicked smart. She does fall in love with Percy at some point in the books, but she also stays focused on what she needs to achieve and what she wants. Not even their first kiss deters her from saving the world.
6. Three Dark Crowns- Kendare Blake
Queen Katharine is pushed off a cliff into a ravine. She claws her way back to the top. and is out for revenge and taking back her Kingdom. She finds a lot of self-worth in herself and friends along the way to show her how to fix and save her kingdom. She has a love of Kingdom and that is the most important thing to her.
Just because it is a love story, DON'T just automatically assume that the female character is or should be weak! THAT IS FALSE!! Find books that have strong female characters that fall in love. If you have one that you absolutely love.. list in in the comments below and I just might read it and add it to the list!!
