12 Girls from Fiction Who Are
Their Own Heroes

by Kari Ness Riedel

The days where a young maiden waits longingly in the top of the tower for someone to come rescue her are long gone. Our girls — and boys — love to read books that reflect the strong and independent females they see in the real world, stories with young heroines who save themselves, and others, from the dangers of daily life or magical adventures with a combination of grit, intelligence, wit, and perseverance.

We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite female protagonists from children’s literature — a mix of popular favorites, classic heroines, and a few that you might not know about but should definitely explore with your young readers.

What other favorite heroines would you recommend to young readers?