Top Ten Tuesday: Heroines

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Dido Twite (Wolves Chronicles by Joan Aiken)

Despite seemingly dying at the end of one book, Dido resurfaces because fans were devastated to see her go and Joan Aiken decided she couldn't see the character giving up in the way she seemed to. I've never read the final few books in this series. Part of me really wants to, as Aiken is such a phenomenal writer, and the earlier ones are some of my favourites of all-time. Part of me feels that, if I avoid finishing the series, it's like Dido's story will never end.


Joey Bettany/Maynard (Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

I have a long and complicated history with the CS series; there are times I think I'll never reread any of them (except Exile, still one of the best books ever written) again, despite them being a huge part of my childhood. But despite her flaws, Joey, both as an impulsive schoolgirl in the first 12 books and later as a neighbour to the school and mother to students, is one of the first main characters I ever really loved reading about.


Pea Llewellyn (Pea's Book series by Susie Day)

Pea simultaneously feels like she's walked out of a Noel Streatfeild book and like a thoroughly modern heroine - truly magical writing from Susie Day. I love her, her relationship with her mum and sisters, and her deep thoughts - especially in Pea's Book of Holidays as she tries to reconcile her adoration of Enid Blyton's books with the fact that Blyton just didn't write about families like Pea's.


Moll (The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone) 

I swear I'll actually review this at some point (although probably not before it's released on Thursday - oops) but as you've seen on Twitter, no doubt, I'm a huge fan of plucky Romany gypsy heroine Moll and the bond she shares with loyal wildcat Gryff.


Drina Adams (Drina series by Jean Estoril)

Drina and Grant were my OTP long before I even knew what the term OTP meant. This is still my favourite series ever, holding up to countless rereads. Fiery Drina, determined to dance despite her grandparents' objections, is a sensationally good lead.


Emily Sparkes (Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco by Ruth Fitzgerald)

The strongest voice of any MG heroine for a long, long time makes Emily Sparkes a series which I'm already in love with after just one book! I can't wait for more from Ruth Fitzgerald.


Faith (Faith series by Candy Harper)

Like I'd have missed Faith out. I absolutely adore her as a narrator, she has a truly incredibly voice and both books are utterly hilarious.


Jen Robins (Abbey Girls series by Elsie J Oxenham)

My other Girls Own love, in addition to Drina and the Chalet School, the Abbey Girls have perhaps held up less well than either overall. Despite them seeming outdated at times, there's still a lot of good stuff in them, and much of it centres around the irrepressible Jen, who was one of my very earliest crushes.


Maddie/Queenie (Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein)

I couldn't separate the two heroines of Elizabeth Wein's stunning novel, one of my favourites for many, many years. Both are utterly superb characters.


To see who my number one is (or, more realistically if you're a long-term reader, to see what I said about the obvious omission here), head over to MG Strikes Back!