From Tom Sawyer to Peter Pan and Lewis Barnstable to Harry Potter, children's books abound with male protagonists. These heroes have adventures, save people and do magic. As girls are growing up however, they need to read books that have female protagonists. These could be girls they can relate to, historical figures or fantasy characters. All the lead female characters in these books for pre-teens are strong, independent minded girls who must struggle against difficulties to survive.
Harriet the Spy
Published in 1964, this tale by Louise Fizhugh (Yearling) concerns a girl who is determined to be a writer. To this end, she follows her neighbours and friends around in secretive fashion, wearing her spy outfit and fortifying herself with tomato sandwiches. She writes down much of what those around her say and what she thinks about it. Harriet must struggle against those who don't understand her preoccupation. In the end, she must also come to grips with the difference between truth and lies, and between public and private information. Her forthrightness and sense of ambition are important traits in a heroine.
Pippi Longstocking
This loveable heroine of the fantastical series of books by Astrid Lindgren, first published in 1950 (Viking Press), is a memorable character in many girl's lives. She is a character who lives alone in her house called Villa Villekula while her pirate father is away at sea. She has a monkey and a horse to keep her company, as well as the two children next door, Tommy and Annika. Pippi is self-reliant to the extreme as well as being very strong. Her exploits involve her fighting off robbers, combating the intrusions of the children's aid society and saving people from disasters. Her spunkiness and energy makes her a good role model for modern girls.
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell has written many books with strong female protagonists, among them Zia and Kathleen Please Come Home. This tale of adventure on a Pacific island (Dell Yearling 1960) features Karana, a girl who has lived alone there for years after being abandoned by the ship that took the rest of her family away, leaving only a brother who was killed by wild dogs. She learns how to make shelter and weapons. She also learns how to catch her food. Her indomitable nature as she quests for survival is inspiring to young women just beginning to find their place in the world.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Historically grounded in 17th century research, this gripping novel (Laurel Leaf 1958) for the older pre-teen tells the story of Kit. She is an orphaned girl from the Caribbean who has been sent to live with Puritan relatives in Connecticut in 1687. She must deal with her stern Uncle Matthew as well as the jealousies and conventionalities of her cousins Judith and Mercy. After fleeing for comfort to an old Quaker woman in the meadow, Kit is treated with suspicion by the community and eventually charged with witchcraft! The noble and self-contained way Kit deals with such terrible accusations presents a portrait of a woman capable of standing up for herself and her beliefs.
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