A Book List for Girls -- with Strong Female Protagonists

I compiled this list of books for my teenage daughter because I wanted her to have girl heroes to read about. They are divided into categories with female characters who are smart, strong, athletic, brave, and more. They are listed alphabetically, not by preference. I can recommend these books for the girl in your life because I've read them too! Let me know if you have questions, or need more book titles.

GIRLS WHO ARE SMART

A Northern Light. Jennifer Donnelly. (2004) Harcourt. In 1906 Mattie, determined to go to college against her father’s wishes, takes a job at an inn. She uncovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on true story. (Printz Award, PW Best Books)

Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters. Gail Giles. (2004) Simon & Schuster. Sunny’s beautiful, brilliant sister Jazz's is killed in a fire. Sunny’s family unravels; Dad drinks, mom’s depressed. Then Jazz comes home – but it isn’t Jazz and Sunny is left to cope.

Finding Grace. Alyssa Brugman.(2001) Delacorte. Rachel’s first job is caregiver for Grace--a brain injured woman with unfinished business. Rachel is determined to sort out Grace’s life; as she finds out more about Grace -- Rachel finds herself.

Hope Was Here. Joan Bauer. (2002) Putnam. Hope is waitress who searches for a sense of belonging. Abandoned as a baby, her family is Aunt Addie, the cook. Hope soon finds direction and goes against the bad guys. (Newberry Honor)

Speak. Laurie Halsey Anderson. (2001) Penguin. When Melinda is blamed for calling 911 at a summer party ''with beers and seniors'' she is outcast. So she stops talking. Finally, she makes herself heard. (Nat’l Book Award Finalist, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editor’s Choice, Printz Honor Book) See also: Catalyst

GIRLS WHO ARE STRONG IN TOUGH TIMES

Ellen Foster. Kay Gibbons, Kay. (1997) Vintage.Eleven year old Ellen survives her mother's suicide, her father's abuse and an uncaring cast of relatives and foster homes with the hopeful indomitable spirit of a true heroine. (Oprah Book Club)

Make Lemonade. Virginia Wolf. (1994) Point Signature. LaVaughn is 14 and babysits the children of a teenaged mother whose harsh life she sees as her own -- but LaVaughn is determined to escape the inner city. (Nat'l Book Award, Golden Kite Award)

One Of Those Hideous Books Where The Mother Dies. Sonya Sones. (2004) Simon & Schuster. Breezy poetic prose-style entries, Ruby describes her life with an estranged father after her mom's death. Outpourings of her feelings of isolation, loss, and grief.

Out Of The Dust. Karen Hesse. (1999) Scholastic. Her mother is dead and father is dying, but Billie Jo, 14, is strong and has the courage to flee the dust of the homestead and jump a train west, where she finds hope. (Newbery Award, ALA Notable)

The Skin I’m In. Sharon Flake. (1998) Sun/Hyperion. Maleeka lives in a poor Hawaiian village, gangs are trouble and it’s hard to be different. A teacher with a rare skin condition helps her discover a talent for writing and stand up to the mean girls.

GIRL HEROES IN SCI-FI / FANTASY

Dealing With Dragons. Patricia Wrede. (2002) Magic Carpet. Cimorene, princess of Linderwall, is a tomboy heroine –strong minded and stubborn. She tires of etiquette and embroidery and runs away to find adventure. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. (Nat’l Book Finalist, Teen Choice Award)

Parable Of The Sower. Octavia Butler. (1995) Aspect Publishing. Lauren must save herself when her dystopian society falls apart. Lauren remains hopeful despite disease, fires and madness. (Nebula Award) See also: Parable of the Talents

Snow Queen. Joan Vinge. (2001) Aspect Books. Snow Queen has ruled for 150 years, but sees it ending, and plots to retain her throne by cloning herself. Moon doesn’t know she’s a clone and has a mind of her own. (Aurora Award, Hugo Award)

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. Holly Black. (2004) Simon Pulse. Kaye is not human, but she doesn't know it. Sure, she interacts with faeries --but she never knew she was one, her blond Asian human appearance magically covers her green-skinned pixie self.

Uglies. Scott Westerfeld. (2005) Simon Pulse. In a dystopia where everyone has surgery at 16 to become beautiful, a few rebels escape to live outside the perfect city. A sharp-eyed look at the tyranny of beauty. First of a series. (BBC Blue Ribbon Award)

GIRLS WHO THRIVE IN COMING OF AGE

Homeless Bird. Gloria Wheland. (2002) HarperTrophy. 13 year-old Kali’s is given in marriage to a sickly husband who dies shortly after marriage. Kali cannot return to her family, as it would disgrace them. (National Book Award Winner)

If We Kiss. Rachel Vail. (2005) HarperCollins. Ready for her first kiss, Charlie finds her best-friend also has a crush on Kevin. And her mom is dating Kevin’s dad. Charlie faces multiple moral dilemmas, but does it with humor and charm.

Stargirl. Jerry Spinelli. (2000) Knopf. A story of perils of popularity, courage of nonconformity and the thrill of first love. Stargirl plays the ukulele at lunch, cheers for the other team and changes Mesa High forever. (ALA Best Books)

The Dear One. Jacqueline Woodson. (2004) Puffin. When her beloved grandmother died Afeni learned to not let anyone close. But Roberta, fifteen, pregnant and scared, comes to live with them and Afeni finds it impossible to keep her out.

The Earth, My Butt, Other Big Round Things. Carolyn Mackler. (2005) Candlewick. Virginia is tired of being fat and being compared to a perfect brother. Then she discovers he's not perfect after all. A scathing look at selfish parents and snobby private schools. (Printz Award)

GIRLS WHO ARE ATHLETES

Born in Sin. Evelyn Coleman.(2003) Simon Pulse. Despite her “sin of poverty” and serious obstacles and setbacks, 14 year-old Keisha is a straight A student and pursues her dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer and medical doctor.

Counting Coup: True Story Of Basketball & Honor On The Little Big Horn. Larry Colton. (2001) Warner. Crow girls on Hardin High basketball team struggle with personal problems -- alcoholism, abuse, abandonment and misogyny. On the court they are the hope of their community.

Going For The Record. Julie A. Swanson. (2004) Eerdman’s Books. 17-year-old Leah's chance to make the national soccer team does not seem so important when she learns that her father has cancer and may only have months to live.

In These Girls Hope Is A Muscle. Madeleine Blais. (1996) Warner Books. A basketball team with a perfect record who chokes at playoffs. These girls get tough, when the town rallies around them in a way reserved for the male athletes. (National Book Critics Circle Award)

Run For Your Life. Marilyn Levy. (1997) Putnam. Kisha, 13 lives in the “projects” where drugs, violence and gangs are commonplace, but still scare her. A youth director starts a girls' track team and brings hope and a sense of belonging in Kisha

GIRLS WHO ARE UNLIKELY HEROES

Drowning Anna. Sue Mayfield. (2002) Hyperion. New in town Anna, excels in school and sports. She displaces Hayley, as center fielder in hockey. Hayley manipulates Anna and launches attacks against her. To cope, Anna begins to cut herself.

Hard Love. Ellen Wittlinger. (2001) Simon Pulse. A love story of John (straight) and Marisol (gay). Funny and poignant narration causes empathy for John as he sorts out his feelings for a girl he knows is unavailable. (Printz Award, ALA Best Book)

Keeping You A Secret. Julie Ann Peters. (2003) Megan Tingley. Holland has a boyfriend until she meets "out&proud" lesbian Cece and her life changes. The two begin an affair and Holland loses friends and is thrown out of the house by her hysterical mother.

Kissing Doorknobs. Richard Peck. (1999) Laurel Leaf. At 11 Tara heard “step on a crack…” and first realized her OCD. Now she MUST count every crack from home to the school, and many other strange behaviors. Her story, told with compassion and wit.

Stick Figure. Lori Gottleib. (2001) Berkley Trade. Gottlieb struggled with anorexia for 20 years. Her descriptions of preteen vulnerability ring true -- she recounts how her popularity skyrocketed because she could knew a diet plan for every girl.

GIRLS WHO ARE GOOD FRIENDS

Feeling Sorry For Celia. Jacyln Moriarty. (2002) St. Martin's Griffin. Told in sharp, funny letters between Elizabeth and her parents, her friend Celia and organizations that know all about her insecurities -- like “Society of People Who Are Going to FailHigh School.”

Girl 15, Charming But Insane. Sue Limb. (2004) Delacorte. Jess lives in the shadow of her best friend, the gorgeous and smart Flora. Jess is frustrated by an absent dad, a mother with a new life, and a bad case of lust, all told with vitality and flair.

Keesha’s House. Helen Frost. (2003) Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Told in poems about Keesha and a group of teens who take refuge with Joe, who opens his home for kids with nowhere else to go. (Audie Award, and Printz Honor Book)

My Antonia. Willa Cather. (2003) Broadview Press. Jim has lost his parents and he moves to relatives in the Midwest. He meets Antonia, spirited daughter of Bohemian immigrants. A story of the harsh life of pioneers, of family and friendship.

What My Mother Doesn’t Know. Sonya Sones. (2003) Simon Pulse. A collection of poems about Sophie and friends who suffer from "lackonookie disease." She has a boyfriend, a cyber guy and a secret crush. Sophie learns what’s love and what’s lust.

REAL GIRLS WHO MADE HISTORY

Beware, Princess Elizabeth. Carolyn Meyer. (2001) Harcourt. After the death of her father, King Henry VIII, 13-year-old Elizabeth must endure the political intrigues and dangers of the reigns of her half-brother Edward before becoming Queen of England.

Girls Who Rocked The World: Heroines From Sacajawea to Sheryl Swoopes. Amelie Welden. (2001) Bt. Bound. 35 girls who were younger than 20 years old when they changed the history of the world through their amazing accomplishments.

Hang 1000 Trees With Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley. Ann Rinaldi. (1996) Gulliver. Phillis Wheatley was a slave and America's first black poet. She was educated and encouraged by her owners, but never considered equal. Phillis never belonged either to white or slave society.

The Upstairs Room. Johann Reiss. (1972) HarperTrophy. The autobiography of Reiss and her Jewish family who hid for 2 years during WW II. How ordinary people displayed adaptability and generosity beyond their expectations. (Newbery Award)

Warrior Girl. Pauline Chandler. (2003) Harper Collins. The story of Joan of Arc told through letters to her cousin. Read of her strength and courage, and life in 1400s France. A moving tale of two girls who struggle to be true to themselves.

INTRIGUING GIRLS – BOOKS FOR RELUCTANT READERS

Absolutely Normal Choas. Sharon Creech. (1997) HarperTrophy. "Dear Mr. Birkway, Here it is: my summer journal. As you can see, I got a little carried away. The problem is this, though, I don't want you to read it! Sincerely, Mary Lou Finney

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Louise Rennison. (2001) Avon, The humorous journal of a 14-year-old British girl who tries to reduce her nose, control her mad cat, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie. (Printz Award, ALA Best Books, NYPL Editor’s Choice)

Best Foot Forward. Joan Bauer. (2005) Putnam. Taller-than-tall shoe clerk Jenna is back. It's junior year, and new challenges await Jenna. She attends Al-Anon meetings and is trying to score a date with Charlie. See also: Rule of the Road

Blonde Ambition: An A-List Novel. Zoey Dean. (2004) Little, Brown. Anna continues with an internship at Apex, Cammie gets a new stepsister, Sam's dad gets a guest role on the new series, and Dee looks for love. See also: Tall Cool One, Back in Black.

So B. It. Sarah Weeks. (2004) Laura Geringer. Bernadette found them at her door and never questioned Heidi's mentally challenged mother. Armed with a photograph, Heidi sets out to find her history.(Booklist Editor’s Choice Award)

MULTI - CULTURAL GIRLS

A Step From Heaven. An Na. (2003) Puffin. Young Ju’s Korean family go to America, only to suffer poverty, and abuse. Father crosses the line with his cruelly and Young Ju takes action to start a new life. (Printz Award, ALA Noteablest books)

Fresh Girl. Jaira Placide. (2002) Wendy Lamb Books. After living with her grandmother in Haiti, 14 year-old Mardi returns to join her parents in New York and must try to shape a new life in Brooklyn. (Golden Kite Award)

In The Time Of Butterflies. Julia Alvarez. (1995) Plume. Dede, code named “Mariposas” reveals the role of the Mirabel sisters in the liberation of the Dominican Republic from Dictator Trujillo. (ALA Notable Book and National Book Critics Circle Award) See also: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Shizuko’s Daughter. Kyoko Mori. (1994) Fawcett. After her mother's suicide, Yuki lives with her estranged father and his wife. She must rely on her own strength to cope. (New York Times Notable Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults)

The Bluest Eye. Toni Morrison. (1994) Penguin. Ruby-Dee is an African-American girl struggling for beauty and acceptance. Told in a voice so charged with pain and wonder it’s like poetry. (Nat’l Book Critics Circle Award, Oprah Book)