List 13 of Spirited Girl Protagonists
Discover 13 spirited girl protagonists in this curated book list, featuring unforgettable heroines from Flipped, Nim's Island, and Matilda Bone. From daring adventurers to fierce individualists, these young women—crafted by authors like Wendelin Van Draanen and Suzanne Fisher Staples—inspire courage and independence. Perfect for readers seeking bold, vibrant female leads in YA and juvenile fiction.
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Nim's Island
by Wendy Orr
Nim can chop down bananas, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire. So she's not afraid to be alone when her dad sails off. Besides, she's got a sea lion and an iguana for friends.
Book
Matilda Bone
by Karen Cushman
Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a village in medieval England, tries to reconcile the various aspects of her life, both spiritual and practical.
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Flipped
by Wendelin Van Draanen
The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: “My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss.” He says: “It’s been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort.” But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he’s thinking there’s more to her than meets the eye, she’ s thinking that he’s not quite all he seemed. This is a classic romantic comedy of errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny voices. Wendelin Van Draanen is at her best here with a knockout cast of quirky characters and a hilarious series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities. But underlying the humor are two teens in transition. They are each learning to look beyond the surface of people, both figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with.
Book
Shiva's Fire
by Suzanne Fisher Staples
In India, a talented dancer sacrifices friends and family for her art.
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Haveli
by Suzanne Fisher Staples
In this sequel to the Newbery Honor book "Shabanu, " Shabanu, the youngest ofRahim's four wives, flees with her daughter to Rahim's old family home in thecity to escape the cruelty and jealously of his other wives.
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Wise Child
by Monica Furlong
In a remote Scottish village, nine-year-old Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, a healer and sorceress. Then Wise Child’s mother, Maeve, a black witch, reappears. In choosing between Maeve and Juniper, Wise Child discovers the extent of her supernatural powers—and her true loyalties.
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Juniper
by Monica Furlong
In this highly acclaimed prequel to the award-winning Wise Child young Princess Juniper returns to her Cornish palace and discovers that her power-mad aunt is using black magic to usurp the throne. And only Juniper can stop her. "A rich, deeply colored novel of a young girl's coming of age".--School Library Journal.
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The Forestwife
by Theresa Tomlinson
Mary, 15 years old and an orphan, must flee into Sherwood Forest to avoid an arranged marriage. There her life truly begins, for she finds a community of heroic outlaws that includes a woman with seemingly magic healing powers and a young man who is bravely leading the fight against tyranny. This man is Robin Hood, and Mary will soon be known as Maid Marian, the green lady of the woods. An ALA Notable Book for Children. A "Booklist" Children's Editor's Choice.
