There are specific pieces of literature that I have grown to admire over the years, and even though I didn't fully like some of them at the time, it is now that I have begun to appreciate them. I aspire to be like the leading women in these works of literature, and now that I am older, I understand a lot more things about them that I didn't before. These books star my favorite feminists, with attributes that are as unique as the characters themselves - brave, courageous, admirable, intelligent, funny, creative, and outspoken.
1. Lena, Bridget, Carmen and Tibby -The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series. I started reading The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pant series when I was the tender age of eleven years old. It was the first more "mature" series that completely grasped me. What I think is important is that I began reading these books as I was slowly leaving childhood and entering teenage-hood, and envisioning these four strong female characters helped me become the person I wanted to be in my most prevalent years of growing thus far. Every girl should read The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series because there are so many incredible morals and lessons from these books - ones that I hold near and dear to me because it taught me to take in every precious moment as if it were my last. I taught me to love my best friends and my family unconditionally, and that doing the right thing even though it's difficult, makes you strong and brave. Each story-line inspired me to be just like these young women, and even though they were all different from each other, there was no excuse to not love each other through the good times and the bad.
2. Hermione Granger- The Harry Potter series.
How in the WORLD could I not have Hermione Granger on this list?? I would be totally insane not to. Hermione is on this list because she is one of the most sophisticated and brave women that I was introduced to in literary. She's got one of the best personalities, of that being witty, intelligent, courageous, compassionate, sarcastic, head-strong, and she even shows "motherly" attributes when getting further into the series. She's basically all the things I want to be wrapped up into one. Even though Hermione feels kind of like an outsider at times because of her intelligence, that doesn't stop her from being who she is, or to not embrace it. She has a huge heart, which reminds us that she is indeed human. She's one of my absolute favorites, and inspires me to be strong and beautiful.
3. Edna Pontellier- The Awakening.
So I read this book when in AP English when I was a Junior in High School. And to be honest, we read a lot of dry books in that class. However, I had the miracle by being treated to this lovely piece of literature - The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I was so immersed in this book, which focuses on Edna, who is completely unhappy with her life. She's on this list because she is rebellious, and doesn't like to follow the rules of the social norm in the early 1900's housewife label. She is bored, and she feels like she is the only one who sees all of these depressing routines. She becomes belligerent, upset, and numb to her marriage. She also has affairs while married to her husband, which wasn't exactly looked upon, but showed that she didn't care, and she wasn't happy so she wasn't going to sit around and be a boring lifeless wife for her husband. I loved her personality and her attitude, even though I felt sorry for her at times because she wasn't exactly happy. Either way, this read was a breath of fresh air. 
4. The Wife - The Yellow Wallpaper.
This story reminds me of The Awakening, because it portrays women of that time to be "insane" or "ill" if they are acting outside the norms or behaviors of how a women (of that time) should act. A reason I love these kinds of stories is because of the true rebellion that is emerging from them. It's exciting. The main character is only referred to as "the wife" in this short story, but I think it gives that is because it's trying to diminish her being, and conveys the idea of how strict a women's life was during that time frame. The wife is one of my favorite characters in literature because she has this "I don't care" attitude, similar to Edna's. The wife is apparently "sick", according to her husband and describes her mental state as a "nervous depression". I believe this is a feminist read with a feminist character because she is portraying how "crazy" women act, and I feel it's slightly satirical because men from that time thought women were just "crazy" or "ill" when they weren't happy. And with that, put them in their place. In the end, there is some revenge for her . . . but you'll have to read it for yourselves.
5. Hester Prynne - The Scarlet Letter.
I have to be honest and say that as much as I loathed this dry piece of work from Nathaniel Hawthorne, I did admire it's leading lady character. Hester Prynne was a rebellious woman who was scorned and looked down upon for committing adulterous crimes. I think that's kind of awesome, and she is incredibly brave for standing up to all of those people who judged her for adultery as well as her sexual lifestyle. She just took it, embraced the letter A that she was forced to wear, and she knew exactly who she was. She is powerful and strong for a woman of her time to be faced with all of that hatred. This also opens the door for women, and to realize that they are entitled and nobody should feel guilty for who they are. 
6. Sara Crewe - The Little Princess.
I loved little Sara from The Little Princess. I remember watching this 1933* film staring Shirley Temple when I was a kid. I literally watched this movie on replay because I loved it so much. Before it was a film, however, it was a book. I think that Sara is a true feminist because she makes the best out of staying at all all girls boarding school, while her father - whom she is close to - is fighting in World War I. She's imaginative, which made me love her character. Even though things were dull and bleak, Sara found the good in a situation, and was truly valiant, as well as mature beyond her years. She is forgiving, and strong willed and won't let anything stand in her way. She shows that while searching for her wounded father towards the end of the book.
7. Kristy Thomas - The Babysitters Club series.
These books were my life when I was in fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Kristy Thomas is a feminist because she is best known for her leadership skills and great ideas, and she isn't afraid to share her opinions and definitely doesn't like to keep quiet. What I like about her is that she grew up with three brothers, and so she isn't afraid to be loud or dressed more like a tomboy - not so girly. I think that's totally defining for women because we're meant to be "lady-like" and "proper", "cute", etc. Kristy taught me to be completely myself, and not "girly" for anyone just because of my gender. Oh, and remember how she thought beauty pageants were sexist? 
8. Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl.
I think Anne Frank is the epitome of all feminists . . . well, at least in the top feminists. And that's mainly because she was so young, and she seemed to grow up so fast because she had to during her time hiding during WWII. During her time in the Annex while hiding from the Nazi's during the Holocaust, Anne Frank kept a diary, and in that diary readers got a glimpse at the girl wise beyond her years. She wasn't afraid of holding back, and saying what was on her mind. She was emotional, compassionate, sensitive and opinionated - all traits that most people in the world (specifically during those earlier times) are afraid of when it comes to women. One of my favorite infamous quotes from Anne Frank is the following:I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery
and death... I think... peace and tranquility will return again." 
9. Tris Prior - The Divergent series.
Need I say more?...............
10. Ramona Quimby - Ramona Quimby series.
I read these books when I was really small, and I absolutely adored them. I liked Ramona because she was imaginative, she marched to the beat of her own drum, got into a lot of antics, oodles of trouble and was defined as the "weird kid", but still managed to continue being herself. I think the Ramona Quimby books are really important for children to start out reading because it teaches them a lot about staying true to oneself and learning from certain mistakes. And even though you're a little quirky or weird, there is something to love about that. Ramona constantly strives for perfection throughout the series, which makes her still seem human as she is colorful and exciting.
