I've been reading for such a long time now. I probably gave every genre a chance, but something that has really made me appreciate a book or have it stick with me is the presence of a strong female character. As a female reader, it's really nice to have female characters that we can either look up to, relate to or learn from. Strong female characters do not have to be perfect, in fact, it's better if they're not. How can you relate to a perfect character when we as human beings are the farthest thing from perfection? So, for those of you craving a strong female character to take an adventure with, I put together this list. Shout out to Katie for helping me come up with some of these ladies!

1. Minerva McGonagall from "Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling

We always talk about Hermione Granger, because she is a strong female character, but Professor McGonagall doesn't always get the credit she deserves. This woman not only dealt with the Golden Trio, but she did her job well. We always knew she was a strong woman, but a lot of began to be revealed later in the series. Plus, Maggie Smith is a pretty cool person, too.

2. Libby Day from "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day suffered throughout her childhood, losing her mother and sister in a brutal attack inside their own home. And who was put behind bars for it? Her teenage brother. At first, I was a little put off by Libby, but then you find out she was the strong woman with a spark because of the things she had gone through.

3. Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn just has a knack for creating strong characters. It's hard to talk about this book without spoiling even minor things, so I'll keep it short. Amy Dunne is revealed to the reader through diary entries read by her husband after she disappears. Throughout the book, the reader really understands what kind of woman Amy Dunne is.

4. Sara Linton and Lena Adams from "Blindsighted" by Karin Slaughter

Let me preface this one by saying that you have to be prepared to read this book; it's a lot. Sara Linton is the town's pediatrician and the coroner who must help the police solve a murder while she's dealing with her own stuff. Lena Adams is the murder victim's sister AND the county's only female detective. You'll just have to read it to see what happens!

5. Claire Scott and Lydia Delgado from "Pretty Girls" by Karin Slaughter

Again, another preface. This book is a psychological thriller and it will mess.you.up. But then you'll finish it and just be in awe of Karin Slaughter, so it's okay. Claire and Lydia are estranged sisters who still don't know what happened to their older sister when she was abducted over twenty years ago. THEN Claire's husband is murdered and her life is in a spiral. But how do the two events connect? Read it and find out!

6. June Elbus from "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" by Carol Rifka Brunt

I just recently finished this book, and I absolutely loved it. Set in 1987, June Elbus is a 14-year-old girl who is dealing with the death of her beloved uncle and trying to piece together how she fit into her uncle's life. She meets a stranger who misses her uncle just as much as she does and she learns so much about herself and the relationships she keeps.

7. Scout Finch from "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

I feel this goes without saying, but Scout was one of the strongest characters I've ever read about. Even though Scout was such a young girl when the events of the book happened, you could tell that she grew throughout it all. She was young but that didn't mean she couldn't understand the horrible things that were happening in her town.

8. Temperance Brennan from "Deja Dead" by Kathy Reichs

Whether you know the book version or the TV version of Temperance Brennan, you have to admit that "Bones" is a strong woman. She deals with the horrific things human beings can do all while maintaining a social life. You could just watch the show, but I really do suggest picking up at least the first book!

9. Liesel Meminger from "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Okay, hold on, I'm thinking about "The Book Thief" and I'm getting a little emotional. Liesel is a little girl who is fostered by the Hubermanns during World War II. Not only is she incredibly bright for her age, but she wants to learn how to read and write and take care of people. This gets her into those things that made me a little (read: very) emotional, so have at it.

10. Melinda Sordino from "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

This was assigned to me in my ninth grade English class and it was quite a read. Melinda Sordino is an outcast because she got the cops called to a high school party. When she takes up an art class, she finds herself and is finally able to piece together what happened that night of the party. She is the definition of a tough cookie.

11. Skeeter Phelan, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson from "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

I think this is the best book you can read if you're looking for one with strong female characters. All three main characters deal with adversity and the way they handle it shows their strength. These three women come together to break barriers.

Go forth and read a little this summer. Feel free to share with your own strong female characters!