International Women's Day - My Favorite Heroines

Happy International Women's Day!! I'm going to talk about my favorite literary heroines.

Liz: You are my heroin. And by heroin, I mean lady hero. I don’t want to inject you and listen to jazz.
Pete: Good Lord.

Here are some of my favorite heroines in no particular order (because they're all equally awesome in my heart) -

• Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series): devoted sister, badass with a bow and arrow, feisty fighter against her circumstances, reluctant but righteous activist for human rights and a transparent government.
• Jane Steele (the eponymous Jane Steele): a darker, gothic (Victorian, not emo) version of Jane Eyre. A vigilante who looks out for herself and avenges the poor women in her life by leaving a trail of dead evil dudes in her wake.
• Offred (The Handmaid's Tale): a woman who struggles to survive her bleak new life in the strict, tyrannical, and patriarchal Republic of Gilead. Though this new regime "owns" her body, her mind and will are subversive enough to befriend members of the resistance...
• Liesel Meminger (The Book Thief): the poor foster girl in World War II's Munich empowers herself by stealing books and learning to read.
• Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series): smart, witty, "insufferable know-it-all", who embraces and uses her brain powers for good. Is key to Harry and Ron making it through Hogwarts curriculum, but also life in general. Instrumental to Voldemort's downfall and kicks ass all the way to hold office as Minister of Magic. Hot damn.

Who are your favorite literary ladies?