Friday Finds: The 10 Best Books With Strong Female Characters

Thank you Skinnyscoop for sponsoring today’s Friday Finds!

Today I’m bringing you a collection of my personal favorites in honor of Women’s History Month. This is my personal top ten list of books with strong female characters.  I LOVE to read.  A lot of you know, I also write fiction.  Bad fiction, but hey, it’s the creative process that’s important, right? :) But one of the elements that makes or breaks a book in my opinion is the strength and depth of the characters – and I especially love a strong heroine.  I’ve been an avid reader since my early days – and some of those books stayed with me through my whole life. Think on your favorites… what makes a great book? What are some of your all-time favorites? Do you have a favorite female main character?

I have quite a few when I take the time to think on it. So without further ado, here’s my top ten list, countdown-style:

#10 – The Secret Garden

#9 – The Narnia Series

#8 – The Ramona Series

These books were ones I loved as a child, and they continue to be treasured favorites.  I can’t wait to start reading chapter-style books to my kids!  I hope my daughter is as inspired by these heroines as I was growing up.

#7 – The Artemis Fowl series

#6 – The Inkheart Trilogy

#5 – The Divergent Trilogy

These may be young adult series, but I think they are a great read at any age.  I especially like the complex worlds in these books.

#4 – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

#3 – The Harry Potter Series

At the top of my list, these books fall under the category of “I could read these books forever”.  They are classics for anyone who loves fantasy!

#2 – The Hunger Games Series

If you’re a regular reader here, this one is no surprise.  Katniss is one of the strongest and most fiercely loyal main characters I “know”.

#1 – The Sword of Truth Series

I have many hundreds of hours invested in reading and re-reading Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth Series.  I opened my mail one day to find my dad had ordered and sent me this series, and it really may be the best gift I ever received.  It’s everything I love in a love story – which is to say, very little mushiness or characters getting stupid for each other, haha.  The main focus is the story itself, and Kahlan is a warrior and a leader.

I created my top ten list over on SkinnyScoop – and you can do the same for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card!  Just vote for your favorite books with strong female characters by clicking on the images below and then clicking the done button. Share your picks on Pinterest and be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Contest ends 3/31/14.

Note: I was compensated for this post, but all the opinions here are wholeheartedly mine. Just get me talking about books for further proof.