Set in a richly imagined prehistoric northern forest, Aisling Fowler's Fireborn: Twelve and the Frozen Forest - our Children's Book of the Month for October and the first part of a magnificent new fantasy trilogy - follows a young girl called Twelve who sets out to look for a lost child no one else seems to be bothered about finding. In this exclusive piece the author shares her five favourite heroines from children's literature.
I’ve always loved female characters with courage, those who have a strong sense of self and speak up for what they believe in. Knowing that, it probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that I was a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena: Warrior Princess when I was young. Their strength, confidence and resilience was incredibly inspiring to me then, and remains a touchstone now. They showed me that girls could be valiant, that they could be the stars of their own stories and agents of their own fate. Both were direct inspiration for Twelve, the protagonist in my fantasy children’s trilogy, Fireborn.
I’m not sure that I invented Twelve so much as discovered her. She popped into my head holding a pair of axes and full of a fiery anger that spoke of a complex character with a difficult past. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the entire world in Fireborn, and even some of the other characters, sprang straight from her. I found her instantly compelling and knew I had to tell her story – I felt she was someone I’d have loved to read as a girl.
As strange as this may sound, I really admire Twelve. She has many wonderful qualities (and some not-so wonderful ones too!). She is outspoken and loyal, incredibly resilient and fiercely independent, but above everything else, she is truly brave. Where others would flee from danger, she runs towards it. When others hesitate, she acts. She knows she can make a difference and never allows fear to hold her back. What is a heroine if not someone with the determination to do the right thing even when it is not easy, even when the personal cost may be great?
In the course of writing this series, I’ve come to love Twelve as much as I loved Buffy and Xena. My dream is that she will empower young readers, inspire them to stand up for what they believe in and to be the people they want to be. Happily, this task doesn’t fall to Twelve alone though. There are a wealth of incredible heroines out there and children’s books are a wonderful place to find them. Here are some of my favourites.
Anyone who knows me knows I rave about these books: the perfect union of creepy mystery, edge-of-your-seat action, razor sharp wit and brilliant characterisation. A huge part of my love for the series stems from my admiration of the main character, Lucy. As an operative in one of London’s smallest ghost-hunting agencies, she is often thrown into perilous supernatural situations. Her grit and sheer nerve always leave me cheering for her, while her empathy and wit keep her utterly relatable. This is the series I wish I’d had as a girl though I truly believe Lucy is a heroine all ages will love. We should all try to be a bit more Lucy.
The lush, evocative writing in this story vividly transports the reader straight to Nigeria. Simi has been sent to stay with a grandmother she barely knows in a rural part of the country she’s never been to. She’s an utterly relatable character in how out of her element she feels; instead of the city’s buzz, suddenly she’s thrust into village life, surrounded by stories of spirits, goddesses and magic. Added to that are the mysteries within her own family and a string of disappearances tied to a mysterious lake in the nearby forest. With huge selflessness and courage, Simi meets these challenges head on for the sake of her family, friends and community. She is truly a wonderful creation and the very definition of a great heroine.
The Truth is out there and Lucy is determined to find it. When strange things start happening in her home town, the eponymous Sticky Pines, she sets out to get to the bottom of it, certain that something supernatural is afoot. The mystery is even bigger and stranger than she imagined though, but far from being deterred, she joyfully dives deeper. With incredible resourcefulness and zany humour, Lucy is a truly inspiring character in this brilliantly enjoyable series that reads as a love letter to the quirky and the unknown.
Anyone who hasn’t yet discovered Hardinge’s sophisticated and wildly original stories is in for a treat. I’m a huge fan of her books, almost all of them populated by fascinating, rebellious heroines. To pick just one is almost impossible, but if you forced my hand, I’d have to choose Neverfell. As the only child capable of facial expressions in the underground city of Caverna, she is a dangerous oddity in a place rife with intrigue, splendour and inequality – and it ultimately falls to her to foment an uprising that will set the city’s downtrodden free. Big-hearted, brave and full of wonder, Neverfell’s determination to right the wrongs around her are truly inspiring. She is a heroine for our time.
When April arrives at the isolated Bear Island with her remote father, it appears that she’s in for a very lonely six months beneath the midnight sun. But then she and Bear find each other, and a most unlikely friendship develops. Everything about this book is beautiful; the setting is gloriously rendered and Bear is a magnificent creation, but it is April with her hope and self-belief that is the beating heart of the story. She may be small, she may be just one person, but April knows her actions can make a difference. What could be more empowering for a young reader (or any reader!) than that?
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