For June we’re going to be taking a look at stories that feature female protagonists from a new angle. Right now I see a major focus on the Katnisses and Trisses of the YA world, the fighters and all-encompassing role models. They embody an ideal- which is wonderful but can also be hurtful to an extent, as we can’t all be Katniss.
How did Prim feel when Katniss volunteered to take her place? Did anyone ever think about how dedicated Prim had to be to become a healer after Katniss left? Or how strong Effie actually had to be to pull everything together and carry on, instead of crumbling and falling apart after she was discarded by the Capitol?
There are so many stories out there that focus on characters who are not physically skilled fighters, who do not necessarily fit the all-around ideals, but who are protagonists and heroines because of their realistic imperfections.
Ones like America and Eadlyn in The Heir series,
where America isn’t an active fighter in her dystopia and Eadlyn is lost….
Ones like Written in the Stars, where the lives seemingly written out for them are not what they want…
Ones like None of the Above, Rethinking Normal, and Some Assembly Required,
examining what it means to be female at all…
Ones like Ash and The Wrath and the Dawn,
re-imaginings of Cinderella and Arabian Nights with new perspectives…
And other things that come along.
So for June we’re going to be looking at things from a new angle.
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