As promised, here is the thread that asks: Where are all the Harry Potters for the girls??

Psychologist and literary critic Lucy Pollard-Gott ranked the most influential characters in world literature and legend in her 2010 book, The Fictional 100. Only one woman made the top 10: Eve. Not exactly a character in literary fiction! The list has international appeal, but the most modern women in it are Scarlett O’Hara and Toni Morrison’s Beloved.

So I’m curious: what fictional girl or woman would you say gives Hamlet, Huck, Harry, and Holden Caulfield a run for their money?

It's easier to pick a female character from tv or movies. Literary fiction? A harder call.

That means girls are in more trouble than I'd thought

TV and movies are such visual media, unlike books (especially fiction) where you can literally read the characters' thoughts and feelings. So are girls and women more to be gazed at than understood as complex, thinking, distinctive individuals … ?

Hmm... for me most original (also memorable & unique) characters because they were integral to the story itself.

Hester Prynne (The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne)
Miss Haversham (Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)
Jo March (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott)

Also Moll Flanders, Anna Karenina & Jane Eyre but these ladies were also the main characters (& titles).

Amber from 'Forever Amber' is a really strong character.

Also, 'Nancy Drew' - she's a brilliant role model for teenage girls, and literally has solved thousands of mysteries and murders alone. Her history is amazing.

If we're including comic books - I could give you a list a mile long LOL.

OMG --- I grew up with Nancy Drew! I loved each & every ND book! What a fantastic character, she was smart & adventurous. A great role model for any young girl :-)

Modesty Blaze - from those books I learned the art of the Yawara stick and gave up carrying a blade. Quite an accomplishment for late '70's Mexico City!

Oh yes, I wanted to be Nancy Drew, too!

Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables books, because she was courageous and determined.

Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennett who is honest and intelligent and doesn't unthinkingly follow the conventions of her time.

Jo March from Little Women and sequels. She intelligent, passionate, talented and strong.

Dorothy from L Frank Baum's Oz books. Strong sense of right & wrong, also brave and loyal. Baum gave a lot of main parts to the girls in his stories. The most memorable boys were Button Bright (who was actually rather dim and memorable because pretty much anything that was asked him was answered with "Don't know.") and Tip, who turns out to be a girl who is under an enchantment!

But in more modern literature, Lyra Belacqua from Phillip Pullman's popular (with children and adults) His Dark Materials trilogy. She's really a plucky heroine, rebellious, loyal, brave.

Yay, they exist — what a relief!

To the classic characters, I would add Lily Bart from The House of Mirth, Nora Helmer from A Doll's House, and Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden. I like how they start off as frivolous, naive and self-centered, and become thoughtful and independent after their experiences. Nancy Drew is awesome — I wish she had been updated more successfully.

Lyra Belacqua is a good one, Mona — wish she was as well known as Harry Potter and Bella Swan. I didn't know that about Baum; I haven't actually read any of his books but will add him to my list. Also from modern lit: Scout Finch, played so well by Mary Badham in the movie that I don't think anyone could improve on her.

Keep 'em coming — I'm sure there are more …

How about including Miss Marple? She's solved murders that perplexed manly detectives and police officers!