Biblio File, Stuff for the Teen Age, Children's Literature @ NYPL

Brainy and Brave: A Salute to Hermione Granger

September 19 marks the birthday of Hermione Granger, arguably the finest character in the Harry Potter books, who saves the day countless times with her sharp intellect and careful research.

Hermione is smart, strong, determined, fierce. She’s also sensitive and compassionate, with a real sense of social justice. And she's flawed: She can be a bit of a bossy know-it-all, which just makes us love her more. Author J.K. Rowling called her “me, near enough”—Rowling’s own stand-in in the magical world she created.

Emma Watson as Hermione
Emma Watson as Hermione. Image via fanpop.com.

There can only ever be one Hermione, but these other brainy, brave heroines from young-adult and middle-grade fiction remind us of her in some important ways.

Can you think of more Hermione-like characters? Let us know in the comments.

harriet

Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

We’ll get the obvious one out of the way first. Jo is whip-smart, and she has more tenacity than all her sisters combined.

 

 



 

mary anne

Mary Anne Spier from The Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin

She was technically the secretary of the club, but Mary Anne is the guiding voice of reason. She’s responsible, empathetic, and great in a crisis. One of the books is even titled Mary Anne Saves the Day, because of course she does.

 

 


 

janae

Janae from the Blacktop series by LJ Alonge

Janae is like Hermione for basketball, except quieter (but she makes the honor roll, too). She works incredibly hard and plays through tremendous adversity… a Gryffindor if ever there was one.

 

 

 


 

percy jackson

Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

How could the daughter of Athena be anything but wise and brave?

 

 

 



 

hunger games

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Katniss is smarter and heartier than most of her male counterparts, and she gets the spotlight that Hermione’s always deserved.

 

 

 


 

lumberjanes

Jen from the Lumberjanes series by Noelle Stevenson and co.

As the counselor in charge of a group of unruly campers, responsible Jen is constantly struggling to keep the girls safe—and help them learn some obscure facts about botany while she’s at it.

 

 



 

lemony snicket

Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Violet has a huge vocabulary, and she can be a bit bossy. She loves gadgets and invents things to help herself and her siblings puzzle out mysteries; we’d love to see what she could do with a time-turner.

 

 


 

carry on

Penelope Bunce from Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Brainy, brave, bookish, best friends with a Chosen One who’s destined to save the magical world (and who isn’t as good at magic as she is, and who desperately needs her help).

 

 

 


 

harriet

Harriet from Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Intense and sometimes isolated from her peers, Harriet has Hermione’s ability to examine things intently and study situations closely.

 

 

 


 

matilda

Matilda from Matilda by Roald Dahl

She’s not as rule-abiding as Hermione, but Matilda’s love of books and fighting spirit is the epitome of the brains-and-bravery combo.

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

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More Hermione Like Characters

Rye from the Luck Uglies series by Paul Durham! Wonderful series that features several other strong female characters!

The Morganville Vampires

Claire Danvers from The Morganville vampires is such a great character. Smart and totally love able!

Come on, you included

Come on, you included Lumberjanes but not Gotham Academy?! Both Olive and Maps are awesome and should definitely be on the list. In the same tone, Diana from Little Witch Academy would be a fine choice too.

My go to.

Princess Eilonwy from Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. She was adventurous and able to see the whole scope of each situation. Very Hermione-esque.

Thank you for this great list

Thank you for this great list of brave female characters! I’m trying to start a discussion if what it means to be brave for both girls and boys.

Tiffany Aching in the Wee

Tiffany Aching in the Wee free men, and the following Aching books by Terry Pratchett