We love books with fierce female characters! Ferocity comes in many forms, from the quiet girl who finds the strength to be herself to the bold girl who takes charge of any situation. And the best part? Reading about fierce characters helps you become stronger, too.
Are you ready to meet some fierce female characters? Here are our favorite YA books with female powerhouses you’ll adore.
Breathless by Jennifer Niven
Sometimes ferocity comes in the form of taking charge. When her parents split up, Claude feels like her life is spinning out of control. But when she meets Miah, a boy who loves nature and photography, Claude decides to sleep with him. She takes ownership of her decision, including when to have sex and how much of her heart to give away.
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
In Nothing More to Tell, you get Brynn—a girl who’s moved back home to start her dream internship at a true-crime show, and is on a mission to uncover the truth about her favorite high school teacher’s murder four years ago. Brynn is fierce, smart, and determined—all qualities she’ll need if she’s to find the real killer.
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
In The Gilded Ones, Deka was faced with the choice to suffer death at the hands of her fellow villagers or join an army of nearly immortal girls. So what did she choose? Immortal warrior! However, now that she’s made that choice, the real battle has only just begun. With her own gifts changing, Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera . . . or if she might be its greatest threat.
As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson
After the events of Good Girl, Bad Blood, Pip finds herself facing death threats and a stalker who seems eerily similar to a local serial killer caught six years ago. Did they arrest the wrong guy? When the police refuse to investigate, the fierce Pip takes matters into her own hands to find the suspect herself.
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. But that hasn’t stopped her from doing everything she can to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died. If there are answers, they lie deep in the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime. Is Lan’s mysterious hidden power one that will liberate her land, or one that will destroy the world?
Skyward Flight: The Collection by Brandon Sanderson
Let’s not forget about Spensa, a feisty girl with big dreams going up against impossible odds. She wants to become a fighter pilot, but her family’s reputation keeps her from reaching her goals. But Spensa doesn’t give up easily, and she’s willing to outwork, out-train, and outsmart anyone who stands in her way.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Maia is a fierce girl with big dreams and nerves of steel. When her elderly father is summoned to court, she disguises herself as a boy and goes in his place. She competes against the best tailors in the land, harnesses her magical abilities, and journeys to the empire’s farthest reaches. Faced with impossible challenges every step of the way, Maia learns to wield her wit, intelligence, and ferocity.
This Is My America by Kim Johnson
Ferocity can be hunting for clues about a murder and diligently writing letters every week to an organization that can help your father. With her father wrongfully convicted of murder and her brother accused of killing a girl from school, Tracy holds on to her inner strength while she searches for ways to help both innocent men.
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Lucha is fiercely protective of her sister. She would do anything for her—even if it means striking a dangerous bargain. Caught between the freedom she always wanted and a sister she can’t bear to leave behind, will Lucha be able to step into her own power…or will she be consumed by it?
