Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

I've been thinking about what makes a really good memorable character. I have my favourites, mostly for adult books. I was wondering what are some of your favourite characters and why are they your favourite. What characteristics do they have that make them so memorable that you're thinking about them long after the book is done?

Main characters have heroic qualities but what makes a hero to a middle grade student?

Shannon wrote: "I've been thinking about what makes a really good memorable character. I have my favourites, mostly for adult books. I was wondering what are some of your favourite characters and why are they your..."

Great topic Shannon! I've thought a lot about what makes compelling characters, and hope we get a lot of great discussion on this one.

A lot of the more recent "blockbustery" books tend to have characters that are over-the-top competent or powerful in some way -- whether it's extreme wizarding (Harry Potter), demi-god status (Percy Jackson), etc. I think those types of characters (which are found in all kinds of adult literature as well) resonate with readers who want to identify with some standard of greatness that is out of reach in real life.

And I see things pretty differently. I like characters that are flawed, and learn to be stronger or wiser. For example, Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden, the princesses in the Frog Princess* series, and many of the characters in the books by Avi and Andrew Clements.

*The Frog Princess.

I'll have to look through 'My Books' and see if I can come up with more specific ones.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "And I see things pretty differently. I like characters that are flawed, and learn to be stronger or wiser. For example, Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden, the princesses in the Frog Princess* seri..."

I agree with you Cheryl, as far as my own personal preferences. I love those stories where really ordinary characters find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, and learn something in the midst of them. The characters are more complex. Moon Over Manifest is a great example.

True. :)