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I reviewed Songs Without Words for the Oregonian. The New York Times says, “Before Ann Packer decided that Brody Mackay, a principal character in “Songs Without Words,” her latest novel, would be a successful Silicon Valley high-tech executive, she had him working at a floundering start-up. Since Brody was also dealing with his teenage daughter’s suicide attempt, members of Ms. Packer’s writers’ group suggested that his professional troubles might be, well, overkill…. For a couple of drafts he was a doctor, but that didn’t work either. Finally Ms. Packer settled on giving him a job at a Wi-Fi security systems developer and juxtaposed its jock-nerd atmosphere against the crisis roiling the family at home.”

Click here to read more about how Ms. Packer made her decisions about characters and plot. [Full disclosure: I envy her two thing: her converted garden shed and her writer’s critique group. Oh, and I guess her sales. And her books.]

Angieville has created a fantastic list of Top Ten Kick-A** Heroines of YA Literature. She includes many strong girl protagonists that I would have chosen myself, and that first came to my mind when I saw the subject, including Alanna of Trebond from Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness) by Tamora Pierce (I love that book!); Dicey Tillerman
from Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt (another of my favorites!); Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (you guessed it–another of my favourites!); and more.

I really want to read the one or two books from Angieville’s list that I don’t know, since I love almost all the books she’s featured here. I love her taste! Needless to say, I’ve now added Angieville to my blog readings.

I would add Tish from When She Hollers (she stops her stepfather from sexually abusing her); Max from Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever (she protects her “flock” and fights back against the people who experimented on them); and Ann Tucker from Tin Can Tucker (she chases down her dream of being a rodeo champion and finds a family in the process). I know there’s more, but they’re not coming to my mind right now.

I think it’s so important to have strong female characters in books, so that girls and women can absorb those messages, and not just the victim, prostitute, or other stereotyped and harmful female roles in the media. We need to see revel in strong girls. We need to believe in ourselves.

Head on over to Angieville to check out her great post and some fantastic reads!