Spring break is the perfect time to kick back, soak up some sunshine (or snuggle into a cozy nook), and lose yourself in stories that spark inspiration. And what better companions for your reading getaway than fearless, brilliant, and deeply relatable female leads?

Strong female protagonists have a way of reaching into our hearts, reminding us of our own resilience, courage, and spark. These heroines inspire us to stand taller and dream bigger.

So, whether you're headed on vacation or enjoying a staycation with your favorite snacks, we’ve rounded up 10 YA must-reads featuring powerful young women who will stick with you long after the final chapter. And if you want to take things up a notch, you definitely will want to have a look at our incredible interactive book boxes; they turn every story into an unforgettable experience.

Importance of Strong Female Protagonists

Representation in literature isn’t just about variety — it’s about visibility. When we see strong, complex, and courageous women leading the charge in stories, it reminds us that we, too, can be bold, brave, and brilliant in real life.

Young adult literature plays a powerful role in shaping identity, building empathy, and offering glimpses of what’s possible. Reading about fierce female characters helps us develop confidence, stretch our imaginations, and learn that vulnerability and strength can coexist beautifully.

From wielding a bow to cracking impossible codes, leading revolutions to simply standing up for themselves in everyday battles, these heroines show us all what it means to own your story.

Curated List: Top 10 YA Books with Strong Female Leads

 

Inspirational Heroine

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a dystopian future, the Capitol controls its citizens through fear—and the deadly Hunger Games. When her sister is selected for this brutal televised battle, Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her place, stepping into a world of danger, strategy, and sacrifice.

Armed with a bow, grit, and fierce loyalty, Katniss doesn’t just fight to survive,—she challenges an entire system. She’s the kind of protagonist who reminds us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Courageous and Bold

Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest

What does it take to follow your dreams—especially when the world isn’t always built with you in mind? Effie Galanos has big plans. She knows exactly what college she wants to attend, what she wants to major in, and the city where she can finally step into the life she’s imagined for herself: New York.

But navigating the world in a wheelchair means Effie’s path to college involves more than just SAT scores and personal essays. It’s about advocating for herself in ways her peers never have to think about, facing ableism, and holding tight to her goals while everything around her shifts.

With honesty, heart, and a whole lot of determination, Effie’s journey through senior year—full of dreams, crushes, and life-changing decisions—is a beautifully bold reminder that chasing what you want often means rewriting the rules along the way.

 

Determined and Resilient

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

In an alternate Tang Dynasty China, Zilan has one goal: to become a royal alchemist. It’s not just ambition that drives her—it’s survival. Trapped in poverty, she practices illegal alchemy, raising the dead for money to keep her family fed. It’s a dangerous life, but one Zilan walks with fierce determination and razor-sharp grit.

When she gets the chance to compete in the imperial exams, Zilan is thrust into the glittering, cutthroat world of the royal court, where alchemy is power and secrets lurk behind every silk curtain. Even more dangerous? The Crown Prince wants her help—and not just for her skills.

Zilan’s resilience shines as she navigates political intrigue, deadly competition, and the haunting weight of her past. She may not be your typical girl-next-door heroine, but her unwavering determination to change her future—and protect those she loves—makes her unforgettable.

Trailblazing Adventurer

Bladestay by Jackie Johnson

In the gritty frontier town of Bladestay, Colorado, seventeen-year-old Theo Creed isn’t waiting around for someone else to save the day. When her home becomes the battleground for a brutal feud between two powerful men, Theo disguises herself as a boy and bluffs her way into the dangerous inner circle of a ruthless gang to protect her town—and her own life.

Armed with quick wit, nerves of steel, and a deep sense of justice, Theo navigates deception, shifting alliances, and the weight of her own conscience. As she dives deeper into the con, she’s forced to question who the real villains are,  and whether the truth is more dangerous than the lies she’s telling.

Bladestay is a sharp, atmospheric Western with a heroine who refuses to be tamed. Theo is bold, clever, and endlessly courageous—the very definition of a trailblazing adventurer.

 

Fiercely Intelligent

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

In a world where ancient gods have awakened and declared war, eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow is fighting her own personal battles. Her brother is missing, her mother is struggling with addiction, and Iris is determined to win a prestigious columnist position at the Oath Gazette—not just for her career but to hold her world together.

Iris copes by writing heartfelt letters to her brother and slipping them under her wardrobe door… only to have them magically disappear into the hands of Roman Kitt, her sharp-tongued rival at the paper. What begins as anonymous correspondence soon becomes an emotional lifeline—one that follows Iris to the war’s front lines.

Blending sweeping fantasy with the power of the written word, Divine Rivals is a deeply moving enemies-to-lovers tale. Iris’s intellect, empathy, and unrelenting drive to do what's right make her a heroine whose strength lies as much in her heart as in her pen.

Creative and Inspirational

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

In a futuristic New Beijing plagued by disease and political unrest, Cinder stands out—not just because she’s a gifted mechanic but because she’s a cyborg. Reviled by her stepmother and treated as a second-class citizen, Cinder keeps her head down and her tools close… until fate (and a handsome prince) throws her into the center of a brewing intergalactic war.

Armed with brilliant problem-solving skills and a fierce sense of independence, Cinder uncovers secrets about her past that could change the fate of the world. Cinder’s mechanical genius, creativity, and resilience prove that brains and bravery go hand in hand.

 

Challenging the Norms

Lobizona by Romina Garber

Manuela Azul has always lived in the shadows—not just as an undocumented immigrant hiding from ICE, but as a girl whose very identity is considered impossible. The rules are clear: lobizonas (werewolves) are boys. Brujas (witches) are girls. And Manu? She’s something else entirely.

When her world is upended and the truth about her heritage begins to unfold, Manu discovers a hidden magical society rooted in Argentine folklore—and even more strict in its traditions and gender roles than the human world she left behind.

With her life—and identity—declared illegal, Manu dares to defy every label and challenge every norm, carving out a space for herself in a society that says she doesn’t belong.

Lobizona is a bold, timely, and magical story that confronts real-world issues through fantasy. Manu’s journey is one of identity, rebellion, and redefining what it means to belong, making her a heroine for every reader who’s ever been told they don’t fit the mold.

Heartfelt and Relatable

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Nineteen-year-old Sadie Hunter isn't running away—she's running toward something. After the devastating murder of her little sister, Mattie, Sadie leaves her small Colorado town with a switchblade in her pocket and vengeance in her heart. Her only mission? Find the man responsible and make him pay.

What Sadie doesn’t know is that her story is about to become the subject of a national true-crime podcast as a popular radio host retraces her steps, uncovering far more than he expected. As their parallel journeys unfold—Sadie in the shadows and the world watching from a distance—the result is a haunting, emotionally charged mystery that doesn’t let go.

Sadie is a powerful, gritty, and deeply human novel. Her love for her sister, her grief, and her unrelenting determination make her a character readers will ache for, root for, and remember long after the final page.

 

Resilient and Empowering

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

In Garner County, girls are banished during their sixteenth year—their so-called “grace year”—to rid themselves of their dangerous magic. The belief? That they emit a powerful allure that must be purged before they’re fit for marriage. The reality? A brutal exile filled with fear, survival, and silence.

Tierney James doesn't buy into the lies, and she certainly doesn't want the life she's been groomed for. But once exiled with a group of other girls, she finds that the threats in the wild are only half the battle. The real danger? What happens when society teaches girls to fear each other more than the systems oppressing them?

The Grace Year is fierce, haunting, and deeply thought-provoking. Tierney’s journey is one of unflinching resilience. Her fight to survive—and to imagine something better—makes her an unforgettable symbol of strength, defiance, and hard-won hope.

Visionary Leader

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

By day, Arthie Casimir runs a high-end tearoom. By night, it transforms into a bloodhouse serving the city's most dangerous clientele: vampires. As a street-smart orphan turned criminal mastermind, Arthie is more than a survivor. She’s a strategist, a leader, and a force of nature who always plays her cards close.

When her sanctuary is threatened, Arthie doesn’t crumble, she gets to work. With her crew of misfits and outcasts, she masterminds a daring heist into the vampire elite’s inner circle, uncovering a web of secrets that could upend everything.

Dark, clever, and electric with energy, A Tempest of Tea is a thrilling fantasy ride led by a heroine whose strength lies not just in power but in vision. Arthie’s ability to unite the unlikeliest of allies and lead with sharp instincts and heart makes her a fierce and unforgettable leader—and exactly the kind of heroine we’d follow into the shadows.

Fearless and Adventurous

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Locked in a brutal prison and haunted by her past, assassin Celaena Sardothien is offered a chance at freedom — but only if she can survive a deadly competition against the most dangerous criminals in the kingdom. Victory means becoming the King’s Champion. Failure means death.

Celaena is fierce, cunning, and unapologetically bold. As she navigates court politics, brutal challenges, and sinister forces lurking within the castle walls, she doesn’t just fight to win — she fights to uncover the truth and protect the people who’ve begun to matter to her.

Throne of Glass kicks off Sarah J. Maas’s epic fantasy series with high stakes, breathtaking action, and a heroine who doesn’t back down. 

 

Enhance Your Reading Experience

Reading a great book is magical. But reading a great book while opening surprise gifts tied to specific moments in the story? That’s a next-level experience.

With Once Upon a Book Club’s YA book subscription boxes, you don’t just follow the story — you live it. Each box includes a hand-picked novel and a series of page-numbered gifts that bring key moments to life. Each gift makes the story feel personal and unforgettable. Or as we say, “Brings the story to life!”

Let your spring break become a literary escape you won’t forget.

Connect and Share

Love talking about powerful heroines and plot twists? Join the conversation in our Once Upon a Book Club Chat Facebook Group! It’s the perfect place to share what you’re reading, get recommendations, or just join in the fun.

You can also post your favorite quotes, fan art, or unboxings on social media using #OnceUponABookClub — because reading is always better when it’s shared.

Conclusion

Strong female protagonists remind us of our own power—to rise, to speak up, to dream, and to keep going. They teach us that strength comes in many forms and that bravery often begins with turning the page.

This spring break, let your reading list be a celebration of fearless, funny, vulnerable, and unforgettable girls who show up and take charge of their stories.

Explore Once Upon a Book Club’s curated YA boxes for a reading experience that’s bold, beautiful, and totally immersive, just like the heroines themselves. 💪📚✨