My two favorite Kats

By some stroke of luck, I made the happy acquaintance of two literary heroines (whom I would heartily recommend to fantasy/ sci-fi/ young adult fiction female readers) within weeks of each other.

First is Katniss Everdeen of Hunger Games and Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins; Mockingjay,the concluding book will be published in August 2010). Katniss lives in a post-Apocalyptic world called Panem, in what is supposed to be North America, subjugated by the power of a corrupt and evil central government called Capitol. The Hunger Games is an annual TV show, akin to today's reality shows, with the difference that the contestants have to fight to the death. Contestants or tributes are picked from each of a the 12 districts -- one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 to 18 -- by lottery. Katniss volunteers herself when her younger sister was picked. It is thanks to her unusual skills in archery and hunting, as well as strength, courage, honor, level-headedness and daring that she overcomes the kinks thrown her way. Well, almost all of them, because she still has to resolve her feelings for her fellow Tribute, Peeta Mellarck.

My other Kat is Katsa of The Graceling (Kristin Cashore). Katsa is a Graceling, one of those people born with an extrordinary skill. In Katsa's case, her Grace makes her an invincible fighter. However, since in their kingdom in the Middluns, all gracelings automatically become property of the King, and Katsa has the added disadvantage of being the King's niece, she was raised to become his strongarm. Or as his thug, as far as she's concerned. Katsa is ferocious in her skills and protecting her sense of her self. However, being the king's main tool for bullying other people has given her precious few things to control in her life. Which is why when she crosses the path of Prince Po, an extremely skilled fighter and a mind reader who is searching for his kidnapped grandfather , Katsa must re-evaluate her perceptions of her world and of her identity.

I am so pleased that these characters were written as they were. I've had enough of vapid, one-dimensional, self-centered heroines whose love for the hero is the only thing that they have going for them.