2026 Reading Challenge

Listopia > Protagonist Book Lists

The Color Purple by Alice WalkerThe Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniThe Help by Kathryn StockettA Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled HosseiniMemoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Books with a Non-Caucasian person as the/one of the lead characters.
1,518 books — 635 voters
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire SáenzSomething Like Summer by Jay BellSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky AlbertalliGives Light by Rose ChristoWill Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green
Best Gay Novels for Young Adults
339 books — 547 voters

The Lovely Bones by Alice SeboldIf I Stay by Gayle FormanElsewhere by Gabrielle ZevinBefore I Fall by Lauren OliverA Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
YA Post-Death Novels
191 books — 388 voters
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonCarry On by Rainbow RowellCaptive Prince by C.S. PacatThe Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi LeeAristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Novels with Bisexual Protagonists
558 books — 342 voters

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Best Bildungsroman book
364 books — 323 voters
Dungeon Born by Dakota KroutAncient Ruins by Benjamin MedranoThe Slime Dungeon by Jeffrey "Falcon" LogueWe Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. TaylorDungeon Spawned by D.R. Rosier
Protagonist is a Dungeon
66 books — 164 voters

Watership Down by Richard AdamsCharlotte’s Web by E.B. WhiteInto the Wild by Erin HunterThe Call of the Wild by Jack LondonThe Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Animal Xenofiction (Nonhuman POV)
461 books — 163 voters
Poison Study by Maria V. SnyderVampire Academy by Richelle MeadFrostbite by Richelle MeadLast Sacrifice by Richelle MeadShadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Nymn's Best of Older Male/Teacher/Guardian Roles in Romance
73 books — 150 voters

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk KiddLife of Pi by Yann MartelRoom by Emma DonoghueLord of the Flies by William Golding
Adult Fiction With Child Protagonist
218 books — 145 voters
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëGone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Unforgettable Female Protagonists
374 books — 136 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingCity of Bones by Cassandra ClareVampire Academy by Richelle MeadPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
If I was an actress/actor I would love to play the role of...
457 books — 128 voters
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. JamesFallen by Lauren KateHush, Hush by Becca FitzpatrickMarked by P.C. CastHalo by Alexandra Adornetto
This book's narrator is worse than Bella Swan!
53 books — 63 voters

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor VingeAcorna by Anne McCaffreyThe Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Pride of Chanur by C.J. CherryhThe Humans by Matt Haig
Alien protagonists
128 books — 62 voters
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanThe Wasp Factory by Iain BanksInvisible Monsters by Chuck PalahniukAmerican Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Favorite Main Characters
238 books — 55 voters

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanBritt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik BackmanFangirl by Rainbow RowellWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Awkward Protagonists Who Find Their Place In The World
105 books — 54 voters
Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoShadow and Bone by Leigh BardugoRed Queen by Victoria AveyardCrooked Kingdom by Leigh BardugoThrone of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
We Don't Need Another Hero
149 books — 51 voters

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix PotterPeter Pan by J.M. BarrieThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisAmadeus by Peter ShafferThe Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
For Pete's Sake ...
484 books — 45 voters
Paper Towns by John GreenLooking for Alaska by John Green1984 by George OrwellTime Enough for Love by Robert A. HeinleinHoly Bible by Anonymous
Examples of Male Authors Writing Terrible Female Protagonists
81 books — 42 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsDivergent by Veronica RothDaughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini TaylorThe Host by Stephenie MeyerClockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Best Lead Female Protagonists!
174 books — 39 voters
The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. BorosonA-Ma Alchemy of Love by Nataša PantovićGulab by Rohith S. KatbamnaThe Girl with No Face by M.H. BorosonA Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Best Asian Protagonist
173 books — 39 voters

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom StoppardThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. DickLe Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory
Every T(h)om, Dick and Harry
418 books — 31 voters
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott CardArtemis Fowl by Eoin ColferI'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally CarterA Girl Named Digit by Annabel MonaghanH.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden
Teen Geniuses
30 books — 30 voters

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienVampire Academy by Richelle MeadFrostbite by Richelle MeadI Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Books with 17-Year-Old Protagonists
162 books — 29 voters
Matilda by Roald DahlThe Golden Compass by Philip PullmanCoraline by Neil GaimanThe Book Thief by Markus ZusakThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Strong Female Protagonists in Books by Male Authors
114 books — 20 voters

Lost Horizon by James HiltonDubliners by James JoyceShōgun by James ClavellLucky Jim by Kingsley AmisPeter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Jim Jams
302 books — 19 voters
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark TwainThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark HaddonA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark TwainThe Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Mark My Words!
259 books — 19 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsHUSH MONEY by Deborah HarrisDivergent by Veronica RothInsurgent by Veronica Roth
Strong Female Protaganists
63 books — 19 voters
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThe Fault in Our Stars by John GreenCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsMockingjay by Suzanne CollinsDivergent by Veronica Roth
Best Teen Books- from a Teen's POV
45 books — 16 voters

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