Under Estimated Characters who end up being Brilliant

[Electric]

You know those books, (take "Holes" for example,) with a character (Zero) whom everyone just assumes is dumb and basically brain-dead, either because they don't talk a lot, or because they talk too much? Later though, that character ends up being brilliant and smart and key to the plot. Yay!

Anyone have some of those books up their sleeves?

Edit: Any genre, including Non-fiction, would be fine, just please no mature content.

[ATP]

have you tried The Fountainhead?
Although I can't stand Ayn Rand's philosophy, it was an interesting read nonetheless.

[Electric]

ATP wrote: "have you tried The Fountainhead?
Although I can't stand Ayn Rand's philosophy, it was an interesting read nonetheless."

I haven't. I'll look into it. Thanks.

[Hillary]

A Wrinkle in Time has Meg, my glasses-wearing, socially awkward heroine. Her youngest brilliant brother doesn't do so well in defeating the enemy, it is Meg who figures out the answer.

The Changeover along the same lines as Wrinkle In Time.

I also love that both of these books feature boy sidekicks of the girl main character, and it isn't a romance.

[Electric]

I loved A Wrinkle in Time! I'll definitely look for The Changover. Thank you.

[Anna]

Darker Still though I'm reluctant to recommend this book, as I didn't like it at all. Heroine just constantly makes decisions that, in my opinion mark her as TSTL.

[Pamela]

Sadie Bleeker in Fortune Falls by Jenny Goebel. Fortune Falls

Anna Solden in From Anna by Jean Little From Anna

Both are children's novels and I highly recommend them. And these are two more works in which there are boy sidekicks to the heroine.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

If you like historicals might I suggest some of Georgette Heyer's books. In many of them, one of the characters (sometimes the h, other times the H) are underestimated by those around them.

The Unknown Ajax has this happen. Of course, the fact that the H is actively WORKING at making the other members of his family underestimate him has something to do with it.

The Quiet Gentleman is another one of her works with this kind of premise. The Toll-Gate is yet another. But again, in this one the H is working on keeping people from realizing that he's NOT the simpleton that he's pretending to be.

[``Laurie]

I, Claudius

[Electric]

Kristina wrote: "The Thief and all its sequels"



Oh my gosh! I love this series so much!!!!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. :D

[David]

Feynard came immediately to mind. Enjoy!