YA Female Heroines.

YA Heroines: I'm talking Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) Bella (Twilight) Juliette (Shatter Me) Clary (Mortal Instruments) Tris (Divergent) etc. (And NOT Enoby, Enoby doesn't count... unless My Immortal is YA? Hmm.)

I feel that, while many have earned their places in five-star/four-star categories, many also are doomed to fall on either end of what I've affectionately nicknamed The Tragic Downfall of Some YA Heroines. Feel free to abbreviate it to TTDSYAH.

On one end of the spectrum, there's "WHINY." Many argue that Bella Swan falls into this category. I'm going to say that Meghan from Leigh Fallon (found from HC's inkpop.com, now bought by figment.com) also falls into this category. Even Clea from Elixir, by Hillary Duff. Lots of them fall into the whiny category. (Goodreads agrees with a few of my choices. http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/whiny-heroines-that-piss-me-off.)

These heroines are flimsy. They're weak, faint, hide behind their boyfriends when they're confronted by a problem. They're obnoxiously fragile, insecure, but also The Most Beautiful Girl Ever and can't take care of themselves. Their main concern is looking good or having a boyfriend, in some cases. Only in some cases, though. Then there's the stubborn kick-ass heroines, who don't listen to anybody. They're arrogant in some cases, act out, and are cold to everybody else. This girl comes off as a bitch, plain and true. Katniss is borderline TTDSYAH... the only difference is that she makes some good decisions. Mainly in adventure, paranormal YA do these also-obnoxious girls appear. I place Mia from The Princess Diaries in here. Gossip Girls...and guys. Clary is borderline TTDSYAH, but manages to pull her stunts off without looking like a total bitch...not much of a bitch at all, actually. (Props to Cassandra Clare!)

Where, I ask you readers, is the middle ground? Maximum Ride... (let it be known that it is NOT cool to start an identical gang to your girlfriend's with her clone after potentially breaking up with her. *ahem* FANG *ahem*) Jenna Boller from Rules of the Road almost fit into this...but she does too much for other people. Selfless, but, let's face it, not totally interesting. Tris Prior? Sure, although I haven't read enough of the series to decide.

What do you think? Are YA heroines doomed to come off as bitchy or faint-prone? Who's your favorite and Y? (Get it? Why...Y...YA? Hardy har har.)