The Fairy's Library

From the back Defiance by C. J. Redwine is rich postapocalyptic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Graceling and Tamora Pierce. While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.      Exhibit A. Rachel is not like other girls. I don't know about you, but why are YA heroines the only tomboys in the whole wide world, and girly girls are always weak, useless and below the heroine.      Exhibit B. So according to Rachel sewing is useless. She finds hunting and killing things far more useful. (I guess she hunts in the nude then, I mean where does she get her cloths? )      Exhibit C. Sparring is a show of strength. The only way for a woman to be strong is to be a killing machine. (It isn't)      Exhibit D. Simmular to A, Rachel is the only girl who his tomboyish in the entire world. She is the only

     The fact that I run a book blog makes it pretty obvious that I love to read.  I love books and I love the characters that live within their pages; however, as I have talked to people about books and characters and read more reviews there is one thing I have began to notice.  People do not like female characters in YA books.  They are often called bland, uninteresting, and Mary Sues.  I have pondered why this happens and have an idea.        Most female characters could be sisters with the physical resemblance to each other.  Brown hair medium hight, usually brown eyes but sometimes blue.  They often do not think themselves as attractive and suffer from ether crippling self doubt or a massive ego (if the author is feeling "innovative".  The reason this happens is because authors are trying to make their lead character relatable to everyone. She must be like all the girls out there so they can relate to her.  This is what I believe is the route of the problem.