Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.
Today’s Topic: Most Memorable Secondary Characters
We can’t forget these supporting characters!
Ricki
Get ready. My list is quirky. I like secondary characters who are quirky and/or intelligent.
1. Simon Lewis (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare): Simon is witty and lovable. I can’t help but get a warm, fuzzy feeling when I think about him. If I were a literary character, he’d be my sidekick because I would constantly be laughing. I can’t say much about Simon without giving away too much plot, but I like how he doesn’t play second fiddle in the story and is essential to the plot.
2. Hassan Harbish (An Abundance of Katherines by John Green): Hassan is another funny guy. He is very lazy and admittedly overweight. Hassan really seems to drive the plot of the book. He uses his Muslim heritage to get out of things he doesn’t want to do, which is comical. Oh, and he loves Judge Judy.
3. Uncle Larry (Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles): I just read this book last week, and I will never forget Larry, Josh’s Karate-loving uncle. When Josh is struggling, Larry takes him in, and he is a major support in Josh’s life. Larry consistently inserts nuggets of Karate wisdom into conversations, which is quite amusing. And the guy just can’t stop smiling. This makes me, in turn, smile.
4. Rue (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins): Rue teaches readers to never underestimate the little guy. She flies like a monkey between trees and represents purity and goodness. “She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It’s impossible not to think of a bird.” Rue’s goodness is a perfect foil to the Capitol’s wickedness.
5. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee): As a future parent, I want to be exactly like Atticus Finch. When no one else stands up for Tom Robinson, Atticus does, even though he knows he won’t win the case. He teaches so many wonderful morals to Scout and Jem about work ethic and empathy. If I have a son, I would consider naming him Atticus (and it is too bad the name is so peculiar or this would be set in stone).
I can’t choose just five. I need to cheat.
6. Hassan (Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini)
7. Slim (Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck)
8. Magnus Bane (The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare)
9. Prince Brigan (Fire by Kristin Cashore)
10. Ma Joad (Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)
Kellee
1. Ruby and Stella and Bob (The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate): Ivan’s cast of characters makes you love Ivan even more. His interactions with the other characters show you his characters. Stella helps mold Ivan into who he is, Ruby’s innocence pushes him to do something he’d never though he’d do, and Bob is the comic relief.
2. Smithers (Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz): I love Smithers. Whenever he shows up in an Alex Rider book, you know that an awesome gadget is going to show up. He is brilliant and funny.
3. Phoebe Winterbottom (Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech): Phoebe is a character who I actually do not like at all, but you definitely remember her. Phoebe is obnoxious, self-righteous, loud, but she also has a huge imagination and really makes the story interesting.
4. Summer and Mr. Browne (Wonder by RJ Palacio): Summer shows that there are 10 year olds that are still loving and thoughtful. Oh, and most importantly – kind. Mr. Browne is an awesome teacher. I love his precepts and how he teaches his class. What a way to make students reflect about their lives and to think deeply.
5. Manchee (The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness): Manchee, Manchee, Manchee! Oh how everyone who read Knife loves you. Because of the Noise, the all-male population of Prentisstown can also hear the thoughts of their male animals which gives us Manchee, Todd’s dog, who is the best friend a boy could have.
I’m also going to cheat:
6. Kate (Matt Cruse Trilogy by Kenneth Oppel)
7. Isaac (The Fault in our Stars by John Green)
8. Sam Yu (Curse Workers series by Holly Black)
9. Patrick (Shine by Lauren Myracle)
10. Nero (Blood Red Road by Moira Young)
11. The Pink Ladies and other bonobos (Endangered by Eliot Schrefer)
Who are your favorite secondary characters?
Excellent list! I think more boys should be called Atticus. I think it’s a pretty cool name!
There is an Atticus at my school, so maybe it is starting?
I’ve been really surprised that all the lists that pull from the Cashore trilogy pull from Bitterblue except for one other. So yay Prince Brigan!! And I never expected to see Walk Two Moons on one of these lists!! I think out of all the Sharon Creech novels I read as a kid this one might be my very favourite as I believe it was my very first of hers.
Really?! Bitterblue was wonderful, but really it was the book that left the least impact. Po or Prince Brigan are my favorite Cashore secondary characters 🙂
YAY Walk Two Moons! It is one of my favorite lit circle books because it causes such amazing discussions.
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
I’d have to agree with your assessment of Bitterblue. I mean, I still loved it, but it really doesn’t hit in quite the same way. I think Po is easily my favourite haha