Seven girls with incredible talents

Published on: 07 October 2019

Paula Harrison, author of the fantastic Kitty series, tells us about her favourite little heroines in fiction with amazing talents.

Petrova Fossil – Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Being the odd one out is never easy and Petrova Fossil is the only one of the three Fossil children with no talent for performing whatsoever. She much prefers watching people work on car engines and she shows a knack for mechanics which makes her quite a modern girl in this classic book. I also admire the way she rarely grumbles about all the dance recitals she's dragged along to.

Anne Shirley – Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne's special talent is her vivid imagination. Although this gets her into trouble at times, it's also what allows her to survive the neglect she endures before she arrives at the Cuthbert's house in Avonlea. She uses her imagination to connect with other people and understand what makes them tick, as well as to escape from reality.

Daisy Wart – You Can’t Make Me go to Witch School by Em Lynas

Another girl with a vivid imagination is Daisy Wart, who has ambitions to avoid Toadspit Towers School for Witches and become an actress instead. With determination, resilience and an absolute conviction that she is destined for Shakespearean stardom, Daisy conjures up a daring escape plan in pursuit of her destiny.

Hermione Granger – Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

Hermione has incredible intelligence and she gets Ron and Harry out of trouble many times. On one occasion, in The Chamber of Secrets, she works out that the creature attacking people at Hogwarts is a basilisk and that it’s making its way around in the pipes. Arguably, Harry and Ron wouldn’t have survived for long without her!

Matilda Wormwood – Matilda by Roald Dahl

Another girl with an amazing mind is Matilda, whose family don't understand why she wants to spend so long at the library. Luckily her teacher, Miss Honey, sees her potential and once Matilda reaches her full powers she can even move things with her mind. A handy talent indeed!

Sophie Taylor – Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Sophie has just taken a job selling hats in a department store when a robbery happens. I really admire Sophie's calm self-reliance. She is all alone in the world and at the mercy of a villainous plot, but manages to forge new friendships and solve the mystery at Sinclair's.

Marinka – The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

Marinka wishes she was part of the human world and she has a great sense of curiosity. However, she is also very good at being honest with herself and confronting her own mistakes. Once she realises where she's gone wrong, she doesn't rest for trying to make things right again