My First Awesome Female Characters Meme

My First Awesome Female Characters Meme - originally from the DW hooked_on_heroines post about Awesome Female Characters from childhood, but hijacked modified to an LJ entry because that post was made before Easter and is therefore (in internet speak) 'old', and because I want to gush with all the eagerness and enthusiasm of a ten year old telling her schoolmates why her favourite book characters are cool, and I feel that a post is more likely to do them justice.

( how do I love thee, awesome female characters from my childhood? Let me count the ways! )

I didn't get introduced to Elizabeth Bennet until I was at least 10, Lessa of Pern when I was 13 (I was so disappointed the subsequent books weren't about her), Polgara and Ce'Nedra (and Velvet, Ehlana and Sephrenia) when I was 15. But She-Ra, Lady Penelope, Barbie, Leia Organa, and Princess Eilonwy of Llyr were my chidhood heroines.