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Guess which 7 characters and books got the most votes and tell us what your choice says about you on Facebook and Twitter #0hgrowup.
We asked you what book character you most wanted to grow up to be when you were young and wow, what a response! More than 1,800 comments, ranging from "I wanted to be Melanie Wilkes but only managed Scarlett O’Hara," to "Esther, from the Bible." Some of you wanted to grow up to be animals: The Piebald from National Velvet or The Black Stallion; others had visions of transforming into a dragon like Eragon. Various hobbits as well as Aragorn, the human king from The Lord of the Rings turned up as well. One reader wanted to be the mom from Cheaper by the Dozen (curious: does she have a big family now?). Others longed to be the owner of a purple crayon.
Before we get to the list, a note to the boys who showed up: your favorite role model was the great lord of chaos --
By Dr. Suess
As for the girls, here were your top seven choices:
#1 Nancy Drew
Created by Carolyn Keene
The girl detective was a clear standout who left everyone else in the dust -- just as she outsmarted her adversaries in every single book.
#2 Jo March
Created by Louisa May Alcott
At number two, the plucky young protagonist of Little Women appeals to the latent writer hiding inside every reader.
Created by Jane Austen
The indomitable heroine of Pride and Prejudice, now the legendary role of three actresses -- Greer Garson, Jennifer Ehle, and Keira Knightley. (Which was your favorite?)
Created by Astrid Lindgren
Who didn't want to be able to get away with sporting those pigtails?
Created by Julie Campbell
Arriving on the scene after Nancy Drew, this young detective came in at number five even though the series was out of print for a number of years. You'll be happy to hear that Random House revived the series in 2003.
Created by J. K. Rowling
She got more votes than Harry Potter; she's finally taking center stage.
#7 Cinderella
What a girl wants...it never seems to change.
Honorable mention goes to the following characters. Let us know who we missed that you love:
| Lucy, The Chronicles of Narnia | Various characters from The Boxcar Children |
| Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie | Various characters from The Baby Sitters’ Club |
| Alice herself, Alice in Wonderland | Huckleberry Finn |
| Peter Pan | Encyclopedia Brown |
| Anne of Green Gables | Heidi |
| Junie B. Jones | Jane Eyre |
| Alec Ramsey, The Black Stallion | Clara Barton |
| Mary Poppins | Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz |
| Harriet the Spy | Francie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn |
| Sherlock Holmes | Matilda |
| Ramona | Charlie himself, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
| Wendy, Peter Pan | Percy Jackson |
| Scout, To Kill a Mockingbird | Mary, The Secret Garden |
| Madeline | One of the Hardy Boys |
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