Staff Picks: 6 Iconic Characters Every Reader Should Know

Tracy Flick

Brianna’s Pick: When it comes to iconic characters, few spark as much controversy or conversation as Tracy Flick. First introduced in Tom Perrotta’s novel, ELECTION, and then brought to vivid life by Reese Witherspoon in the cult classic movie adaptation of the book, Tracy Flick has come to represent a certain kind of woman—one who is unapologetically ambitious or, as Vanity Fair put it, “a woman who is just too much—too accomplished, too hardworking, too ambitious.” Strong women like Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren have been branded Tracy Flicks. The term is pejorative, shorthand for the overachiever in school who’d sit in the front row, answer all the teacher’s questions, and earn the derision of her cooler classmates. But was that Perrotta’s intention? With his darkly comedic new book, TRACY FLICK CAN’T WIN, Perrotta revisits his classic character, now middle-aged and vying to be the principal of Green Meadow High. Tracy is older, wiser, and more relatable, but the toxic masculinity she faces while trying to secure a position she is immensely qualified to fill is the same. And in her quest to succeed despite a culture and community that frowns on female ambition, women readers everywhere will find themselves hoping beyond hope that, just this once, Tracy Flick Can Win. 

Holly Gibney

Sara’s Pick: Stephen King has a lot of memorable characters: Carrie White, Jack Torrance, the members of the Losers’ Club, Randall Flagg. But one of my absolute favorites who deserves some more love is King's investigator Holly Gibney. Gibney appears in a number of King’s novels, including THE OUTSIDER, The Bill Hodges Trilogy, the novella IF IT BLEEDS, and the aptly named HOLLY coming out this September. What makes her such an engaging character is the fresh perspective she brings to every situation, especially because of her lack of a filter, and although Gibney is autistic and has OCD, it does not hold her back or make her less of an investigator. Rather, it provides her with a different take and knowledge base to help solve mysteries and combat evil. And combating evil is what she does best! Brave but also conscientious, strong but also vulnerable, Holly Gibney is definitely a character you want to get to know.

Ove

Holly’s Pick: After reading a Fredrik Backman novel, I always close its pages feeling immensely satisfied with a character’s growth—and I think that’s what makes almost every character he writes about feel iconic. Bestselling novel A MAN CALLED OVE is perhaps the perfect example. Ove is a miserable curmudgeon who spends his time sulking in anger. In Ove’s eyes, he is done with this world and is determined to off himself. But in his attempts, Ove is continuously (and thankfully) interrupted. After a chatty young family moves in next door, an unexpected friendship sparks. Readers will sit in heartfelt wonder as a cranky and miserable old man once again opens his heart, and the story continues to unfold in ways that’ll open your own heart in turn. I can’t wait for Tom Hanks to play him on the big screen and launch this already popular character into an icon for the ages.

Nancy Drew 

Kerry’s Pick: As an elementary student who loved mysteries, Nancy Drew was my go-to read. Every week, I visited the school library and picked up a new novel starring the plucky, whip-smart amateur sleuth, learning valuable lessons as I dove into each one. From how to be brave in the face of danger to learning how to read roman numerals (the vintage editions at my library listed all the chapters in this manner), Nancy Drew was and continues to be an indelible icon for me. She was clever, confident, and collected. She fearlessly went on spooky adventures with her best friends and dreamy boyfriend Ned. She always did the right thing and looked great doing so. I desperately wanted to be her, hoping that my own teenage years would be spent searching for clues in dilapidated old mansions with secret passageways. I even wrote my own Nancy Drew mystery on a long car trip, and today I proudly own official Nancy Drew stationery. Even though I haven’t read one of her books in years, she’s still, and will always be, my girl.

Stephanie Plum

Heather’s Pick: Out of all the books I’ve read in my life, there are only a handful for which I can tell you exactly where I was the day I read them. Janet Evanovich’s first Stephanie Plum novel, ONE FOR THE MONEY, is one of them. A friend of the family was hosting a pool party, but I didn’t feel like swimming (sullen teenager alert), so instead, I spent the whole day in a comfy lounge chair getting to know Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, Lula, Grandma Mazur, and the whole crew of side-splittingly funny characters. Several years and twenty-eight Stephanie Plum novels later, our favorite sassy bounty hunter’s status as a literary icon is indisputable.

Evelyn Hugo

Emily’s Pick: In reflecting on what makes a character iconic, I keep being drawn to the idea of mystery. What often elevates a character for me is when I can spend hours wholly absorbed in trying to figure them out. I had that experience reading about Evelyn Hugo. Even as her walls came down while she recounted her story of becoming a famous darling actress and her cycles of falling in love during the Golden Age of cinema, she kept up an air of mystery, but by the end she’d also started to feel like a real person. It’s easy to fall in love with her alongside reporter Monica as she uncovers Evelyn’s story in the present.