Because you like Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Ellen Ripley defines the word "badass." When she's not leading her crew on an interstellar voyage, she's slaying terrifying creatures. See them in Alien.

Celie Johnson says she's poor, black, and may even be ugly. But dear God she's here. See them in The Color Purple.

Sophisticated and aloof, Darcy couldn’t care less about marriage, despite women throwing themselves upon him with wishes of matrimony. See them in Pride & Prejudice.

Think you grew up fast? At 12, Mathilda is an aspiring assassin eager to avenge her family's murder. See them in Leon: The Professional.

April Ludgate doesn't like sunshine. She's more of a blood and guts kinda girl. See them in Parks and Recreation.

The only thing standing between Rocky Balboa and glory is the person facing him in the boxing ring. See them in Rocky Series.

As Marlena Rosenbluth is finding out, confidence in the limelight doesn't always translate to power at home. See them in Water for Elephants.

The brilliant and well-adjusted Ender Wiggin is being groomed for the next generation of military leaders to fight alien invaders. See them in Ender's Game.

Sid Jenkins is the ultimate underachiever, but he doesn't mind. Well, he pretends he doesn't. See them in Skins.

Nadia Vulvokov is a no-nonsense broad with a dark sense of humor and a flippant attitude. See them in Russian Doll.

Susanna Kaysen is an aspiring writer, despairing young woman who struggles with suicidal thoughts. See them in Girl, Interrupted.

After surviving consecutive fights-to-the-death (damn you, President Snow!), Katniss Everdeen is thrust to the front lines of a real war. See them in The Hunger Games .