The Brookeshelf

Hot Characters of Children’s Literature

Okay, when I first stumbled on the fabulous fuse#8’s regular feature, “Hot Men of Children’s Literature,” this is what I thought it was going to be. Granted, I was still pretty thrilled to read about real, actual, Hot People, but I still felt that it would be fun to highlight the various imaginary men that thousands of girls and women have harbored crushes on over the years. I’ve just compiled my personal Top Ten; if there are any Hot Characters I’ve overlooked, please feel free to make a bid for their inclusion. Now: Let the Hormones Roll!

1. Laurie from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

In my “Tearjerkers” booklist, one of my dear bleaders wrote that she can’t help but cry when Jo rejects Laurie’s proposal. Add to this the fact that Christian Bale portrayed him in the latest movie version of this story, and you can see why Laurie is the quintessential hottie of kids’ books.

2. Ged from The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. LeGuin

It’s difficult for non-fantasy-types to get into LeGuin’s novels, but it’s worth it to get to know the dark-skinned wizard hunk of a Ged. In this book, he rescues and is rescued by a beautiful young maiden who has been trapped by a bizarre death cult . . . sighhhh . . .

3. The Beast from Beauty by Robin McKinley

Meg Cabot put it best in her Princess Diaries books: “Who wants a smoothie Prince, when you can have a big hairy Beast? That’s like choosing Cyclops over Wolverine, and who in their right mind would do that?” Although the Prince in McKinley’s book ain’t so bad, either. . .

4. Taran from Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander

I choose this book out of the series, because it features Our Cute Hero wandering the earth, searching for his true identity, which makes you just wanna tuck him under your arm and take care of him, huh?

5. Prince Char from Ella Enchanted

Tall. Passionate. Firey temper. Fights ogres in spare time. Any questions?

6. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables

Ahhh . . . the proverbial “boy from the farm next door.” (And he’s a doctor!) The best part of the Anne books is that you actually get to watch Anne and Gilbert’s relationship all the way until they’re grandparents. That’s what I call following through.

7. Peaceable Sherwood from The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Many of you have probably not read this book, but Peaceable is a dynamo of a Hot Character. He’s dashing, surprising, and kind of like a Robin Hood of the American Revolution. Plus, his family motto is “I always get what I want.” (Rowr!)

8. Christopher Heron from The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Okay! Okay! I tried not to list more than one Hot Character from the same author, but how can I help it – Christopher is a perfect brooding wordsmith of an Elizabethan. And Kate gets to rescue him in the end, a la “Tam Lin.” Yowza.

9. Theo Theodorakis from The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I guess Theo’s the proverbial “boy from next floor.” Little Turtle Wexler has a crush on him the whole book, and after they solve the Westing murder and grow up, they get married. Awwwww.

10. Eugenides the Thief from The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Okay, let’s do the Gen inventory: young, clever, smart, funny, and an excellent swordsman (though he hates to kill). And he keeps on loving Queen Irene even after she cuts off his hand. He’s just as hot in The King of Attolia, but it’s here when he’s at his crazy love-struck best. Yum.

Disagree or agree with what I wrote? Write away, right away!