Friday, April 12, 2013

K is for Kick-Ass Kids

I feel that I'v done guys and girls, but this category just wouldn't be complete without this last group. There are a lot of kick-ass kids out there. In fact, I recently realized that four of my favorite book series all feature kids between the ages of twelve-fourteen. It's a poignant age to watch or read because kids that age are generally young enough to be fearless. To me, watching them move towards caution and eventual adulthood makes for one of the most emotional journeys in books or movies.

For this poll, I thought I'd mix it up with books, T.V. shows and movies, in hopes of having someone everyone knows.

We'll start with three kids everyone has at least heard of. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. These three definitely qualify as kick-ass in my book, given their loyalty to each other and their refusal to give up on bringing down the most evil wizard of all time.


Then there's Carl, from Walking Dead. For some reason, Carl seems to be universally hated on the internet, a fact I can't understand. People are saying he's psycho, or too cold, but how is he supposed to be, given that he's growing up in the middle of the zombie apocalypse? Geez, people. Give the kid a break!

Next I have Arya from Game of Thrones. There are too many reasons to list why this little girl is one of my all time favorite characters. Arya has the perfect combination of courage, fearlessness and her own brand of honor.

 And now, two of my favorites from books. Lyra and Will from His Dark Materials. I find them to be two of the most well-written characters I've ever read. They both read like kids, not little adults, yet--by the end of the series--they've grown up so much that you understand they're no longer really kids at all. Their story is heartbreaking and powerful and perfect all at the same time.

Sticking to books, I also love Jake from The Dark Tower series. Because, seriously, what's not to love about a twelve-year old that leaves behind the "real world" to fulfill his destiny as a Gunslinger? Especially when you take into consideration his love for his pet billy-bumbler, Oy.

Last book, then I promise to give you another movie. I can't resist adding Todd and Viola from His Chaos Walking. Watching as they fight their way through a dangerous world, navigating the numerous people who want to tear them apart, you can't help but root for them to make it.

And, lastly, how could I not name Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass? Her character is literally defined in the movie title.


So, to recap the choices, we have:

Harry, Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series
Carl from Walking Dead
Arya from Game of Thrones
Lyra and Will from His Dark Materials
Jake from The Dark Tower series
Todd and Viola from the Chaos Walking Trilogy
Hit-Girl from Kick Ass

As always, feel free to share your own choices in the comments!

19 comments:

  1. Some great choices but got to be the 'Potter Gang' for me!

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  2. Well I am most familiar with the Potter characters, so I will go with them. I love Kick-Ass (and can't wait for the sequel... the trailer is pretty sweet)

    Arya, at least so far in the TV series, hasn't done a whole lot. So far I think out of the children I like Bran(don).

    I've always been partial Atreyu from The Neverending Story.

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  3. I always like not just the underdog, but the under-expected. And you don't expect a kid to rise up and save the day. That's why it's always amazing when they do.

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  4. Hard choice! Ok, the Harry Potter trio are first, then Lyra and Will, then Arya. :)

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  5. I LOVED Kick Ass. What a great flick. I can't wait for the sequel to come out. The trailers look pretty intense.

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  6. I'll have to say Harry Potter because those are the only kids I know.

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  7. Ahh, can I take Jak's suggestion and say Atreyu? He is definitely amazing!

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  8. arya! yay game of thrones! she is awesome!
    kick ass, baby! loved that movie

    fyi, took me a while to find you! add your blog link to your google + profile!

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  9. Carl seems older than his age. Sometimes he even bosses the adults around. I like the Harry Potter kids!

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  10. Suzanne--The kids from HP are impossible not to love! I wish I'd had friends like that. Of course, I also wish I'd gone to Hogwarts. :)

    Jak--Atreyu is a good choice! It's been years since I saw Neverending Story, so I didn't think of it. I like Brandon too, but I think Arya has shown a lot of guts for as young as she is, to be out and about on her own.

    Melanie--Good point! And yeah, there's something cooler about a kid saving the world than an adult doing it. haha

    Laura--Yay! Someone else who has read His Dark Materials! Nice choices. Loved everyone you picked!

    Jessica--Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the sequel as well! Thanks for stopping by. :)

    Al--Well, even if they're the only ones you know, the HP kids are awesome, so that works!

    Mere--Yeah, you can definitely pick Atreyu!

    Tara--Nice to see you. And thanks for the tip. I'll definitely add it!

    Alex--Yeah, Hit Girl is definitely awesome!!

    Sherry--Yeah, he does, but I guess it makes sense, given the life the poor kid has had. He's had to grow up really fast. And yay for another HP vote, looks like they're going to win this one. :)

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  11. I love the kids from the HARRY POTTER books.
    Growing up, The Goonies was one of my favorite movies. They feature some pretty neat kids there.

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  12. I would have said Todd and Viola absolutely, but you mentioned Harry Potter. LOL. I have to go with that trio!

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  13. I never watched Kick-Ass but the HP trio is a kick-ass group. I really like Arya too. They all have their qualities don't they! (:

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  14. I can't speak to all that you mentioned, but Arya and the Potter trio are both very entertaining. However, if I were to interpret your post title literally, I'd have to go with Arya.

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  15. I don't know all these kids, but you did mention some of my faves! I loved Arya in the books as well, and the chick in the show just does a fab job!

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  16. Definitely Kick-Ass, probably because she's least like a kid. I'm sure I'd like Carl if I watched "Walking Dead," since I often feel writers make shows boring by putting in whiny melodrama (like "House" - medical mysteries=awesome, inter-personal stories=yuck). Why does the public want everything to be like a soap?

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  17. Cynthia-Yeah, they seem to be winning by a landslide!

    Golden Eagle--yay for another fan of Chaos Walking! Loved those books! But HP is still my favorite too. :)

    Elise--Yeah, they are all fairly awesome.

    Jeff--Right. I guess you have a point there. :)

    Trisha--Arya is the only one giving the Potter trio a run for their money. haha

    Lexa--Hit Girl was awesome. Carl is too. Admittedly, he's only like twelve and he shot someone in "cold blood" People really didn't like that. BUT, he told the guy to drop the gun and guess what? The guy didn't drop the gun. If you're living in the apocalypse and anyone, even a twelve year old, has a gun to your head and tells you to drop your weapon, you drop it. When the guy didn't, Carl saw it as a threat and killed him. Period. Carl's all logic and coldness and people don't like him because of it, but it's the only way he can be if he wants to survive in the world he's growing up in.

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    1. Exactly -- it's an apocalypse, there are enemies everywhere, and only the tough survive. I get annoyed in shows where the psycho-killer has been chasing the mc forever, trying to kill him/her, and when the mc finally manages to knock out the enemy, he/she just runs away! And then -- surprise! -- the killer comes after them again. "C'mon, man!" (as they say in football, lol).

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