What do bestsellers Life of Pi and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone have in common? They don’t pass the Bechdel test, which determines women representation in films, books, and more. To pass the test, popularized by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, a work of fiction needs to 1) have two women with names who 2) talk to each other about 3) something other than a man. It’s surprising how many books and movies don’t meet these qualifications, but we’ve rounded up 30 amazing books that do! From The Hunger Games to Jane Eyre, these female-centric books are sure to empower, inspire, and engage. Happy 2020 Reading Challenge!
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes