Jo, Beth, Amy, or Meg?

Last night I was reading a creepy, haunting book on my subway ride home — it was so scary, and so real, that I walked home covered in a layer of fear, as though the book were real, and all the ghost-y things were happening not to the characters, but to me.

When a book is good, it feels real. And the same is true with literary characters — when they’re written so well, they feel like actual people. And sometimes, our favorites are just the friends we need.

Do you have a literary best friend? I asked all the OOMers who there’s would be. (You know, if they were real.) Here’s what they said:

• Megan: Jo from Little Women. She’s got spunk. (“Though she makes her sisters dress up as men, which I’m not that excited about,” says Megan.)
• Michael: It’s a toss-up between Neville Longbottom (from the Harry Potter series), Meg Murry (from A Wrinkle in Time), or Marley Sandelski (from Lisa Yee’s Warp Speed). Neville because of his loyalty and bravery; Meg for showing those same qualities; and Marley for geeking out on Star Trek!
• Alex: Willy Wonka. Because CHOCOLATE.
• Dante: Encyclopedia Brown for being smart, cool, and taking down bullies, or Jay Gatsby, because PARTIES.
• Lauren: the Wakefield twins! Elizabeth is the perfect bestie to have for studying and hosting book clubs, but Jessica is the best for hanging out at the mall.
• Nadia: all of the members of The Baby-sitters Club, because they’re fun, loyal, trustworthy girls — just what every pre-teen needs.

I definitely have some literary besties, too. Ellen Olenska from The Age of Innocence for her world experience and empathy; Rachel and Hilary from Dancing Shoes for their thoughtfulness and deep sisterly love; and Massie Block from The Clique series (because everyone needs a frenemy). How about you?