If Anne Shirley could meet her literary counterparts, Jo March and Elizabeth Bennet, the irrepressible teen might declare them her kindred spirits.

All of these characters, who first graced book pages more than 100 years ago, are still beloved by generations of readers for their intellect, independence and, yes, their deeply romantic souls.

Jane Austen made Elizabeth famous as the feisty protagonist who meets her match in "Pride and Prejudice," published in 1813.

Jo is an aspiring writer in "Little Women," a tale inspired by author Louisa May Alcott’s own experience and set in Civil War-era Boston.

And Anne, a Canadian orphan with an overactive imagination, was created by L.M. Montgomery and introduced in 1908 with the first book in a series, "Anne of Green Gables."

A relative newcomer to the club of popular fictional heroines is Nancy Drew, who first appeared in 1930 and is continuously revised by authors to make her relevant to contemporary readers. Recently, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor added their names to the long list of high-profile women who have said they were fans of the teen sleuth.

To understand why such characters still inspire so many readers, we asked some local bibliophiles to chat about their favorites:

Katharine Ings, associate professor of English at Manchester College: I loved Nancy Drew, too. Carolyn Keene positioned her as a motherless daughter, which meant that Nancy developed a precocious independence, though her father and housekeeper were never too far away. But this young woman had to teach herself lessons that she probably would have learned from her mother, so there was something very strong, but also vulnerable, about her.

Nancy was also positioned as an Everywoman. Her two best friends represented extremes of femininity – the plump and pretty Bess, the athletic tomboy George – but Nancy’s sensible yet daring character served as a bridge between them. And, of course, Nancy used her wits and her smarts, which is something that continues to appeal to young and older women. Nobody had to save her.

My other literary heroine touchstone is "Anne of Green Gables," partly because I was born on Prince Edward Island and Anne is in my DNA, but also because Anne’s magical imagination transported her during her difficult early life in foster homes and ultimately transformed the somewhat narrow-minded community into which she was adopted.

She taught people to stretch, to see their landscape and its people differently, more beautifully. And, of course, she did so while getting into many comic scrapes.

Author Shirley Jump: For me, it’s Jane Eyre. I’m a huge (Charlotte) Brontë fan, and have read "Jane Eyre" several times. … I love her quiet strength, the way that she perseveres despite a difficult childhood and a society that is against her, and that she has a way of standing up to Rochester without being argumentative or mean. She’s the kind of woman you might miss in a crowd, but if you had the opportunity to sit down and talk with her, you would be amazed at how luminescent she was inside.

I think that these books persevere because the women in them are timeless. (Finding) strength in difficult circumstances is a skill all young women need to learn, and reading about a woman who maintained that during a time when women were barely given a voice in society makes you realize how much more power women have within their grasp.

I find my own (teenage) daughter reading many of the books I used to love – "Wuthering Heights" is next on her list – and enjoying them for many of the same reasons I did. It’s not just about the stories; it’s about people who endure because they are powerfully drawn and powerful in the lives the author has created.

Steve Ankenbruck, library media specialist at North Side High School: Holden Caulfield from "Catcher in the Rye." I think the book is still being used in many English classes, so kids still read about him and identify with his idealist attitude. Plus, the fact that the book has been banned in many regions makes it a cool read for kids.

Ebenezer Scrooge: A personal favorite holiday character that everyone knows about. The idea of Scrooge redeeming himself still resonates with people today. I still like the movie versions that remain true to Dickens’ original writing. Younger folks may think of Ralphie from Jean Shepherd’s "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" (on which the movie "A Christmas Story" is based). … I think the Ralphie character will endure because of the film.

(Ankenbruck also notes that detectives Sherlock Holmes and the Hardy Boys still are popular with many readers).

Summer Moser, owner of Summer’s Stories in Kendallville: I have to go with Elizabeth Bennet (in "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen). She was just independent in a time when that wasn’t normal. I want my daughter … to have those values and that independence.

Mr. Darcy … was reserved, but he knew his own mind, he knew what he wanted. … He was very gentlemanly and chivalrous.

I like the values and the way they went about relationships, their attitudes. You don’t see that in young people today, which is sad.

I think it’s a great book for men and women. People will always read Jane Austen and love (her work); it’s timeless.

Author-poet Helen Frost: I remember loving "Little Women." (Someone should do a Facebook quiz, "Which Little Woman Are You?" – or, more likely, someone already has.) I identified most strongly with Jo. I wonder if everyone does – her strong spirit, love for her sisters (though occasional exasperation with her family, too), her willingness to try new things.

I loved "The Black Stallion" books.

I loved Polly Pepper in "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" for how she rose to every occasion, Anne Shirley in "Anne of Green Gables" for her funny feistiness, Mary in "The Secret Garden."

Author-illustrator Claire Ewart: I’d have to say that the character most influencing me from an early age has been Black Beauty (a horse).

Certainly my lifelong concern for humane treatment of animals, for habitat protection, and … my focus on combating climate change all owe something to my introduction at a young age to the terrible suffering described in "Black Beauty" – a story that, unfortunately, was far from fantasy when it was written by Anna Sewell (and published in 1877).

sscarlett@jg.net