Hey YA Readers!
Let’s do something different today, shall we?
I enjoy a good personality test, even though they’re quite limiting. I see many of them akin to astrology: fun, maybe a little insightful or thought-provoking, but not something by which I guide my life or make serious decisions. Some, such as Myers-Briggs, have a history in simply being made up for profit (see: The Personality Brokers).
For a long time, I mostly stuck with Myers-Briggs as my typing of choice because it made the most sense to me. But after reading more about Enneagram, I found it to be even more interesting. It’s got a little more flexibility, since you can land as one type but have characteristics of another, too.
Even more fun for me is thinking about what characters in books, movies, and other pop culture might be my “type.” Thanks to this database of personality types, I’ve pulled together a few characters from YA lit by their types. Agree? Disagree? This week’s newsletter looks at characters by Myers-Briggs. Next week, we’ll dive into Enneagram.
It’d definitely be worthwhile to check out the books featuring characters who share a personality type with your current favorite characters, too.
You can take your Myers-Briggs test here and your Enneagram test here, if you don’t know your typing yet.
Characters by Myers-Briggs Type
ISTJ (The Inspector)
- Chaol Westfall from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
- Abby Day from You Have a Match by Emma Lord
- Beka Cooper from the Tortall series by Tamora Pierce
- Khalid Ibn al-Rashid from The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
ISTP (The Crafter)
- Aristotle Mendoza from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- Kate Harker from This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
- Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore
- Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
ISFJ (The Protector)
- Adam Kent from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
- Alek from Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
- Harper from Cursebreakers by Brigid Kemmerer
- Lara Jean Covey from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
ISFP (The Artist)
- Vivian from Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
- Sophia Grimmins from Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
- Jane McKeene from Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
- Adelina Amouteru from The Young Elites by Marie Lu
INFJ (The Advocate)
- Andry Trelland from Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
- Frances Janvier from Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
- Lei from Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
- Lily Hu from Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
INFP (The Mediator)
- Devon from Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- Jacob Portman from Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
- Wren from Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
- Soraya from Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
INTJ (The Architect)
- Ishu from Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
- Alosa Kalligan from Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
- Avery Grambs from The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Alexander Brougham from Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
INTP (The Thinker)
- Aza Holmes from Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
- Stevie Bell from Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- Hazel Evans from The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
- Lou from Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
ESTP (The Persuader)
- Evie O’Neill from The Diviners by Libba Bray
- Rufus from They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
- Scarlet Benoit from Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
- Jesper Fahey from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
ESTJ (The Director)
- Juliette Cai from These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
- Charlotte Montrose from Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
- Margot Covey from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
- Marcus Farrar from An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
ESFP (The Performer)
- Bree from Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
- Julia Reyes from I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
- Lou le Blanc from Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
- Spensa Nightshade from Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
ESFJ (The Caregiver)
- Emilia Stozek from Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys
- Cassia Reyes from Matched by Ally Condie
- Tyler Jones from The Aurora Cycle by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
- Giselle from Tiny Pretty Things by Dhonielle Clayton aand Sona Charaipotra
ENFP (The Champion)
- Daniel Jae Ho Bae from The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- Donatella Dragna from Caraval by Stephanie Garber
- Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
- Enrique Mercado-Lopez from The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
ENFJ (The Giver)
- Starr Carter from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Felix Love from Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
- Jessica Darling from Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
- Jase Ballenger from Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
ENTP (The Debater)
- Nathaniel Thorn from Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
- Will Herondale from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
- Will Grayson from Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (but which one is up to you!)
- Ramson Quicktongue from Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao
ENTJ (The Commander)
- Bronwyn Rojas from One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
- Wu Zetian from Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
- Irene Abraham from She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
- June Iparis from Legend by Marie Lu
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
I’ve only read one of the books within my type and I can see the similarities between myself and the character. What about you?
Thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you later this week for your YA book news and new books.
Happy Reading!
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram.