Orphans are kind of awesome, y’all, at least according to some books. What’s better than a plucky, confident, self-sufficient orphan who knows how to survive in the face of adversity? Honestly, when you think about it, the orphans you often read about in books have the kind of qualities many of us look for in relationships. In real life, it’s not nearly so glamorous, but in our favorite books and fairy tales, you always know the orphan’s going to come out on top somehow. So, take a look at some seriously awesome orphans from the literary world and see what you think!

1. Huck Finn

Huckleberry Finn is unquestionably my favorite literary orphan of all time. I love this kid. He’s wily, wicked, and wonderful. He’s troublesome and charming, brave but vulnerable, and I’m sorry, but I think he could kick Tom Sawyer’s butt any day.