Young adult (YA) fiction has come a long way from simply being stories about high school to stories about characters overcoming different challenges without losing who they are or what they believe in. These characters are not necessarily perfect, but they have certain traits that parents would want to encourage in their children: bravery, loyalty, kindness, and integrity, to name a few--and they don't all have to wield a sword to prove that.

Below are 20 characters from YA fiction with traits (and more) that parents can recommend to their children.

For more about books, check out these FN links:

• Beyond Twilight: 30 Young Adult Reads for Tweens, Teens, and Teens at Heart
• FN Bookshelf: 25 Christmas Books for Kids
• FN Bookshelf: 15 Books that Influenced Us as Children
• Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Over 50 Books for Kids, Teens, and Adults