There should be elves. Where are the elves?

Hero Girl AND my wife

Alright, one more on the Polar Express characters; I could go on and on about all of them, but Hero Girl really is something else. I really like her character and believe she’s a great example and role model for little girls, and boys too for that matter.

Like most of the children on The Polar Express, she isn’t named, although she’s sometimes referred to as Holly in off-screen materials. Throughout their adventures, she becomes Hero Boy’s best friend and teaches him one or two things about leadership, self-worth, and compassion. Not to mention that most important science—believing in the spirit of Christmas!

Just like Hero Boy, Hero Girl is on her own journey of growth and development. She starts out as kind of timid but grows in confidence and ability, finally being recognised as a natural born leader. We can see this when the conductor stamps “lead” into her ticket. In addition to being a leader, she’s also kind, brave and smart. She takes care of the lonely boy, Billy, and stands up for Hero Boy when he’s being scolded. At one point we see her left in charge of driving the train —a pretty big responsibility for a child in my opinion—, proving how capable she is.

I really hope that what she represents rubs off on my boys. She’s a relatable example of what leadership looks like, and demonstrates how using your wits can get you out of a difficult situation. One of her quotes from the movie has actually become a staple in our home. My wife can often be heard saying, “There should be elves. Where are the elves?” when there’s work to be done and she finds herself alone. It’s a good way for me and the boys to find out that she needs our help with something, often something overlooked or related to a forgotten chore. Usually, it means that this elf has to do some chopping or peeling, not so much in the line of toy-making or joy-bringing.