Literary March Madness: Vote for your Favorite “Supporting Character”

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Date Posted:  2/25/2025

The anticipated Literary March Madness is back and we’re shifting the spotlight to celebrate the unforgettable individuals who make protagonists stand out. From sidekicks to mentors, the "Best Supporting Character" bracket offers library goers the chance to vote for their favorite characters all month long.

This March, the library welcomes a bracket-style tournament—similar to the NCCA March Madness basketball tournament—with a bookish twist. Look for voting displays at all library locations to cast your ballot, check back weekly to see which literary characters advance, and vote again.

“Supporting characters are often the heart and soul of a book. They might not always get the main storyline, but their role is invaluable,” said DPL's Public Service Specialist Lead Brian Filsinger. “This bracket voting gives fans the chance to voice their appreciation for characters who make the protagonists’ journeys more memorable.”

Adults and children are invited to help decide which two characters will make it to the final round. Expect to see beloved children’s book characters as well as non-traditional characters. We’ve scoured the stacks for the most beloved figures that are integral to the plots we know and love. Come support your team and vote for your favorites weekly at Deschutes Public Library!

How to participate: Beginning March 3, customers can visit Deschutes Pubic Library locations to fill out a voting ballot at the display. On Saturdays, votes are counted and new brackets will be posted showing the winners. There will be five elimination rounds with new ballots available each week. The top two vote-getters will face off in the championship round during the week of March 31.

Voting Schedule for Literary March Madness

• Week 1 (March 3–8): First Round–32 characters
• Week 2 (March 10–15): Second Round–16 characters
• Week 3 (March 17–22): Third Round–8 characters
• Week 4 (March 24–29): Fourth Round–4 characters
• Week 5 (March 31–April 5): Championship Round–2 characters

Thirty-two Supporting Characters

1.Samwise Lord of the Rings
2. Rue The Hunger Games
3. Sergeant Davies Murder by Degrees
4. Brienne of Tarth A Song of Ice and Fire
5. Barb Johnson The Women
6. Lula Stephanie Plum
7. Ford Prefect The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
8. Dill Harris To Kill a Mockingbird
9. Sancho Panza Don Quixote
10. Dr. Watson Sherlock Holmes
11. Inigo Montoya The Princess Bride
12. Rhiannon Matthias Fourth Wing
13. Kakashi Naruto
14. Inej Ghafa Six of Crows
15. Magnus Bane The Shadowhunters
16. Sazed Mistborn
17. The Colonel Looking for Alaska
18. Bean Ender’s Game
19. Butler Artemis Fowl
20. Saphira Eragon
21. Ginny Weasley Harry Potter
22. Astrid How to Train Your Dragon
23. Diana Berry Anne of Green Gables
24. Robin Batman and Robin
25. Jim The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
26. Grover Percy Jackson
27. Grandpa Joe Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
28. Zero Holes
29. Cat Kid Dog Man
30. Thing Two The Cat in the Hat
31. Little John Robin Hood
32. Piglet Winnie the Pooh