Literary Dad Goals: The Fictional Unsung Hero Dads Who Deserve a Father’s Day Shoutout by Sarah E. Burr

Happy Father’s Day, Writers Who Kill! I’m taking back the reins from my character Winnie Lark and her “Off the Page” interviews to share my annual Father’s Day blog post.

In the past, I’ve shared stories about my own wonderful father and the fictional fathers we all adore. For this year’s post, I wanted to highlight the fathers or father figures who are often overlooked by the literary world. Remember, not all heroes wear capes. Some wear sweater vests, tell you to eat your vegetables, and warn you about the dangers of solving mysteries. In the pages of fiction, we meet many famous father figures, but today I’m raising a virtual glass to the unsung literary dads. These are the overlooked, the quiet champions, the lovable oddballs who make fictional childhoods feel like home.

Here are some of my favorite literary, under-the-radar dads (and dad-like legends) who have delighted me throughout the years.

 

Mr. Nicolson (From Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison)
This hilarious, coming-of-age series defined my tween years. While Georgia Nicolson is off chasing boys and navigating the deeply traumatic trauma of eyebrow shaping, her dad is the unsung comedic relief and emotional grounding force. He’s awkward, exasperated, and wonderfully loving, even when Georgia thinks he’s the most embarrassing person on Earth. Mr. Nicolson is a reminder that not all heroes are smooth. Some are just endearingly supportive in the face of teen chaos.

 

Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (From the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind)

One of my favorite characters of all time, Zedd is a wizard, an eccentric mentor, and main character Richard’s surrogate father. Zedd may be more of a magical grump than a gentle cuddler, but his love for Richard is fierce, protective, and surprisingly tender beneath the sass and fireballs. Every chosen hero needs a wise, old guide, and Zedd fills that role with paternal pride.

 

Matthew Cuthbert (From Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery)

Matthew didn’t plan on raising a red-headed whirlwind, but once Anne Shirley entered his life, he quietly gave her his whole heart. His shy smiles, wordless support, and puffed sleeve heroics made him a father in the truest sense. Matthew proves that the softest hearts often make the strongest dads.

 

Bob Cratchit (From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)
While he often stands in Scrooge’s shadow, Bob Cratchit is one of literature’s most quietly courageous fathers. Though poor in coin, he is rich in kindness, spirit, and resilience. His love for his family is unwavering. Bob represents the dads who hold their families together with hope, a warm hearth, and possibly a plum pudding or two.

 

Fenton Hardy (From the Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon)

A retired detective-turned-private investigator, Fenton Hardy is the reason Frank and Joe are always hot on the trail of suspicious ne'er-do-wells. He encourages his sons’ sleuthing (a questionable parenting choice, but I love it), offers sage advice, and intervenes when things get dangerously real. Fenton is a rare kind of mystery dad who respects his kids' curiosity and always has their backs.

 

Chief Brown (From the Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol)

Chief Brown might be Idaville’s top lawman, but he’s also the supportive dad of boy-genius Encyclopedia Brown. He doesn’t hover or micromanage. Instead, he trusts his son’s sharp mind and lets him help solve neighborhood crimes (the '60s sound wild). Chief Brown is the kind of dad who encourages independence while always being just a phone call away from backup.

 

Henry & Grandfather Alden (From the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner)

At the start of this children's series, Henry steps in as the de facto dad for his siblings, protecting and providing for them with bravery and hot stew. Later, when they reunite with Grandfather Alden—a once-feared figure turned loving patriarch—the series gains not one but two wonderful father figures. Grandfather Alden transforms into the cozy granddad of dreams. He is kind, present, and always ready to help solve a mystery with cookies at the ready.

 

These father figures may not be on every “Best Dad in Fiction” list, but they deserve all the love, books, and maybe a fresh pair of socks. Whether they’re solving crimes, raising rambunctious kids, or just quietly being there with a mug of cocoa, these dads are the literary glue that holds their fictional families together.

To all the dads who taught us, protected us, and made us laugh—thank you. We see you. We appreciate you. And we wish you a Happy Father’s Day!

 

Which underrated literary dad melts your heart?