Admit it, your high school lunch period was pretty awkward if you weren’t sitting with your friends or at least someone who was a good laugh and could ease any table tension. When I saw this topic listed for Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish, I jumped at making my own list because, clearly, I take lunch tables way too seriously.

1. Fred and George Weasley (Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling) – I’m counting these two as one character because you simply cannot separate them. I think that eating lunch with the twins would be so fun, even though it may very likely lead to a food fight or two. They would be the ones making lunch entertaining and would have Mrs. Weasley’s homemade food to pass around the table – their presence is a win-win!

2. Philippa Gordon (Anne of the Island, by L.M. Montgomery) – Phil is a social butterfly who is perfectly content to hang out with bookish and imaginative Anne Shirley in Montgomery’s third book of the Green Gables series. Having her at the table would ensure many visits from those cute football players and catching up with all of the school gossip. Plus, Phil is just a big hoot, and I feel that she would either be greatly amused or greatly horrified by the Weasley twins.

3. Millicent Min (Millicent Min, Girl Genius, by Lisa Yee) – Millicent is a child prodigy who is only twelve years old by the time she’s entering her senior year of high school. As a kid reading this book, I felt such sympathy for Millicent because my middle school self could definitely relate to her social problems. I would take her in and be thrilled over the thought of having someone to discuss classic literature with at lunch. We would probably strike up a deal in which she tutors me in trig in exchange for me baking her cookies.

4. Patrick (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky) – Patrick is just a wonderful, happy soul who would always have a crazy story about his weekend to tell at Monday lunch. My high school friend group and I were a wee bit eccentric and always in our own little world, so I definitely relate to the friends in Perks and feel that Patrick would be the most fun to have at the table.

5. Spencer Martin (Suite Scarlett, by Maureen Johnson) – I definitely had a crush on Scarlett’s big brother Spencer while reading this book. He is a struggling actor who prides himself on his physical comedy skills and is always around to listen to Scarlett’s problems. I’d want him at the table for some flirting and stories about his family’s hotel, and he’d probably get along great with Fred and George.

6. Skeeter Phelan (The Help, by Kathryn Stockett) – Skeeter is perceptive and passionate and loves to write. We would probably get along very well and be those girls debating about a controversial Tumblr post we saw the night before. She’d be rectifying any rumors Phil has heard and set the story straight. Skeeter also isn’t afraid to say what she thinks, so she’d be the one to put the boys in their place if they were getting too crazy.

7. Etienne St. Clair (Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins) – Girls, come on! I am definitely not alone in this pick! St. Clair is likeable, intellectual, and has quite the swoon-worthy accent. He could entertain us with stories of his travels and he is definitely a popular addition that Phil Gordon would be thrilled to have. My theme with this post seems to be creating the table everyone would want to be at.

8. Claudia Kishi (The Baby-Sitters Club series, by Ann M. Martin) – Claudia would always have a candy stash hidden in her lunchbox and be more than happy to share these goodies. Plus, the girl has an eye for fashion and would definitely help me figure out what to wear for Friday’s big dance. I feel like sitting with her would be like a kinder episode of Fashion Police as she observes the outfits of students passing by.

9. Mia Thermopolis (Princess Diaries series, by Meg Cabot) – I tried very hard to make a list that did not include Mia, but I just couldn’t do it. She is someone who has also spent time writing about what went down at lunch, so I know she too would appreciate this well-crafted group. She would lead the discussions on the latest episodes of TV and I think her tendency to be a little high-strung would be balanced out by Claudia and Phil’s easygoing natures. She’d probably have tofu for lunch and be teased by the twins about it.
10. Ethan Figman (The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer) – Ethan is an animator who is always sketching and creating whimsical worlds. I think he would be the quietest at this lunch table and keep to himself while drawing away. I would just love to observe him doing his thing in a loud and buzzing atmosphere like a school cafeteria. Plus, he is characterized as a very sweet and understanding individual, so when he is contributing to group conversation, I think he would be such a great addition.

Who would be at your lunch table?