In case you haven’t noticed, Hollywood has become completely entranced by film adaptations of popular Young Adult books as of late, because MONEY. From dystopian sci-fi worlds like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” to more weighted-in-reality fare like “The Fault in our Stars,” teens — and of course, adults who are teens at heart — come out in droves for a solid big screen remake of a beloved Young Adult book.
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… Which is great and all, but we won’t be completely satisfied until Hollywood takes these seven YA treasures — some well-known, some virtually erased from the public’s consciousness due to the cruel passage of time — and turns them into movie gold:
1. “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli
Scholastic
How this 2000 book has not been adapted yet is beyond us. Its titular character is quirky, kind, and insanely lovable, as its narrator’s internal struggle between accepted his first love for who she is and succumbing to soul-sucking popularity has already resonated with millions of teens (and adults) worldwide.
2. “Time Windows” by Kathryn Reiss
Harcourt Children’s Books
This book, in which a girl’s dollhouse serves as a window into the terrifying lives of her new home’s previous occupants, features a well-structured mystery that would translate very nicely to the big screen.
3. “Song of the Lioness” Series, by Tamora Pierce
Atheneum Books
Pierce’s series of book about Alanna of Trebond, a young noble who escapes her courtly life by switching places with her twin brother, is an embarrassment of riches. She’s basically Arya Stark without the adult themes of the “Song of Ice and Fire” universe, which would make her an instantly likable heroine for movie-goers.
4. “The Wind Singer” Series, by William Nicholson
Hyperion Books
“The Wind Singer,” the first book in Nicholson’s “Wind on Fire” series, introduces us to the fascinating dystopian world of Aramanth, but also the brave Hath siblings in their attempt to find the key to the Wind Signer. It’s one part “1984,” one part “Lord of the Rings,” and all parts awesome.
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5. “Galax-Arena” by Gillian Rubenstein
Simon & Schuster
It’s hard to deny that Suzanne Collins was very likely inspired by “Arena,” which also stars a group of terrified kids performing stunts in a death arena. These kids, however, aren’t watched by alien-looking folks from the Capitol so much as actual aliens, who kidnapped them.
6. “Enchanted Forest Chronicles,” by Patricia C. Wrede
HMH Books
Cimorene is another tough-yet-lovable fantasy heroine, who lives in a medieval world filled with dragons, knights, wizards, and magic frogs. It’s hilarious and satirical, which could be a breath of fresh air for the often self-serious YA movie universe.
7. “House of Stairs” by William Sleator
Penguin
Dystopian? Check. A bunch of teens navigating a terrifying, deadly new environment that involves endless staircases, starvation, and horrifying blinking lights? Double check. Weird gender politics? Oh yes, CHECK. This book is from 1974 (hence the blurry photo) so it might not seem ripe for modern-day children, but its themes are eerily similar to the same YA tropes we know and love in modern day.
Got a favorite unadapted YA novel? Let us know in the comments below!
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