YA fiction keeps finding its way to the silver screen with adaptations galore, including The Fault In Our Stars, The Giver and most recently The Maze Runner. Although newer titles have been getting the most attention, there is a wealth of awesome young adult novels from years past that would also make excellent movies. Here are some nominations for old-school titles that have the potential to become Hollywood hits ... plus some stars who could shine in starring roles.
Hatchet
By Gary Paulsen
If you're of a certain age, chances are good this YA classic was required reading in school. It's the ultimate survival tale, with 13-year-old Brian Robeson enduring the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. There's plenty of action, from a dramatic emergency plane landing to the many challenges he faces in the wild. In addition, there’s the underlying turmoil of his parents' recent divorce. Armed with only a hatchet, he faces it all.
Who should star: Asa Butterfield, best known for his roles in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Ender's Game, would make a great Brian. Since most of the story focuses on Brian while he's totally alone in the woods, Asa's strong acting skills would certainly help him carry the role.
A Wrinkle in Time
By Madeleine L'Engle
This classic science fiction YA novel from the ‘60s has plenty of the elements of a great movie -- an epic battle between good and evil, a mysterious missing father, travel around the universe and the devotion of an older sister to her younger brother. In addition to being a great story, there's a lot of potential for some really fantastic special effects when it comes to Meg and Charles Wallace's travels to planets far and wide.
Who should star: It would take just the right actress to play Meg, who feels like a misfit in middle school but is wise beyond her years. Elle Fanning would be a great choice for this very special character.
Emily of New Moon
by L.M. Montgomery
Anyone who grew up reading Anne of Green Gables will immediately recognize the author of this book. It’s the story of Emily Starr, a young girl sent to live with her relatives at New Moon Farm when her father dies of tuberculosis. In addition to adjusting to her new life and new caretakers, Emily dreams of becoming a writer during a time when that profession was not exactly welcoming to women. Although at first glance Emily might seem to have a lot of similarities to Anne, the characters are very different. Emily's story has much darker elements, which would make a great movie for today's teens.
Who should star: Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams would be a perfect fit for Emily--she's already proven she can play a strong female character with her portrayal of Arya Stark. And her special brand of spunk could be a great fit for the times when Emily stands up for what she believes in.
The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen
Romance, tragedy, comedy--this book has it all as teenager Macy Queen deals the sudden loss of her father, holding two summer jobs and falling in love. This book reads so much like a teen romance movie that we're just waiting to hear it's in development.
Who should star: Will we ever get tired of Shailene Woodley? Don’t think so. She is quickly becoming the queen of teen movies and her experience playing characters dealing with tragedy would make her a great Macy Queen.
What are some of your favorite YA books that would make great films?
-- Jennifer Gilbert
Jennifer Gilbert has been writing professionally for more than 10 years, with topics including everything from parenting to candy manufacturing. She, her husband and two kids live in the Chicagoland area.
