YA Books Hitting the Big Screens

Now I know this is a personal preference, but I love seeing books made into movies. Are you a fan or would you rather everyone leave well enough alone and let the books speak for themselves instead? I know that nine times out of ten the book is by far going to be better than the movie. I really don't think anything will ever compare to seeing and reading an authors words on a page and then turning it over in our imagination to paint our own picture so to speak. But with that being said, I still like to see my favorite books put up on the big screen. It's one more way that ensures I don't have to say goodbye to my favorite characters and their incredible worlds for just a little bit longer. I'll take that opportunity each and every time!

So when I heard that the film rights had been purchased for these YA titles I was over the moon excited! These are some of my favorite series, characters, worlds and authors out there at the moment and I couldn't be happier for them, or more thrilled that I'll get the chance along with all the other fans to see what the film studios can do with these works on the big screen. Are you with me?

First up we have: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

If you haven't read this one yet, you're really missing out on some great writing for starters. Not to mention the fabulous characters like Karou and Akiva, and so many more. But the idea that we'll get to see the wonderful places on the big screen that these characters travel to, and the creatures that surround them? Talk about a chance at winning for best costume design and makeup...wowser! There's so much room for their creative imaginations on this one that I can't even being to try and guess at what this movie would be like. But it's definitely one that I'll be getting advanced tickets for and making sure I've got a prime seat to take in all the magic and beauty! With Summit Entertainment taking the lead on this one and seeing what they've already done with the Twilight series, I think this one could definitely be a winner and a big money maker with all the fans already accumulated.

Next we've got: Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

While I haven't had the chance to read this one yet, I've heard nothing but positive feedback and am anxious to get started. It's been on my list for a while and since I'm always on the lookout for series or trilogies, this one sounds like it's right up my alley. And again, any excuse to see a young adult title that's produced so much hype to hit the movies is OK in my book. Have you guys read this title yet? Did you love it or was it just OK in your eyes? Are you anxious to see how they'll translate the material to film?

It was almost like waking up on Christmas morning when I saw that Matched (Matched Trilogy, #1) by Ally Condie would be optioned for film rights.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Who doesn't love this book and series? Condie is a magician when it comes to the written word. She strings scenarios and words together and has her readers feeling like they're not just reading her book but are actually in on the action themselves. I myself couldn't help but fall in love with all her characters. Cassia, Xander, Ky, they were all equally compelling and equally hard to resist. I'm anxious to see how she wraps things up in her third and finally installment in the Matched trilogy. Like always, when you know a final piece of the series puzzle is almost out and available, it's a double edged sword. Definitely a bitter pill to swallow when you know that after you've come to the last page in the book, that's all there is. No more installments, no more adventures for the characters, it's time to say goodbye so to speak. But with Disney optioning the rights to this series starter there is a glimmer on the horizon. Another chance to experience the series all over again and this time, we won't have to rely solely on our imaginations, but readers and fans will be able to see what they come up with and how they transfer Condie's world from the pages of her books to the movie screens!

And finally, we have Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver.

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Yet another one that I somehow managed to allow to slip through the cracks. I have no excuse or explanation, but can now say that I will be doing my darnedest to make sure I rectify this situation and quickly! I hate seeing a movie before I've read the book if there is one, and I refuse to let that happen in this situation. So I've got a goal and it's one I plan on accomplishing sooner rather than later. I haven't met anyone yet that has read Oliver's works and not become a fan. Honestly, if you've written or have read a negative review of Oliver's work I'd be curious to take a look, but for the most part I really haven't come across anyone who can say any different. From the sounds of things it's a book I would like, and one that could produce a roller coaster of emotions, stretching the span of all things the book describes as reasons the scientists are trying to get rid of love in the first place. So when Fox 2000 picked up the rights for this title I think there were many a happy fan out in the reading universe. I've heard that they've also arranged it so that they get a first look at all future titles that Oliver produces so that they can grab first dibs on them for movies/TV shows if they want them. Supposedly they are already in the middle of production on her Before I Fall title and this might mean that readers will be able to experience not just one Oliver YA movie, but two! How great is that!?

The future of movies is looking pretty good to me at this moment, wouldn't you agree? How can we get film companies to option the rights for all of our other YA favorites? Let's start setting that plan into motion immediately. Are there any YA titles that you'd like to see made into movies that aren't on this list or already in the works? I know my list would be long but I'd love to hear some of the titles that you'd be lining up at the movies to see.