Books for Teens Who Love Movies

The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in an idyllic community. There’s no hunger, no war, no divorce—and no freedom of choice. Citizens are assigned everything from a career to a spouse and must accept what they’re given without question. But when Jonas is singled out for a special role, the Receiver of Memory, he begins to understand the secrets that lie behind his community’s fragile peace.

Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive, by Laura Hillenbrand
Louis Zamperini was an Olympic athlete and WWII pilot who survived weeks on a life raft in the Pacific only to be captured by the Japanese and taken prisoner of war. The movie version of Unbroken, based on the book about Zamperini’s life by Laura Hillenbrand, is due for release on Christmas Day. Also new this holiday season is the YA adaptation of Unbroken, an approachable take on the original that captures every bit of Zamperini’s gutsy spirit.

The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Teenagers in the totalitarian country Panem face a brutal yearly lottery, the losers forced to fight to the death in a televised spectacle. When Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister, Prim, is chosen to represent her district, Katniss volunteers to take her place, and though faced with bigger, tougher opponents, becomes an unlikely champion. But with rebellion in the air, the Games are far from the greatest danger she must face. The trilogy’s conclusion, Mockingjay, is packed with so much edge-of-your-seat action that Lionsgate couldn’t fit it all into one movie (Mockingjay: Part I  is out in November).

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien
More than 75 years after The Hobbit first appeared in print, Bilbo Baggins remains one of fantasy’s best loved characters. Maybe that’s because, as a humble homebody, he’s not your typical hero. Or maybe it’s because he grows and matures throughout his adventures. It’s said that Tolkien’s experiences as a soldier in WWI did much to shape the story, but along with its thrilling battle scenes, The Hobbit also carries a powerful message of friendship. If you know a book lover who hasn’t yet discovered the magic of Middle-earth, now’s the time.

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
Who doesn’t love a love story, especially one with the chutzpah to tackle questions of life, death, and the meaning of it all? Hazel and Augustus meet in an unusual place for teenagers: a cancer support group. Both are smart, quirky people who refuse to let their diseases define them. When Augustus finds out Hazel’s favorite author lives in Amsterdam, he promptly vows to take her on a quest to find him. Get ready to cheer on these soul mates—and pack plenty of tissues.

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
“Blood. It is everywhere. It does not faze the doctors one bit. They slice and sew through a river of it, like they are washing dishes in soapy water.” Feeling quite calm, seventeen-year-old Mia describes what she sees in the operating room where a team of doctors works heroically to save a girl’s life. The hook? Mia is that girl, the victim of a car accident that has killed her parents. Caught between life and death for the span of a single day, she has a huge choice to make.

The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
Dystopian fans will eat up this fast-paced thriller with echoes of both The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies. Thomas wakes up in an elevator unable to remember anything but his name. He’s arrived at a grim zone known as the Glade, where none of his fellow captives have memories and the only escape route is through a vast, ever-changing maze. Problem is, no one’s ever made it out alive.

The Scorch Trials, by James Dashner
Due to hit theaters in September 2015, this sequel to The Maze Runner features Game of Thrones costars Nathalie Emmanuel and Aidan Gillen. Be sure to read the book first, because the twisty plot will keep you guessing. When Thomas wakes up outside the maze, he knows he’s not out of trouble yet, considering his eerie new tattoo (“To Be Killed By Group B”) and those awful screams he hears…

Paper Towns, by John Green
A mystery that weaves together first love, travel, and Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, this book is perfect for anyone who gobbled up The Fault in Our Stars. Quentin’s been in love with wild child Margo for as long as he can remember. Then she disappears, leaving a trail of clues behind her, and as high school ends, Quentin’s search begins. Where—and who—is Margo?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
Jacob is recovering from a family tragedy when he finds the ruins of a sinister home for orphans, one whose young inhabitants disappeared years ago and were never heard from again. As he wanders the dust-shrouded rooms, Jacob starts to suspect those “peculiar” children are very much alive, and right beside him. With Tim Burton directing the forthcoming movie, you can bet the visuals will be amazing. Read Miss Peregrine first (and check out the creepy found photographs included in its pages) and have all the fun of picturing it yourself before you see it brought to life on the big screen.

The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey
In the wake of a devastating alien invasion that throws mankind back to the Stone Age, 16-year-old Cassie has remained alive by remaining alone. That is, until she meets Evan, an enigmatic survivor who may offer her the best chance of saving her brother and herself—if she can trust him. With monsters that look just like people and an assassin hot on her trail, Cassie finds that trusting the wrong person could cost her her life.
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