Category: General

If you had to think about young adult books that were turned into movies, chances are Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Twilight are some of the first titles that pop into your head. There are many mainstream novels that have had film adaptations. This list is the opposite of that. Here are ten lesser-known young adult book-to-film adaptations.

Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson    

  

Speak is the 1999 book and the 2004 movie starring Kristen Stewart. The book/movie is about high school freshman Melinda Sordino. Melinda stops speaking and becomes isolated after she busts the end-of-summer high school party by calling the cops. Nobody will talk to her or acknowledge her. Only art class gives her some relief and therapy. There she is able to work through what really happened at that party, that an upperclassman raped her and is still a threat to her daily life. While trying to heal, Melinda learns the importance of speaking up for yourself.

The Spectacular Now –  Tim Tharp 

  

The Spectacular Now is the 2010 book and 2013 movie of the same name featuring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. This is the story of Sutter Keely: he’s a people person, the type of guy everyone wants at their party. He has no plans for college or work; he’s happy as long as he has plenty of ladies and Seagram’s. This all changes when he wakes up on a strange lawn, Aimee’s front lawn. Aimee is the opposite of Sutter, a social disaster. Sutter decides it up to him to show Aimee a good time and then let her go. But before he knows it, Sutter is in over his head. He realizes he can make a difference in someone else’s life or ruin it forever.

The Fallen – Lauren Kate 

 

Fallen is the 2009 book and 2017 movie of the same name. The movie features Jeremy Irvine, Addison Timlin and Harrison Gilbertson. The story follows Lucinda, “Luce”, Price as she arrives at the Sword and Cross boarding school for troubled teens. She meets some other students at the school, but she is instantly drawn to Daniel. He seems so familiar to her. Daniel, however, wants nothing to do with Luce, and he makes that clear to her. Luce will do whatever it takes to find out what Daniel is hiding from her, even if it kills her.

Cirque Du Freak – Darren Shan 

  

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare is book one in the Darren Shan saga. The Vampire’s Assistant is the 2009 movie based on the books, starring John C. Reily, Josh Hutcherson, and Chris Massoglia.  When the freak show Cirque Du Freak comes to town, Darren and his friend Steve sneak out to attend a show. In the middle of the show, Steve realizes one of the performers is a vampire. Steve stays after to confront the vampire while Darren hides in the shadows watching. Soon Darren is in the middle of the dark and dangerous world of vampires and monsters.

Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 

  

Wuthering Heights is the 1847 novel and 2003 made for TV movie starring Erika Christensen and Mike Vogel. This is Emily Bronte’s only published novel,  a passionate love story between Catherine and Heathcliff. After Heathcliff’s adopted father’s death, he is bullied by Catherine’s brother. Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights but returns years later. He is now a wealthy man who seeks revenge for the past wrongdoings done to him. The movie is a modern twist on this classic tale.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky  

  

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the title of both this classic teen novel and the 2012 movie, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. Charlie is a high school freshman that is dealing with his best friend’s suicide while managing his mental illness. Sam and Patrick are two high school seniors who decide to take Charlie under their wing and show them what real life truly is.

Stardust – Neil Gaiman 

  

Stardust is the fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman and 2007 movie of the same name. The movie features Michelle Pfeifer, Dustin Hoffman, Charlie Cox, and Claire Danes.  The story follows young Tristan (Tristran in the book) and his adventures in the land of Faerie. Tristan has fallen in love with Victoria, and as a birthday gift offers to go fetch a fallen star on the other side of the wall.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl – Jesse Andrews 

  

This book and 2015 movie of the same title stars Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, and Olivia Cooke.  Greg is a part of every social group at school without having any actual friends. That is, until his mom makes him befriend Rachel. Rachel is a girl he used to go to Hebrew school with who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

Vampire Academy – Richelle Mead 

  

Vampire Academy is the first book in the Vampire Academy series; the movie was released in 2014, featuring Lucy Fry and Dominic Sherwood. Vampire Princess Lissa and her guardian in-training Rose return to St. Vladimir’s Academy after a horrible incident made then run two years ago. One is focusing on mastering magic while the other studies physical training while trying to avoid the cliques, gossip, and plots of the other students.

I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith 

  

This 1948 book and 2003 movie starring Romola Garaj and Bill Nighy tell the story of Cassandra.  For six months of 1934, Cassandra tries to hone her writing skills. She fills her journals and notebooks full of stories of her rundown family castle home and her poor family.  By the time she writes her last entry, Cassandra’s life has changed greatly. The most important change is falling in love.

 

Hello, teens! It is I, your humble teen librarian, Ashley! This blog is a synopsis of my year, where I challenged myself to read 100 books. 100 books! I thought it sounded crazy at first also, but that’s why I kept telling as many people as would listen about my reading challenge. Constantly telling others that “I AM” doing this was a great way for me to hold myself accountable. Now December is here, and I’ve read 93 books! I hope my 100 book reading adventure will inspire you to read more!

Why I decided to make this my goal

This was such a great experience. I know I sound like a broken record with the whole, “23 year old librarian discovers reading” narrative, although I realized that in and after college, I don’t remember reading a single book for fun. Working in the Teen Room changed that for me.

With recommending books as such a big part of my new job, I really wanted to read more and know the collection of books I had around me. With all of the new YA books, manga, and graphic novels coming in every month, I started accumulating name after name of books and authors I wanted to read.

Not to mention, at this time in 2018, my favorite Youtuber Pewdiepie was also doing monthly book reviews and talking about all the great experiences he was having from reading again. After his book review video in December, “720 Books in a Year” (which was clickbait; he read 72 books in the year), I was amazed at the idea of somebody reading 70 books in a year when I hadn’t even read one. I thought to myself, “If the person with the biggest channel on Youtube can find time to read 70 books, I’ve got to be able to read 100”.  And so I had a New Year’s resolution; in 2019, I was going to read 100 books.

How I managed my reading

By doing some simple math, I calculated if I monitor myself and keep on a schedule where I read about 7-10 books a month, I would make it to 100 by January. So that’s what I did. Just like you teens do with summer reading, I logged everything, kept track of what I have read and still want to read with a continuously growing “want to read” list. And now it’s December, and I will meet my goal.

I bet you’re still wondering how I made time to sit down and read about 9 books a month. My secret? I didn’t. In case you haven’t been keeping up with these blog posts, a library has so many more resources than just your standard books. We also have audiobooks, eaudiobooks, Playaways, graphic novels, manga, NoFear classics, along with graphic novel classic remakes.

The app I used to listen to most of my eaudiobooks was Libby, which is amazing and free to anyone with a library card. On Libby, you can read or listen to the most recent audiobooks wherever you want, at the speed you set, without fines, and without using data after downloading your book. For those of you who say that they don’t have time to read, I would respond with, “you likely have time to listen”. I listen to books everywhere! Any little downtime where I have a quiet break when I’m alone, I always have a great story to listen to.

To address some more assumptions, before you think that all I did was listen to books, that’s not true either. I happen to be a rather audible and visual learner, so eaudiobooks work really well for me along with graphic novels. Don’t get me wrong, I can sit down and binge a chapter book when I want to, but with holding myself to such a tight schedule it was a lot easier to listen to eaudiobooks in my down time.

One more note on my reading schedule: with 100 books at about 9 a month, you may think I was reading constantly; but again, not the case. I mainly binged through some really captivating books on the weekends, then throughout the week I’d just listen to a book or read when I felt like it; but by all means, I had a lot of time to still do the regular stuff I enjoy doing. I could still binge shows and anime with my friends, and the pressure of 100 books was never too overwhelming. My reading goals were always on my mind, but it really didn’t make too much extra work for me or take away from my day to day tasks. I found that making a “want to read list” really kept me on track and excited about what was next to come. It’s a small thing, but the feeling of crossing a book off of your list once you’ve read it is so satisfying.

You can too!

I know with so many different social media platforms out there and so much new content readily available, reading seems to be a thing of the past for a lot of people, or something strictly done for academics; but I’m here to remind you that it’s not. Reading is still amazing and easier than ever to get in touch with, not to mention it’s free to all with a library card!

This year, I read so many books that I always wanted to read, and I am so happy for that. I got to get in the minds of teens, kids, and some of the best authors I’ve had the pleasure of being introduced to.

My favorite kinds of YA books to read are historic fictions, remade classics, autobiographies, books with characters of different diversities, books in verse, and books with the topic of mental health.

Some of my favorite books I read were The Poet X, Ban This Book, The Disaster Artist, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fish in a Tree, Grenade, and Mary’s Monster.

I’m super happy I am going to reach my goal of 100 books in a year, although next year I’m going to give myself a little break and tone it down to 50 books. On that note, when was the last time you read a book for fun? Between school, homework, and whatever other events you are involved with, I know you can get pretty drained; however, I highly encourage you to try to find a book to read for fun. Whether it be a manga, graphic novel, biography, audiobook, etc., there is an amazing book out there waiting for you to find it. And a great place to start is the library!

 

Hate exists in this world. We have all felt it, and sadly, we have most likely all perpetuated it at some point in some capacity. With the anniversary of  9/11, a true testament to the powerfully destructive force that is hate, upon us once more, it feels like a most poignant time to reflect upon hate and the intolerance and fear it facilitates, and conversely, and much more importantly, to reflect on its counter, love, and the tolerance and compassion it facilitates.

Our library shelves are littered with books telling stories steeped in hate. And reading them serves us. We do not need firsthand experience to learn lessons. When we read, we step into another world, we feel that world and when we leave it, we take with us the lessons and knowledge we gained while in it and can apply them to our own worlds.

Hate is run amok on the other side of our planet presently, driven by the same fear laden intolerance that exploded the Twin Towers here 17 year ago. Families torn apart, people brutally raped and murdered, lives destroyed. The three following books bring you into that world. We encourage you to be brave and go there from the safety of your own mind.

A Cave in the Clouds: A Young Woman’s Escape from ISIS by Badeeah Hassan AhmedA Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

Refugee by Alan Gratz

We then challenge you to come back, not in despair, not in dissolution of humanity, but with a knowing that there is something you can do. You can love. Love yourself first. Treat yourself with kindness and respect. Nurture your mind, body and soul. Then extend that love outward to your fellow humans, knowing that just as you are not perfect, but you love yourself anyways, they are not perfect, and you love them anyways.

This month in the teen room, we have so many fun things going on! Summer may be around the corner, but hang tight! This month we’re celebrating libraries and what they mean to us for National Library Week!

 

National Library Week

This year’s theme for National Library Week is “Libraries = Strong Communities”.

Please share with us how the library impacts you and write on the room display, either “what the library means to you” or “why you’re visiting today”. Doing so may result in a piece of appreciation candy! Also, partake in the National Library Week themed makerspace with book art, page painting, or paint a book end! For those of you more drawn in by mind puzzles, the giant Sudoku board in the hallway may be for you!

 

Calling All Teens!

If you haven’t already taken a survey about ideas for our upcoming podcast, please do so! Your voice is very much heard and is being taken into consideration! Podcast Surveys are found on the tables of the teen room.

Another way to use your voice in the teen room would be to give us suggestions on what to rename this “Can’t Stop Reading” teen blog (meta, right!). As long as the language is appropriate, all suggestions are welcome! Leave your vote in the specified ballot box on the teen room desk!

Thanks Volunteers!

National Library Week also happens to fall on Volunteer Appreciation Week! Since September, our teen volunteers have given us a total of 472.75 hours of precious time! From everyone in YA, we appreciate all that our volunteers do for us and the library. You guys truly make our community a better place!

Check Out Our Soaring Eagle Award Winners!

Another big thank you to those who participated in reading and voting on our Soaring Eagle books this year! The winners have been posted and we’re even more excited to see what next year’s Soaring Eagle nominees will hold!

The Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

WINNER!

 

Project 1065 by Alan Gratz

1^st Runner Up

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

2^nd Runner Up!

For over a decade, the Campbell County Public Library Teen Volunteers have held a semi-annual Scholastic book fair. This book fair is run entirely by the library’s volunteer force, including the adult volunteers who help during the school day.

However, after school, Teen  Volunteers run the booth. The holiday book fair is particularly important to the youth of our community. At the end of the fair, the Teen Volunteers receive matching funds scaled according to the book fair profits, which are then used to purchase books to donate to youth service agencies in our community. These agencies include GARF, the Boys and Girls Club, the YES house and many others. This is one reason the fair is very important and why we ask the Teen Volunteers to each take at least one shift. Another is that this is a perfect time for you to do some Christmas shopping!

We have a variety of books for you to choose from, for many different readers. Stop by and get some early- or last-minute shopping taken care of! The final reason the book fair is important is you can buy books! What other way would you want to end the year than by curled up by the fire reading a new book?!

Join us at the book fair:  Monday, December 5, 5pm-7pm; and Tuesday, December 6 through Thursday, December 8, 10am-7pm.