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But Have You Read the Book?

Netflix Series Edition

“Shadow and Bone”🦌💫📚

Convincing you to read the book version of your favorite YA Netflix series…

“Shadow and Bone”

by Leigh Bardugo

Plot📝: “Shadow and Bone” follows Alina Starkov, a teen orphan raised in the Russia-inspired land of Ravka. In a world divided by magical abilities, Alina unexpectedly harnesses a power stronger than anything anyone could have ever imagined. As a target of violence and corruption due to her power, Alina must navigate her journey of self-acceptance.

Book📚 (2012): Leigh Bardugo’s “Shadow and Bone” is a captivating YA fantasy novel. Bardugo excels in world-building, creating an imaginative setting and developing unique characters. Her writing style is easy to follow and well-paced, with intricate relationships woven throughout. The plot of the book is compelling and keeps the reader on their toes.

TV Series🍿 (2021): The “Shadow and Bone” Netflix series features notable differences from the book. Alina Starkov, portrayed by Jesse Mei Li, is depicted as biracial and part Shu, while the book describes her as white. Additionally, the series alters the timeline, introducing certain characters earlier and changing relationship dynamics. It also incorporates elements from Bardugo’s “Six of Crows,” a book that takes place in the same universe, adding more depth to the narrative, making it slightly challenging for viewers to track the two storylines.

Personal Impressions 💭: The casting of the TV adaptation was spot-on. While some characters differ physically, Alina’s biracial background adds depth to her character. The series provides stunning visuals that mirror the rich world-building from the novel, and the special effects align well. Overall, I recommend reading “Shadow and Bone” for its superior world-building and pacing, which allow a deeper understanding of the story’s enchanting setting.

Series Trailer:

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Dystopian Movies Originated from YA Novels 🏙️

The Era of Dystopian Fiction

The 2010s was the era of dystopian fiction in cinema, featuring iconic films loved by many. With the incredible popularity and success of these movies, it is often overlooked that many were based on YA novels. Here’s a deeper look at “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent,” and “The Maze Runner,” some of my personal favorites from the time.

“The Hunger Games” (2012) 🏹

Based on: Suzanne Collins’ trilogy

Plot: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the annual Hunger Games—a televised event where children fight to the death. The movie was entertaining and quick-paced. As an adaptation, it does a sufficient job portraying the depth of the characters, particularly the mental turmoil that arises in life-and-death situations.

I found the dynamic between the two social classes particularly compelling. Specifically, between the wealthy citizens of the Capitol and the impoverished citizens, such as the citizens of Katniss’ district, District 12. The rich treat the Hunger Games as a twisted form of reality television. While the wealthy derive entertainment from watching humans fight to the death, ordinary citizens live in poverty and oppression. This dynamic highlights strong themes of life under an oppressive government, poverty, privilege, and the dissociation of humanity through the media.

“Divergent” (2014) 🏢

Based on: Veronica Roth’s Series

Plot: In a dystopian future, society is divided into five factions each representing their own virtue. Tris Prior discovers she is “Divergent,” meaning she does not fit into any one faction. As she navigates this world of Factions, she discovers corruption occurring behind the scenes.

Similar to many adaptations, the movie felt fast-paced. The movie, however, successfully provided visuals that highlight the important topics. For example, the different factions were well portrayed, showing stark differences through appearance and clothing. Additionally, scenes displaying Tris’ individuality as a Divergent are displayed strongly, highlighting the struggle living against conformity— a prevalent theme throughout “Divergent.”

“The Maze Runner” (2014) 🧩

Based on: James Dashner’s novel

Plot: “The Maze Runner” follows Thomas, who wakes up in a mysterious maze with no memory of his past. Along with other boys, he must find a way to escape while facing deadly creatures. The movie highlights the nature of humanity in extreme circumstances, exploring themes of friendship and a quest for freedom.

The movie is engaging due to its fast paced action and suspense. I found the movie to be an enjoyable watch for its portrayal of humanity, specifically through hope, as the characters faced seemingly impossible tasks where hope becomes a driving force for survival.

The impact of these movies is significant because they all address specific societal issues through extreme examples within fictional, dystopian settings. Whether you read the books or watch the movies, both offer worthwhile insights into the topics and themes presented in each story.

Movie Trailers:

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Wait…You Can Get in Trouble for Reading?

🚫Banned YA Books🚫

The American Library Association (ALA)

With the help of the American Library Association (ALA), I was able to compile a list of banned young adult books. The ALA is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally.

“The Hate U Give”✊🏾🪧 (2017)

by Angie Thomas

“The Hate U Give,” a young adult novel by Angie Thomas, has been banned in multiple schools and districts. The story follows Black teen Starr Williams, who witnesses a police shooting of her unarmed childhood friend, Kahlil. Throughout the novel, readers gain insight into Starr’s struggle to balance her life in a poverty-stricken neighborhood with her experiences at a wealthy suburban prep school. The book provides social commentary on the subject of race in America, addressing topics such as harmful stereotypes, police brutality, trauma, and code-switching.

According to the American Library Association, “The Hate You Give” has been banned for multiple different accusations, including profanity, explicit sexual content, and perceived potential to indoctrinate against police.

“Harry Potter”🧙🪄 (1997)

by J.K. Rowling

The widely loved “Harry Potter” book series by J.K. Rowling is known to be a family-friendly story filled with magic and adventure. What may come to a surprise for many is that this series has been banned from schools since the early 2000s.

The series follows Harry Potter, a seemingly normal boy living as an orphan, who discovers a world of magic and wizardry. After discovering he is the son of two wizards, Harry enrolls into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he begins to uncover more about his identity and his parents.

According to the American Library Association, accusations of promoting witchcraft and the occult have led to the banning of these books from several schools.

“The Hunger Games”🪶🏹 (2008)

by Suzanne Collins

“The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins is narrated through the lens of Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl living in a post-apocalyptic nation called Panem. Ruled by a dictatorship, Panem holds an annual event known as the Hunger Games, where twelve boys and girls fight to the death, broadcast as a spectacle for the wealthy elite. The characters are put in extreme morally complex situations, struggling for survival. The books explore important themes of poverty, oppression, and the effects of war.

According to the American Library Association, “The Hunger Games” series has faced challenges and bans due to accusations of insensitivity, offensive language, violence, and promoting anti-ethics and occult themes.

"The Hate U Give," "Harry Potter," and "The Hunger Games" have gained popularity for their strong themes, social commentary, and imaginative storylines. Each story highlights valuable topics, raising the critical question of whether anyone should have the authority to dictate what literature others can access based on personal interpretations.

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But Have You Read the Book?

“The Sun Is Also a Star”🏙️🎧📝🎤⭐️

Convincing you to read the book version of your favorite YA Movies…

“The Sun is also a Star”

by Nicola Yoon

Plot 📝: “The Sun is also a Star” by Nicola Yoon follows Natasha, an undocumented Jamaican immigrant facing deportation, and Daniel, a Korean American high school senior. The two navigate personal and cultural struggles while learning more about each other, with only a day to connect before Natasha must leave the country. The story provides a social commentary on issues regarding immigration and family dynamics, and it is both romantic and realistic, highlighting themes such as destiny and choice.

Movie 🎥 (2019): The two main characters, played by Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton, have great chemistry. The movie offers a visually appealing adaptation of the book, featuring an authentic imagery of New York City and the social dynamics portrayed through different settings and environments. Visually, the movie was very spot-on to what I had imagined while reading the novel.

Book 📚 (2016): The book dives deeper into the story with a unique narrative structure. Told from multiple perspectives, including those of Daniel, Natasha, and different secondary characters, it offers a unique narrative style worth reading. With Nicola Yoon’s engaging writing style, I was immediately pulled into the story, as was able to explore emotions and thoughts from multiple perspectives.

Overall, the book and the movie successfully portray the themes and messages of the story, each in their own way. While the movie is a visual representation, the book offers an additional layer of depth and description that readers can only gain from Yoon’s distinctive writing style. If you loved the movie and haven’t yet read “The Sun is also a Star,” I highly encourage you to pick up the book—you might find you enjoy it even more!

Movie Trailer:

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YA Book Reccomendations📚

Why read YA?

When on the hunt for new books, many adult readers overlook the Young Adult (YA) section. While YA books are mainly catered to teenagers, there is a long list of beautifully written books and series to help readers get out of their reading slump. With an array of talented YA authors with beautiful writing styles, there are endless options of YA novels to choose from, providing well written storylines and characters, while also sending powerful messages.

“Ace of Spades”(2021) ♠️

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

“Ace of Spades,” published in 2021, is a relatively new YA novel. If mystery books with a dark academia feel are your vibe, Ace of Spades, written by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, is a great option. This high-stakes thriller explores themes of race, privilege, and betrayal. Set in an elite private school, the story follows two Black students, Devon and Chiamaka, who become targets of a mysterious antagonist known as the “Aces.” This unknown figure reveals their deepest secrets, setting off a chain of events, uncovering dangerous truths.

As a reader, the story was both complex and captivating. It was not only a dark academia thriller, but it also carried some unfortunate realities many must face due to others who are hateful and cruel. While this is a YA book, “Ace of Spades,” as a phycological drama with sharp social commentary, makes a great read for more mature readers as well.

“Legendborne”(2021) 🗡️

by Tracy Deonn

If you are looking for an entertaining, unconventional spin on a traditional story, “Legendborne” by Tracy Deonn would be a great next read. “Legendborne,” published in 2021, is a gripping fantasy novel that reimagines Arthurian legend in a contemporary setting. This YA novel follows Bree Matthews, a 16-year-old girl who witnesses a magical attack on her campus and uncovers a hidden society of descendants of King Arthur’s knights. As Bree dives deeper into this secret world, she discovers her own mysterious connection to it, struggling with personal trauma and her legacy.

This book is one of my favorite reads to date, mainly due the depth of the storyline, with many unexpected twists and turns. If you are a fan of modern fantasy along with rich world-building, diverse characters and a fresh take on classics, it may be worthwhile to pick up “Legendborne” from the YA section. Exploring themes such as heritage and identity, makes the book very thought-provoking and a must-read.

“Shatter Me”(2011) ❤️‍🩹

by Tahereh Mafi

The “Shatter Me” series by popular YA author, Tahereh Mafi, is beautifully written and highlights themes that transcend age, making it a compelling read for adult readers as well. The first book, “Shatter Me,” follows Juliette, a teenage girl with a deadly touch, imprisoned for her lethal ability. Set in a dystopian future where a tyrannical regime rules, Juliette’s journey begins when she escapes from her confinement and finds herself involved with a secret group of rebels.

I was instantly drawn into the story, by the insight into Juliets mental turmoil as she lives with this deadly ability. “Shatter Me,” with its well-written characters, explores heavy topics such as trauma and identity, while including themes of self acceptance, personal growth and resilience. With a similar dystopian feel to popular YA novels such as Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” and Veronica Roth’s “Divergent,” the “Shatter Me” series is a great option for readers of any age, ready to binge-read their next complex dystopian book.

Happy Reading!