Young Adult Books Adapted to Film

An Indian merchant experiences uncertainty, love, and hardship when he relocates to a town in central Africa.

In this groundbreaking book, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking attempts to answer some of the most formidable questions about the universe.

In this comic novel, a nineteenth-century engineer is magically transported back to medieval England.

Caught up in the brutality of World War I, an American ambulance driver on the Italian front falls in love with an English nurse.

In the 1940s, a Louisiana teacher confronts racial prejudice in his community as he counsels a young man on death row.

Ove is known around his neighborhood as an irritable, bitter man — until a new family moves in next door and befriends him.

As Conor struggles to deal with his mother's terminal illness, he encounters a monster who demands that Conor tell him a truthful story.

Based on the author's own experiences, this novel explores tensions between British colonizers and native Indians in the 1920s. Read the full text here.

In this modernist classic, Stephen Dedalus develops into an artist and challenges the traditional Irish values with which he grew up.

In the early 20th century, a young Englishwoman travels through Italy.

Set in both London and Paris, this novel brings the French Revolution vividly to life.

Set in New York City at the turn of the twentieth century, Betty Smith's classic coming-of-age novel tells the story of Francie and her Irish-American family.

This American classic chronicles the exploits of Huck and Jim: one is running away from an abusive father and the other is fleeing enslavement. Read the full text here.

Translated by A.W. Wheen, Remarque's masterpiece details the experiences of German soldiers during World War I.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows the career of a cynical politician during the Great Depression.

When his family's Texas ranch is sold, John Grady Cole persuades his best friend Lacey Rawlins to join him on a journey to Mexico.

What would happen if the Russian Revolution of 1917 took place on a small English farm? This provocative novella blends fable, satire, and allegory while grappling with some of the twentieth-century's most consequential political ideas.

Aristotle and Dante are two teenagers with classical names and loner attitudes. When their paths cross, they develop a friendship that will change their lives.

A high school student lives a single day of her life over and over again.

Published after Melville's death, this novel chronicles the tragic story of young sailor Billy Budd after he boards a naval warship, the H.M.S. Bellipotent.

In the 1950s, John Howard Griffin underwent a skin-darkening procedure to investigate how he would be treated in the segregated South if people perceived him as African American. Learn these words from Griffin's harrowing investigation of race and racism.

As he grows up and develops his own sense of identity, Tony is guided by Ultima, a curandera who heals with magic.

Set during the Great Depression, Cannery Row tells the story of a struggling community that pulls together to throw a thank-you party for the friendly neighborhood genius.

In medieval England, an unconventional teenage girl records events in her daily life, including her attempts to thwart her father's plans to marry her off.

An unconventional marriage ruffles feathers in the small town of Cold Sassy, Georgia at the turn of the twentieth century.

A classic of Russian literature, this novel explores the psyche of a poor young man who plots to murder and rob a wealthy pawnbroker.

In this semi-autobiographical novel, Dickens traces the early life, education, career, and romantic entanglements of narrator David Copperfield. Read the full text here.

In this classic science fiction novel, the Atreides family attempts to retain control of the planet Arrakis.

Inspired by the biblical story of Cain and Abel, this novel tells the interlinked stories of the Trask and Hamilton families.

Emma Woodhouse fancies herself a talented matchmaker, but she learns hard truths about love when her schemes go awry. Read the full text of Austen's classic novel here.

Ender Wiggin is a brilliant but lonely young strategist in a world where children are trained to defend humankind against alien attacks.

Torn between love and duty, Ethan Frome struggles to find a way to follow his heart in this haunting American classic. Read the etext here.

Every day, A wakes up in a different body—but what happens when A falls in love? Author David Levithan explores the nature of identity in this thought-provoking novel.

Diagnosed with a rare immune disorder, Madeline is unable to experience the world outside her protective bubble. But when Olly moves in next door, she must decide whether to risk everything for love.

Oskar Schell is a nine-year old with a quest: to find a key left behind by his father, who was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury imagines a dystopian future in which firemen burn banned books and people are constantly bombarded with mindless entertainment. This classic novel is as powerful and relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1953.

Set in the Harry Potter universe, this book purports to be an encyclopedia of magical creatures written by the wizard Newt Scamander.

Set in a rural community in southwest England, this novel traces the complicated relationship of Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene.

Two teens with cystic fibrosis fall in love, although the disease prevents them from getting physically close to each other.

What are the surprising, hidden, and even freakish forces that shape society? In this book, an economist and a journalist team up to explore small truths that have a big impact on the way we live.

In this nonfiction account, the journalist focuses on the Permian Panthers in Odessa, Texas to explore how high school football shapes the lives and dreams of small towns in America.

In seventeenth-century Holland, Griet's life is changed when she poses for a portrait by the brilliant painter Johannes Vermeer.

In this semi-autobiographical novel set in Harlem in the 1930s, a boy learns about his family history on his fourteenth birthday.

Published in 1936, this historical novel traces the life of Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara before, during, and after the American Civil War.

Pip's life is changed when an anonymous benefactor pays for an expensive education in London, but he quickly discovers that you can't escape who you really are.

Lemuel Gulliver travels to unusual and exotic lands in this unique blend of adventure and satire.

In the fourth book of the Harry Potter series, the Triwizard Tournament brings foreign students — and unexpected dangers — to Hogwarts.

In his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry must contend with terrifying dreams, malicious gossip, and a nasty new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He continues his struggle against Lord Voldemort in this fifth installment of J.K. Rowling's popular series.

In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry learns more about Voldemort's past and discovers a mysterious Potions textbook.

In the conclusion to J.K. Rowling's wildly popular fantasy series, Harry must track down and dispose of the remaining Horcruxes and make a final stand against Voldemort.

This first book of His Dark Materials trilogy starts off at Oxford's Jordan College, where eleven-year-old Lyra Belacqua and her dæmon Pantalaimon are given a device called an alethiometer that Lyra learns to interpret in order to discover truths, especially in connection to the kidnapping of children.

This classic novel explores social class and conventions in early 20th-century England. Read the full text here.

In this classic autobiography, the accomplished poet and writer recounts her childhood and teenage years.

These interlinked stories imagine the development of robotics while exploring the ethics of technological progress.

Seventeen ­year-old Mia has an out-of-body experience—and faces a heartbreaking choice—after a devastating car accident.

Based on the historical Mirabal sisters, this is a fictionalized account of why and how they decide to fight dictator Rafael Trujillo's oppressive regime in the Dominican Republic.

In this novel, a high school student details his time in a psychiatric institution.

Jane is a strong-willed young woman who finds employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Edward Rochester and learns his darkest secret.

Bryan Stevenson details his experiences as a defense attorney, focusing on the case of Walter McMillian, who insisted on his innocence even after he was sentenced to the death penalty. This book provides an eye-opening behind-the-scenes look at how the criminal justice system works — or doesn't.

When a violent storm sinks the ship carrying his family from India to North America, Pi is trapped alone in a lifeboat with an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra, and a man-eating tiger named Richard Parker.

Set in Mississippi during the Great Depression, this classic novel follows Cassie Logan and her family as they face prejudice and economic hardship.

In this autobiography, the South African president describes his childhood, education, and the battles against Apartheid that led to his imprisonment for nearly thirty years.

In the first part of The Lord of the Rings, nine representatives of different races band together for a dangerous quest to destroy the Ring of Power and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord.

In the second part of The Lord of the Rings, the fellowship is broken. Two hobbits are kidnapped by orcs, while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli help fight the forces of Saruman, an evil wizard. Meanwhile, with Gollum as their guide, Frodo and Sam make their way to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.

In the third and final part of The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf, Aragorn, and their companions attempt to defend Minas Tirith from the forces of Sauron, while Sam and Frodo continue their quest to destroy the One Ring.

Residing with her wealthy relatives, Fanny Price navigates familial, social, and romantic entanglements. Read the full text here.

Martin, a former sailor from a working-class background, educates himself and tries to become a successful writer after falling in love with a wealthy university student.

Jacob travels to Wales to find the mysterious children's home from his grandfather's stories—but what he discovers is stranger than he could have imagined.

This nonfiction book explores how the manager of the Oakland A's built a high-performing team by using a unique set of criteria to assess prospective players.

Frustrated with rampant sexism at her school, Viv creates a feminist zine — and inspires a revolution.

This novel follows Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class woman living in London, as she prepares to host a party.

When a passenger is murdered on a stalled train, detective Hercule Poirot must investigate which of the other passengers committed the crime.

Vividly bringing the American frontier to life, this novel traces the life of Ántonia Shimerda, an immigrant who settles among the pioneers in Nebraska.

Anna sues her parents in order to prevent them from using her as a bone marrow donor for her older sister, Kate.

After his father dies, Nicholas Nickleby accepts a job at a disreputable school.

In this clever and action-packed graphic novel, an irreverent shapeshifter teams up with a notorious supervillian.

Set during the Great Depression, Steinbeck's classic novel tells the story of shrewd, scheming George and loyal, childlike Lennie. The two farm workers dream of owning their own land but must struggle merely to survive.

In 19th-century London, orphan Oliver Twist runs away from a workhouse and takes up with a scrappy gang of thieves. Read the full text here.

Lisa Klein's adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet reimagines the famous tragedy from Ophelia's perspective.

When his old friend (and crush) Margo disappears, Quentin tries to find out what happened to her by following the clues she left behind.

A change in her family's fortunes brings Anne Elliot back into contact with Captain Frederick Wentworth, to whom she was once engaged. Read the full text here.

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy instantly loathe one another when they first meet. Can they overcome their first impressions?

In this science fiction novel, gamer Wade Watts goes on a quest for riches in a virtual reality simulation called the OASIS. To find the prize hidden by the eccentric creator of the OASIS, Wade must solve a series of puzzles based on 80s pop culture.

The young and naive narrator of this novel marries a wealthy widower and moves to his stately mansion, where she uncovers dark secrets about his first wife.

After a shipwreck, a man must survive for decades on a remote island.

Originally published under the title Rocket Boys, this memoir recounts the story of six rocket-obsessed friends growing up in a small West Virginia mining town in the 1950s.

Sweet, angelic Sophie and moody Agatha are shocked when Agatha is sent to the School for Good and Sophie is sent to the School for Evil. Did the School Master make a mistake or does he know the two girls better than they know themselves?

In this engrossing work of nonfiction, Laura Hillenbrand recounts how three men teamed up to turn an unlikely racehorse into an American racing icon.

In this comedy of manners — Jane Austen's first — Elinor and Marianne Dashwood struggle to make their way in the world after their father's death leaves them impoverished.

In the late 19th century, a mysterious man comes to live and work on the Starrett's Wyoming farm.

After he is falsely accused of stealing money from his church, Silas Marner is abandoned by everyone, even his fiancée. He flees to a small rural village and attempts to isolate himself from the world — but when he takes in an abandoned child, his life changes forever. Read the full text here.

Eighteen-year-old Caroline moves from Wisconsin to New York City to pursue her dreams of stardom.

In the shadow of World War II, a Japanese-American man is accused of murdering a fisherman, exposing long-buried secrets, animosity, and prejudice in the island community of San Piedro.

Lakshmi's stepfather tells her she must leave their impoverished Nepalese village and work in the city — but when Lakshmi arrives, she discovers that she is a victim of trafficking.

After calling the police during an end-of-summer party, Melinda is an outcast at school. How can Melinda tell the truth about what really happened when she won't even speak?

In this fantasy novel, Tristran Thorn ventures into the land of Faerie to find a fallen star for his beloved.

Stargirl Caraway lives life on her own terms, but when she moves to a new town her unique personality rubs others the wrong way. As the school year goes on, Stargirl is torn between staying true to herself and fitting in.

Good-hearted but mischievous, Tom Sawyer can't keep himself out of trouble as he grows up in a small town on the Mississippi River.

Newland Archer, a member of New York City's high society in the late 19th century, is engaged to a proper young lady — but finds himself drawn to the unconventional Countess Ellen Olenska. Read the full text here.

In this powerful memoir, Malcolm X describes the development of his revolutionary consciousness and his transformation into an influential activist and leader.

In this prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, Coriolanus Snow mentors a tribute in the 10th Hunger Games.

This biography follows Michael Oher from his troubled childhood to his successful career as a professional football player.

Liesel Meminger is a foster child living in Nazi Germany in 1939. Surrounded by violence, hardship, and war, Liesel is watched over by Death, who narrates her story.

In this novel, a boy imprisoned in a concentration camp and the son of a Nazi commandant develop an unlikely friendship.

Train your brain with words from this true account of the American crew team that won gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy in order to earn money for her family.

When five people are killed after a bridge collapses, a friar attempts to find meaning in the tragedy. Read the full text here.

In this action-packed adventure story, a domesticated dog must shed his civilized ways to become a proper sled dog during the Yukon Gold Rush.

In the 1940s, two Jewish teenagers from different backgrounds develop a deep friendship as they pursue their ambitions.

In letters to God and each other, two sisters, Celie and Nettie, share the details of their trouble-filled lives in the American South and Africa.

After being falsely imprisoned, Edmond Dantès escapes, disguises himself as the Count of Monte Cristo, and seeks revenge. Learn these words from the 1888 translation by George Routledge and Sons.

When the children who survive a plague develop unusual powers, they are rounded up and imprisoned in rehabilitation camps. Sixteen-year-old Ruby escapes from confinement and joins up with a group of other children fighting back against the government.

During a Passover Seder, 12-year-old Hannah is mysteriously transported from 1980s New York to Poland during World War II. When Hannah is forced into a concentration camp, her survival depends on understanding the depraved arithmetic the Nazis use to keep track of their prisoners.

Teenagers Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters form an intense bond when they meet in a cancer support group in Indiana.

When English teacher Erin Gruwell intercepted a racist note in her Long Beach, California classroom, she designed a curriculum to promote tolerance that she hoped would connect her students to each other, to literary characters, and to the larger world.

Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a regimented community that is free from pain and suffering — but also free from joy, independence, and even color. When he is appointed the community's Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to question everything he has been taught.

In this memoir Jeannette Walls recounts a turbulent childhood with her eccentric and dysfunctional family.

During the Great Depression, the Joad family leaves a failing farm in Oklahoma in hopes of a better life out west.

Nick Carraway rents a summer house in Long Island where he befriends his mysterious neighbor Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who hides behind an extravagant and decadent lifestyle.

In this novel, which draws heavily on Conroy's own upbringing, Ben Meecham must learn to stand up to his domineering father, a Marine fighter pilot.

In this best-selling novel, sixteen-year-old Starr's life is turned upside down when she witnesses the death of her friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer.

In 1960s racially segregated Jackson, Mississippi, aspiring writer Eugenia (Skeeter) Phelan interviews housemaids for a dangerous exposé on their working conditions and treatment.

When Earth is destroyed to make way for a freeway, Arthur Dent joins his friend Ford Prefect on a hilarious odyssey through space. Learn these words from the first book in Douglas Adams's popular science fiction series.

In this prequel to The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet life until a group of dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf enlist him in their quest for a dragon's treasure.

After Charles Baskerville is found dead, legendary detective Sherlock Holmes is enlisted to protect his heir from the same fate.

In this classic novel, set in the late 19th century, Lily Bart tries to cling to her tenuous position in New York City's high society.

In the first book of The Inheritance Cycle, a fifteen-year-old boy finds a dragon egg in the woods and becomes a Dragon Rider.

In this science fiction novel published in 1897, a brilliant scientist discovers a way to make himself invisible and is corrupted by his newfound powers.

In this science fiction classic, a shipwrecked sailor lands on island where a mad scientist performs unthinkable experiments.

Set in Afghanistan during a time of political and social upheaval, this novel traces the decades-long friendship of two boys from different social classes.

Drawing on real-life interviews, journals, and transcripts, this play reflects on the life and murder of college student Matthew Shepard.

This nonfiction narrative traces the journey of the author through the Amazon to investigate the 1925 disappearance of the British explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett, who was on a quest to prove the existence of an ancient civilization within a harsh environment.

Botanist and mechanical engineer Mark Watney was chosen for NASA's Ares Program to explore Mars, but when a sandstorm prevents him from reaching the departing spaceship, his new solo mission is figuring out how to use the limited resources to survive on a lifeless planet.

Thomas wakes up in a strange place with his memories erased, surrounded by people he doesn't know. The only way out is through a shifting, kaleidoscopic maze—and no one has ever reached the end.

After the death of her parents, a teenage girl struggles with her identity.

In the first book of The Mortal Instruments series, fifteen-year-old Clary meets the Shadowhunters, a secret group attempting to rid the world of demons.

Born to Indian immigrants and legally named after a Russian writer, but familiarly called Nikhil, Gogol Ganguli grows up in Massachusetts struggling with his parents' choices and expectations.

Santiago is a luckless Cuban fisherman who struggles to land a giant marlin. In spare, searing prose, Hemingway transforms the story of one man's battle with nature into a heroic ordeal. Scribner 2003 edition.

In the 1960s, tensions between two rival gangs separated along economic lines reach a violent breaking point.

In letters addressed to an unnamed friend, Charlie describes his experiences as a high school freshman.

Oscar Wilde scandalized Victorian audiences with this macabre story of a man who trades his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Read the full text here.

This biography chronicles the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a clergyman who resisted Adolf Hitler's regime.

An heiress attempts to maintain her independence but is preyed upon by fortune-hunters.

In this novel, a group of schoolgirls falls under the spell of a charismatic and unconventional teacher.

A young prince and a poor commoner look almost exactly alike, so they decide to switch places to discover how the other lives. Read the full text here.

William Goldman's beloved fairy tale features a princess, a pirate, and a villainous prince. Do you think these words from the novel will stump you? Inconceivable!

Henry Fleming is a young Union private during the Civil War. After fleeing from battle, he'll do anything for a second chance to prove his bravery.

This novella links four episodes in the life of Jody Tiflin, a young boy growing up on a California ranch during the early 20th century.

This novel by Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro explores the interior life of a traditional English butler.

All Eustacia Vye wants is a chance to escape her dull village life, but her unhappy marriage to Clym Yeobright leads to tragedy. Read the full text here.

After having a child out of wedlock, Hester Prynne is shunned by her Puritan community and forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing — but Hester is not the only one who has transgressed. This classic novel explores guilt, sin, and hypocrisy.

In South Carolina, a girl reckons with her mother's death while under the care of three sisters.

A pair of magical jeans helps four best friends feel close even when they can't be together.

When a respected doctor performs a dangerous experiment on himself, he empowers an evil alter ego who wreaks havoc on London.

In this popular novel, two teens meet and fall in love over the course of a single day in New York City.

In this science fiction classic, a time traveler journeys to a future world in which humans have evolved into two groups: the docile Eloi and the fierce Morlocks. Read the full text here.

In this novella, a young governess describes her efforts to save two young children from an evil presence. Read the full text here

When Martians invade Earth, two English brothers, a philosopher and a medical student, struggle to get others and themselves to safety.

Considered a seminal work of African-American literature, Their Eyes Were Watching God is notable for its strong and independent female protagonist.

In this classic coming-of-age story, Scout Finch recounts her childhood in Maycomb, Alabama. When Scout's father is appointed to defend a black man in a high-profile trial, racial tensions in the small town come to a head.

This modernist novel focuses on two trips, a decade apart, that the Ramsay family takes to their summer home.

In this Western, a fourteen-year-old girl attempts to avenge her father's death.

In this work of nonfiction, Mitch Albom reconnects with a favorite college professor and learns valuable lessons in the last months of the elderly scholar's life.

Bella Swan moves to Forks, Washington, where she meets the enigmatic Edward Cullen, a classmate with a dark secret.

Laura Hillenbrand recounts the tumultuous and amazingly true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who, after surviving 40 days adrift at sea, became a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II.

Abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this influential novel to call attention to the horrors of slavery.

A horse named Joey fights on the battlefield during World War I — but longs to reunite with the boy who raised him.

During the Great Depression, a veterinary student falls in love with a circus performer.

Half dog, half wolf, White Fang struggles to survive in the wilderness — and to navigate the complicated world of humans.

Catherine Earnshaw's father takes in an orphan boy named Heathcliff, setting in motion a chain of events that will haunt the Earnshaw family for generations.

Sixteen-year-old Ann Burden believes she is the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust — until a mysterious stranger shows up at her isolated farm.