By Jack Greenwood
Columnist
There was a time when young-adult novels were box-office titans.
From “Harry Potter” to “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games”, these movies all dominated the film industry. Yet, the trend seems to be slowing down as young-adult novels have generated less and less revenue.
This week, I’ve chosen three young-adult novels that have yet to become big screen films, but might save the young-adult genre.
3. “The 39 Clues”
If you ever went to a book fair in elementary school, there’s a good chance you know this book series. Written by a different author with each book, the series follows a young sibling duo of Amy and Dan Cahill as they race around the world, solving puzzles and unlocking mysteries regarding their family’s secret history. Their entire family is divided into four separate houses, all competing against one another to find the treasure at the end of the mystery. Along the way, murder, stealing and heists, all make this series exciting to an audience of all ages.
2. “Among the Hidden”
What if it was illegal just to be alive? In this series, author Margaret Peterson Haddix creates a dystopian world showing us a drought and food crisis. As a result, a government illegalizes having more than two children, forcing kids like Luke Garner, into hiding and being referred to as a “shadow child.” This series of seven books seems like it could be a box office win (or a smash Netflix series) and fits right in with its dystopian themes.
1. “The Bar Code Tattoo”
“The bar code tattoo. Everybody’s getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity.” Perhaps giving us a look into the not so distant future, author Suzanne Weyn paints the story of a bar code tattoo, a marking on your skin that allows you to purchase things, and get access to certain places. But what happens if you say no? Is it just a form of control? What else does the bar code tattoo do? These are the questions that lead Kayla’s mindset in the novel as she escapes her home to avoid the tattoo. This series is full of suspense and fear and should fill any movie theater with a huge audience.