Why just YA?

Over Father's Day dinner last night, my sister-in-law was appalled that I have yet to read at least the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, as even my brother who's reading list consists of car magazines, has read it (it joins the Twilight Saga, that he will never own up to reading to his buddies). I shrugged and said that I was "thinking" about reading it.

When books are the new rave, I tend to stay away from them because I get tired of people constantly talking about them or offering spoilers. The last big series that I remember was the Twilight Saga and I read them about two years after they were popular - on a dare by one of my co-workers. And I have yet to read the Harry Potter series...but that's a whole other blog.

Last night before bed, I did more research into "The Hunger Games" and found that it isn't the only YA book headed to the big screen. There are four other YA best-sellers, all with movies in development.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - movie rights to Warner Brothers
The story is set on the small island of Thisby, where every November young riders compete in a race in which they ride man-eating water horses called "capall uisce".

Two orphans, Puck and Sean, are determined to win this year’s race, which comes with a monetary prize and fame. Both of Puck's parents were eaten by a horse; Sean's father was trampled by one. Sean is the returning champion; Puck is the challenger and the first girl to ever enter the race. A romance ensues even though the two are competitors.

"The Scorpio Races" is also the Speculative Society's book club novel for June/July.

Earthseed by Pamela Sargent - movie rights to Paramount
This 1983 classic is about a group of teenagers — Earth’s last survivors — on a ship traveling through deep space in search of a habitable world.

As the ship approaches its destination, it traps the teens in a section that simulates the wilderness until they prove they can survive on their own. The teens quickly separate into two warring factions, one led by the main character, a 15-year-old girl named Zoheret. As the battle between the factions escalates, secrets emerge, war ensues and both sides endure losses before they arrive at the new planet.

The book is a trio, that also includes "Farseed" and "Seed Seeker".


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs- movie rights to 20th Century Fox/Chernin Entertainment
An abandoned orphanage on a remote island off the coast of Wales might be home to a group of lost children with fantastic powers. After his grandfather’s death, 16-year-old Jacob finds a box of strange photos among his possessions and travels to the island in search of answers.

Riggs is working on a sequel that is scheduled for spring 2013.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - movie rights to Columbia/Screen Gems
This four-book series (with two more scheduled in 2012 and 2013) about a teenage girl named Clary Fray who gets drawn into a supernatural war between demons and their opponents called Shadowhunters.

In the series, Clary teams up with vampires, werewolves and faeries, and as they hunt for the three magical mortal instruments given by angels to the original Shadowhunters, she learns surprising secrets from her past.

I also seen the first teaser for "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith the other day on television so it will be hitting the big screen in the next few months.

All of these YA books being turned into movies, got me thinking about some of my favorite books being turned into movies. And that prompted me into thinking who would play some of the super sexy heroes?

What books would you like turned into movies and who would play the hero or heroine?

Thanks for reading,

R.J.