12 YA Books That Could Be the Next 'Divergent'
The release of "Allegiant" signals the inevitable end of the "Divergent" franchise -- with one final installment, "Ascendant," remaining. We need more YA movie series. Here are 12 novels worthy of the big screen.
'Under the Never Sky' by Veronica Rossi
The Plot: In a future where catastrophic climate changes have ravaged the Earth, an elite portion of the population lives in the safety of an enclosed dome, where all adventures are virtual. Circumstances soon throw sheltered Aria and street-smart outsider Perry together to find missing loved ones. Warner Bros. optioned the film rights to the books back in 2012, and since then both of trilogy's final installments were released to critical and commercial acclaim. Get the Book Here
'A Darker Shade of Magic' by V.E. Schwab
The Plot: Imagine four parallel Londons, all with different levels of magic and monarchies. In Grey London, magic is supposedly a myth (like in our world); in Red London, magic thrives; in White London, magic is used by a ruling class against the population; and in Black London, magic corrupted and destroyed the world. It's "'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' meets 'Game of Thrones,'" Schawb said. Gerard Butler's production company, G-BASE, has optioned the rights for a limited television series, with Schwab attached to write the pilot. Get the Book Here
'Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda' by Becky Albertalli
The Plot: Not-quite-openly gay teen Simon Spier has a banter-y, honest, occasionally flirtatious anonymous email relationship with the adorable and equally still-closeted "Blue," who could be any guy at Simon's school. But when a classmate discovers Simon and Blue's email exchange and blackmails him, Simon must figure out whether to meet the manipulator's demands or face a public outing. Albertalli's award-winning book is a romantic comedy with heart, so it's no surprise that the producers of "Fault in our Stars" think it could be a winner on the big screen. Get the Book Here
'Red Queen' by Victoria Aveyard
The Plot: In a futuristic world strictly divided by blood color, the silver-blooded aristocrats ("Silvers") rule -- thanks to their special powers -- while the ungifted "Reds" remain at the bottom, until a "Red" girl discovers she has powers as strong as Silvers and ends up launching a revolution. Actress-director (and dystopian adaptation veteran) Elizabeth Banks is set to direct first film in the four-book series. Get the Book Here
'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown
The Plot: This futuristic fantasy is set in a world where humans terraform and inhabit other planets. A strict color caste system rules society, with the Golds on top, the Reds at the bottom, and a dozen colors in between. After a personal tragedy, Darrow, a Red miner, joins a secret uprising to infiltrate and overthrow the Golds. "World War Z" director Marc Foster is on board to direct, and Brown himself has written early drafts. Get the Book Here
'Need' by Joelle Charbonneau
The Plot: An anonymous social networking site promises teens whatever they desire in exchange for a price -– completing morally ambiguous tasks that start off benign, but evolve into the sinister. The techno-thriller is in development with the producers of "Horrible Bosses 2." Get the Book Here
'An Ember in the Ashes' by Sabaa Tahir
The Plot: Like "Red Rising," this fantasy series is set in a world that's inspired by ancient Rome. Told from two points of view: One is Laia, a scholar who poses as a slave girl to help a rebel group save her brother, and the other is Elias, an elite warrior bound for glory who begins to question his role in the brutal society. Before the book was even released, Paramount won a heated seven-figure auction for the rights. Get the Book Here
'Shadow and Bone' by Leigh Bardugo
The Plot: Fictional Ravka is a society similar to Imperial Russia, only with "Grisha," who wield supernatural powers. Protagonist Alina Starkov goes from mousy, quiet orphan to a Grisha whose force is as bright and powerful as the sun. "Harry Potter" producer David Heyman optioned the book (the first in Bardugo's "Grisha Trilogy") and will bring Alina's supernatural story to the big screen. Get the Book Here
'The Adoration of Jenna Fox' by Mary Pearson
The Plot: In the near future, 17-year-old Jenna Fox wakes up after a year-long coma, but she can't remember anything her family tells her about her life – except that it doesn't feel quite right. "It's 'The Bourne Identity' meets 'Lorenzo's Oil,'" Pearson told Moviefone. "[It's] about the lengths a parent would go to save their only child, and about Jenna’s search for identity." Adaptation Buzz: Dolphin Films ("Justin Bieber's Believe") has optioned Pearson's Fox Chronicles trilogy, with a theatrical feature of "Jenna Fox" in the works for 2017. Get the Book Here
'Before I Fall' by Lauren Oliver
The Plot: Popular senior Samantha Kingston has a fabulous Feb. 12, aka "Cupid Day." It's filled with valentines, flowers, and the privilege of being a queen bee at a big party -- until she dies in a car accident. But the next morning, she wakes up to relive the same day over and over again. Sam has seven new chances to figure out the mystery of her death, right wrongs, and rediscover love and friendship. It's "Groundhog Day" by way of "If I Stay," but with a strong dose of "Mean Girls." "Before I Fall" is already in production, with Zoey Deutch ("Vampire Academy") starring as Samantha. Indie filmmaker Ry Russo-Young directs, with a late 2016 release planned. Get the Book Here
'Forest of Hands and Teeth' by Carrie Ryan
The Plot: "Teeth" is set in a post-apocalyptic world, after a virus has turned most of the population into zombies. Mary, who lives in a secure village, has been told that her home is all that's left of humanity. But she's restless to see if there's life beyond the guarded fences. Game of Thrones" star Maisie Williams signed on to play Mary. No word yet on further casting or when production will begin. Get the Book Here
'The Young World' by Chris Weitz
The Plot: A virus wipes out everyone on earth younger than 12, and older than 21 -- leaving only teens and young adults behind to rebuild society (in this case, post-apocalyptic New York City) through regional tribes. The story follows the leaders of the Greenwich Village tribe: uptight Jefferson and sassy Donna. If anyone can get an adaptation made, it's filmmaker-turned-novelist Weitz, who already has two big-budget adaptations ("The Golden Compass" and "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," as well as "About a Boy") in his filmography. Weitz will write, direct, and produce the adaptation for Warner Bros. Get the Book Here
