Most movies are books, and most of those books are best-selling novels. This year, a new wave of Young Adult books and novels are coming to the silver screen. At least half of these books are the first book in a series, meaning viewers have a lot to look forward to.

Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy is about best friends Rose and Lissa, who return to their boarding school, St. Vladimir’s Academy, after running away two years previously. Lissa is a Moroi, a mortal, magical vampire, and the last surviving member of one of the 12 royal, governing families, earning her the title of Princess. Rose is a Dhampir, a half-human/half-vampire, dedicated to protecting the Moroi from the Strigoi – evil, undead vampires. Rose and Lissa have a friendship unlike any other, a special bond that even they don’t understand. This is more than just a ‘vampire series’ and anyone who reads the books will immediately see that. The series is six books long but definitely worth the read.

In Theaters: Now!

Stars: Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, Danilia Kozlovsky, Dominic Sherwood, Sarah Hyland

Divergent

 The Divergent series takes place in a dystopian society in Chicago where the citizens of the city live in different ‘factions’ based on one predominant personality trait. There is Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, and Amity. The book begins on Beatrice, or Tris, Prior’s Choosing Day, where sixteen year-olds all over the city are able to choose whether they want to stay in the faction they were born into or move to a different one. During the Choosing process, Tris discovers that she doesn’t quite fit into one faction but has an affinity for multiple ones. This, she is told, is called Divergent and she has to keep it a secret to protect herself. Tris decides to leave her faction, Abnegation, and joins Dauntless, where she is thrown head-first into a new life, making friends and enemies along the way. This book and its sequels are sure to entertain and the movie looks promising. Read this book if you are a fan of The Hunger Games and other dystopian novels.

In Theaters: Now!

Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet

The Fault In Our Stars

This is one of the only books on the list that isn’t a series. That being said, it’s amazing and a serious tearjerker as well. Hazel Lancaster, or Hazel Grace as Gus calls her, is the narrator of this story and she is suffering from a rare and severe form of cancer. At a cancer support group meeting, Hazel meets Augustus Waters (Gus) and her life changes forever. Gus too has cancer, although at the time of their meeting he is in remission. They meet, become friends, and are soon very much in love. This story is so inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time that it is impossible to put down. This book is definitely a must-read and the movie will no doubt be a must-see.

In Theaters: June 6, 2014

Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner is another futuristic, post-apocalyptic book that is sure to entertain. Thomas, the main character, wakes up alone in a dark elevator with no memory whatsoever, except for his name. He is pulled from the box and is greeted by a group of about 60 boys. These boys have been living by themselves in “the glade” for about 2 years. Their only job: to find a way out of the maze that surrounds the glade. Thomas is just the newest “newbie” to arrive; a new boy arrives every month on the same day. Only this time, a new person comes the very next day. And it’s a girl. The Gladers and Thomas try to figure out what is going on while still trying to find a way out. This is the first book in a trilogy that takes Thomas through some of the hardest trials he will go through in his life. This is a book and movie that guys will like and want to see more than say, Vampire Academy or The Fault in Our Stars.

In Theaters: September 19, 2014

Stars: Dylan O’Brien, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Gone Girl

This is a book for the people who don’t like the teen drama/supernatural/sci-fi books. Gone Girl is a murder-mystery type with twists and turns on every page. Amy Dunne goes missing on her and husband Nick’s fifth wedding anniversary. Nick has no idea where she is or what happened to her but the public, and soon the police, begin to make him a suspect in her disappearance. The book is told in alternating perspectives, Nick’s and Amy’s and has plot twists no one can see coming.

In Theaters: October 3, 2014

Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1

The vastly popular Hunger Games Trilogy is coming to an end. Mockingjay is the final book in the series but luckily for fans, they are splitting the movie into two parts. At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss and the other tributes escape from the arena with the help of the head gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, and the recently rediscovered District 13. Katniss is then informed that not only was District 12 destroyed but Peeta and Johanna were taken by President Snow’s people.  Mockingjay takes place, for the most part, in District 13, which is now an underground world. Katniss seems to be in her own world for the first part of the book, suffering from a textbook case of PTSD and depression over the loss of Peeta, but the heads of the rebellion want Katniss to be their “Mockingjay” and be the symbol for the rebellion. Katniss, however, wants nothing to do with it. Eventually and reluctantly, this begins to change as Katniss steps into her new role in the rebellion. This movie should be just as good as the first two and the second part will hopefully be even better.

In Theaters: November 21, 2014

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin

It’s going to be a book-filled summer in the moves so pick up and get reading before they all come out!

Ally Michitson can be reached via email at [email protected].