Books to Movies: July-Dec 2016

We're back with a new list of books being adapted into film. You have plenty of time to read the book before these are released. Check them out!

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan (in theaters today! July 27)
Teenage Vee takes part in a high-stakes game of virtual dare called "Nerve," where she's dared to do different things that are virtually broadcast to thousands of other players. For each dare completed, she gets a prize (good ones). So Vee is competing in the game, but it soon turns dark for her. The movie stars Emma Roberts and Dave Franco.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (in theaters Sept. 2)
Set in the 1920s in Australia, Tom is a lighthouse keeper, living a solitary life on the island with his lighthouse. He meets and marries young Isabel, but the two have trouble conceiving. One day a boat washes on shore the tiny island, with a baby inside. The two make a decision that changes all of their lives. This atmospheric book is beautifully written and contemplates some very serious moral issues. I'd definitely read it before seeing the movie, which promises to be very well done, starring Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender.

The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers (in theaters Sept. 23)
Based on a true story, Phiona lives in a slum in Katwe, where she and her family live in very poor conditions. One day, she follows her brother and meets a missionary named Robert Katende, who grew up in the slums as well. Katende is trying to empower the children of this village by teaching them chess, which Phiona immediately excels at. Within five years, Phiona has rose to fame as a chess champion. This heartwarming story will be in theaters soon, starring Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (in theaters Sept. 30)
Jacob discovers the crumbling remains of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children on a remote island off the coast of Wales. He goes through the rooms, discovering one strange thing after the other, including pictures of the "peculiar children" that are quite eerie. Some of these children may have been more than just "peculiar," and actually been dangerous, and maybe still might be there. This novel is creepy in a good way, including all sorts of awesomely unexplained pictures. It's definitely worth reading before the film. The film stars Asa Butterfield (who you may remember as Ender, from Ender's Game a few years back) and Samuel L. Jackson.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (in theaters Oct. 7)
If you haven't read this bestselling thriller yet, now's the time. Every day, Rachel takes the same train, at the same time. She stares out the same window, at the same houses, every single day. In particular, she pays attention to one house, with one family. One day, she sees something shocking. It's just an instant, but she feels compelled to tell someone. But can she really be a reliable witness in an instant? This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, with lots of surprise twists and turns. The film stars Emily Blunt and Laura Prepon.


A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (in theaters Oct. 21)
Conor is a young boy whose mother has been very sick. One night, a monster shows up. It's a sort of tree-monster, but it's not the sort of monster you'd expect. This monster demands the truth from Conor, and truth is one of the hardest things to face. I loved this book and definitely recommend you read it before the movie comes out! There are beautiful drawings throughout and the story itself rings as a sort of fable. The movie is star-packed, with Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, and Liam Neeson.

American Pastoral by Philip Roth (in theaters Oct. 28)
Seymour "Swede" Levov is the all-American family man. He's a former high school athlete, hard worker, and stands to inherit a prosperous glove factory. He's living the American dream in post-WWII America. But in 1968, his world comes crumbling down when his teenage daughter does the unthinkable. This family drama won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 when it was first released. The film, starring Ewan McGregor and Dakota Fanning, looks like it is going to be a good one too.

Inferno by Dan Brown (in theaters Oct. 28)
Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is back to solving history's mysteries in this fourth installment in Dan Brown's series. This time, he's in Italy uncovering the mysteries of Dante's Inferno. As usual, Langdon is embroiled in a race to solve these mysteries. Brown delivers another successful historically-fueled thriller in the book, and Tom Hanks reprises his role as Robert Langdon in this film.

Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk by Ben Fountain (in theaters Nov. 11)
Hailed as "the Catch-22 of the Iraq War," this satirical novel revolves around Billy, part of a group of soldiers in Iraq who were awarded for their valor. As such, he and his group are on a "Victory Tour" to recognize their bravery. Billy and his friends are being paraded out to the public, media, and politicians during the course of the tour, which illuminates to them a lot of the hypocrisy of the war. The movie stars Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin, and Vin Diesel.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling (in theaters Nov. 18)
Okay, so this is a sort of spin-off from the Harry Potter series, but nonetheless, you'll want to see it if you are a fan of the Hogwart's world. Basically the book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was referenced in the Harry Potter series by the characters, and the book itself is an instruction book for the students of magic and wizardry. The movie will surround the creator of the (fictional) book Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne.

That takes us to the end of 2016, we'll be back in 2017 with the upcoming books to movies!

-Cailey