When it comes to books, young adult fiction tops the list. Authors of this genre create stories and characters that compel readers to create connections. For example, John Green who wrote “The Fault in Our Stars” has gained fans around the globe who became emotionally invested in Augustus Waters, Hazel Lancaster and the love between them. In fact, readers become so enthralled with their favorite books that Hollywood takes on movie adaptations of these beloved stories in order to bring them to life on the big screen.
Just this year, several movie adaptations of popular young adult fiction books are hitting theaters. After “The Fault in Our Stars” topped the box office in June, other films like “If I Stay” and “The Giver” tried their luck at transitioning from page to screen. Making this transition usually comes with decisions about making changes from the novel or even leaving certain characters out. Some readers expect adaptations to match the text perfectly, but setting their hopes that high is unrealistic.
Film is a different medium of entertainment compared to text. Each form comes with its difficulties. For instance, film directors face time constraints since the typical audience refuses to sit through more than a couple hours to see an adaptation of a book that is several pages long. For instance, “The Fault in Our Stars” contains 313 pages. The film hits most of the plot points, but many readers left the theater perplexed that Augustus Waters’ past girlfriend never comes up in the film. The director may have left out this detail in order to show more footage of the main characters and strengthen their love story. Movies rely on the theme of romance to catch the audience’s attention since love and affection are typical social conventions of today’s culture. This could also explain why the adaptation of “The Giver” reveals a love story between the young characters that is not present in the novel.
Some readers might be able to understand these kinds of decisions upon watching the film. Directors want to make their movies as appealing as possible so having time limits and creating love stories might be advantages. Other choices like changing the age of characters might seem like careless mistakes. Either way, a film adaptation will never be an exact replica of a book to every reader because they see their beloved characters and stories in many different ways. One reader may see a character as a secondary piece of the book, while another may see him as a crucial part of the plot. A director may even add a love story to reach a broader audience. Between differing interpretations and popular social conventions, the path from book to movie is a different route for everyone from authors to directors to readers. However, both authors and directors are united by their desire and dedication to share the story with as many people as possible, and readers should be satisfied with that.