Read-to-Screen: Beautiful Creatures

AHHHHHH OMG! Beautiful Creatures THE MOVIE is hitting theaters everywhere this February. Just in time for your Valentine’s (or Gal-entine’s) movie date. Many of us go crazy over whether a movie does a great book justice. I feel like this one might do the book justice, but the book is pretty cinematic – from the moment you first step into the Deep South with its ominous weather and the even more ominous dreams of main character Ethan Wate – so it may be easy to make it into a great movie.

Here’s the scoop: Beautiful Creatures, out February 13, 2013. Who’s in it? This, I know, is key. Whose faces are going to take on the faces of the book characters you love? Ethan, our heart-throbby Southern misanthrope, will be played by relative unknown Alden Ehrenreich. He’s a little older than 16-year-old Ethan, so we’ll see if that truly works. Pale, mysterious, and beautiful Lena will be played by Alice Englert, another pretty unknown actress, hailing from New Zealand. The most well-known star to be seen in the cast is Emmy Rossum, of Phantom of the Opera fame, as Lena’s bad-girl cousin, Ridley. Also, Jeremy Irons will be Gatlin’s spooky-creepy Macon Ravenwood.

In advance of the movie, why not prowl the internet for all things Beautiful Creatures, re-read the books, and read other books that are similar, until you are well and truly excited!

• Start with author Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s website. Here, you can learn all about the writing duo, plus link to more info on the books.

• There are killer trailers and sneak peeks at the official website for the movie.

• Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird? There’s not a lot of thematic or plot overlap (besides the element of overcoming prejudice) in that American classic and the Beautiful Creatures series, but it is the book that Ethan Wate refers to in the beginning of Beautiful Creatures. Read it and get closer to Mr. Wate…

• And speaking of novels set in the south, check out some other Southern Gothics, like Texas Gothic and The Splendor Falls, both by Rosemary Clement-Moore, both of which feature characters with startling supernatural ability. Dying for more on the supernatural (and you know there’s no shortage of that!)? Go to The Calling by Kelley Armstrong and Misfit by Jon Skovron.

 

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Another in what seems like a recent obsession with books turned into movies, The Perks of Being a Wallflower – based on the book of the same name by Stephen Chbosky -  is finally in theaters! If you’re a remotely bookish/artistic/subculture/interesting/geeky/cool sort of person, I highly recommend you check it out NOW at Landmark Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee. Unlike many books turned movies, this one promises to rock pretty hard.

Besides the fact that this flick features everyone’s favorite Muggle, Emma Watson, it’s based on a really awesome book and truly captures the feel of its era – the late 90s. Haven’t read Perks of Being a Wallflower yet? Do so as soon as you can get your hands on it, and then delve into some other classics of YA lit from the 1990s.

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

One of those “coming of age” novels that everyone talks about, which basically means it’s about being a teenager and trying to make sense of this thing called life. Charlie, the titular wallflower, is a loner who is used to watching the action happen rather than being part of it. That passive stance, however, doesn’t always satisfy. You’ll fall in love with his perspective on how much life in high school can suck, and how much it sometimes doesn’t.

Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block

Reality meets fairy tale and everyday magic in punk-music-filled, neon-lit 1990s Southern California. The series follows Weetzie Bat and her family through decades of love, passion, heartbreak, magic accidents and tragic falls. Block takes on some very big issues, such as drug use and homophobia, in a beautiful way. Her writing captures the time period, yet her insight into love and family makes the tales timeless.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The book that put Laurie Halse Anderson on the map as a YA author. Melinda begins her freshman year of high school with a devastating secret: at an end-of-summer party, a popular senior raped her. Her status as a social outcast does nothing to help her recover from the trauma. Eventually she is able to come to terms with what happened to her and learn to deal with, if not totally conquer, the social pressure of high school.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Written in the style of a film script, this amped up drama about 16-year-old Steve, on trial for his involvement in a robbery that went wrong, is unbelievably real. Rife with questions of right versus wrong and guilt versus innocence, you’ll never forget Steve’s story.

Check these all out at Shorewood Libary (and/or other Milwaukee County Libraries) and start figuring out the perks of being from the 90s.

Summer 2012

Summer is here!! You can sign up for Teen Summer Reading right now and events start the week of June 11.  Summer events include Tie Dye, Movie Book Group, Hunger Games Book Group and Summer Game Days.  Check out the Events page for more info.

Here’s a printable flyer with info about all the teen summer events.

Hunger Games Movie Party

The Hunger Games Movie Party last night was amazing!  We had 45 enthusiastic tributes who got Capital makeovers, designed t-shirts, dressed in costume, and won amazing prizes!  Check out the pictures to see all the fun.

Hunger Games Movie Release Party

Join us March 22 from 7-9 p.m. for our Hunger Games Movie Release Party!  Test your knowledge with Hunger Games trivia, show your love for the book by designing a t-shirt, come dressed as your favorite character for the costume contest, and prepare for the games with a Capital makeover.  All this plus food and prizes!  The library closes at 8 p.m., so make sure you’re here by 7 p.m.  This event is recommended for students in 6th-12th grade.

For more info check out the Events page.

Teen Recommendations

Teen Advisory Board members talked about a lot of books, movies and TV shows at yesterday’s meeting; here’s what they recommend!

Books!

Teen Titles:
House of Night series by P.C. Cast
Matched by Ally Condie
Dark Life by Kat Falls
House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Nobody’s Princess by Esther Friesner
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Possession by Elana Johnson
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Morpheus Road by D.J. MacHale
Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Youth Titles:
Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Ghost Trackers : the unreal world of ghosts, ghost-hunting, and the paranormal by Chris Gudgeon

Adult:
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie R. King
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

TV & Movies!

Knowing (PG-13)
Emma  (PG; version with Gwneth Paltrow)
David Copperfield (PG; PBS version with Daniel Radcliffe)
Neverland (TV miniseries, 2011)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Sherlock (PBS)

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck is a novel told in words and illustrations that follows the story of Ben in 1977 Minnesota and Rose in 1927 New York City.  Ben’s story is told in text, like a “regular” book, while Rose’s story is told completely with beautiful pencil drawings.

Ben has recently lost his mother to a car accident and knows nothing about his father.  A chance discovery of a note in a book leads him to runaway in search of his father.

Rose, born deaf, leads a secluded life in New Jersey, where her family hopes to keep her safe.  When she runs away to New York City she embarks on an adventure at the American Museum of Natural History.

An enchanting and awe-inspiring story, Wonderstruck is revolutionary.  And if you haven’t read Brian Selznick’s other novel in words and pictures, the Caldecott Medal Winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I highly recommend that as well.  And watch for the Hugo Cabret movie coming this Thanksgiving.

For more info about Wonderstruck watch this fun book trailer.

Chanda’s Secret

The remarkable book Chanda’s Secrets by Allan Stratton has been made into an award winning movie Life, Above All.

Chanda’s Secret is the emotional story of a girl dealing with the AIDS epidemic while living in a small town in Southern Africa.

Check out the trailer; the movie will be at the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee starting August 19.

Soul Surfer

Just one summer event left and that’s the last Movie Talkers Book Group on Wednesday, August 3 at 6 p.m.  We’ll watch the movie version of Soul Surfer and then talk about the movie and the book by Bethany Hamilton.  Hope to see you there!

Hunger Games Movie

Entertainment Weekly has a feature article (with pics) about The Hunger Games movie! Check out a sneak peak.

What do you think of the casting?  Are you excited for the movie?