Need a good novel that has NOT been made into a movie

[digitaltim]

Ender's Game

 

[SAHDad]

I have some recommendations, but they run afoul of the "not made into a movie" requirement.

On the other hand, I would argue that, many, if not most movie adaptations, share so little with the original text that it's pretty obvious whether the student has referenced the book or the movie.

 

[englishteacha]

Hmmm...I teach a slightly younger set, but books my 8th graders have enjoyed were Harry Potter 7 (not yet a movie!), Pirates! by Celia Rees (also, most Celia Rees books), Philip Pullman's Sally Lockheart novels (Ruby in the Smoke is one). I've actually enjoyed all these, too. My nephew has to read Hot Zone for his summer reading. Speak is pretty good, too, by Laurie Halse Andersen.

 

[suzannews]

Thanks everyone, if you have any more suggestions, keep them coming!

I will pass the list along to my daughter to check whats available at the library.

 

[Beca]

I don't know if it makes the 200 page requirement.....but, I LOVED The Giver. She might want to look that one up.

 

[browneyes106]

A Lesson Before Dying was made into a HBO movie about ten years ago.

 

[bigtinkfun]

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. It's part of a series and lots of girls really like the whole series.

 

[Macca1111]

I don't know if it makes the 200 page requirement.....but, I LOVED The Giver. She might want to look that one up.

I thought it was closer to 100, but google tells me it's 198. That is a great book. I thought it was supposed to be a movie too, but I see production is stalled (2011 projected date now.) So that one's clear!

 

[IDoDis]

"Speak" has already been made into a movie (for dvd). My DD loved that book. She just finished "Wintergirls" the newest book by the same author (Laurie Halse Anderson). It's about a girl with anorexia. She said that book was excellent, as well.

 

[Cindy B]

I don't know if it makes the 200 page requirement.....but, I LOVED The Giver. She might want to look that one up.

Its not quite 200 pages.. . (I did a unit on it!)

You could check either Milkweed or any one of the Stargirl books (there are 2) by Jerry Spinelli. Milkweed is a heavier topic, but it is an excellent book.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am assuming your daughter will be a Frehsman in highschool (not college) with these reccomendations. All have a lot to work with as far as writing about them:

If she wants to do a "classic" she could do Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. There was techinically a movie made last year--however this "film" is just over an hour of a plain blue screen with nothing on it (yes, seriously) so I think she could get away with using this novel!

Sci-Fi: Robert's Heinein's The Moon is a Harsh Misstress

Fantasy: Robin McKinnley's The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown or Spindle's End (the first two are a set and completely original--the third is a take on the Sleeping Beauty story)

Modern:
13 Reasons Why by Jay Ahser (deals with teen suicide--I have not read this one but DD tells me it is sad but good and would work well for a report/essay)

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (teen struggles with image, family issues, anorexic sister, etc. done well)

 

[blana]

Ender's Game
Enchantment
Saints
All by Orson Scott Card

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 18yodd has to read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" for her freshman yr. in college. Now I checked the IMBD and while it appears that it is going to be made into a movie, it has not yet.

 

[LukenDC]

The Italian by Ann Radcliffe or Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho. Radcliffe was a prominent 18th Century Gothic novelist and her books were wildly popular at the time and helped to influence jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and others. The books are filled with mystery and intrigue as peril relentlessly pursues the young Gothic heroines.

Radcliffe is a favorite of college English professors because of her poetical descriptions of landscape and vivid descriptions of the "sublime."

 

[Ilivetogo]

If I Stay

(208 pp)

 

[2cats1kid]

Dumb Brit here who doesn't know how old a freshman is, but my daughter is going into our year 8 (rising 13 year olds) and I'm happy to post her summer reading list if it helps.

One I remember off it is Tamar by Mal Peet as I am reading it currently and really enjoying it. A friend of mine (adult) has also read and enjoyed it. It is about the Dutch resistance in WW2 and is set part in 1944/5 and part in the present day as a 15 year old girl finds out about her grandfather's past following his suicide.

 

[clarabelle]

2 cats
Freshman are either the first year of high school -9th grade (14 y.o.s mostly) or the first year of college (18 y.o.)

 

[2cats1kid]

Ty, Clarabelle I would say if she is a high school freshman then Tamar would be perfect and even for an 18 yo I think it would be good. I'm (mumble mumble) years old and enjoying it.

 

[Sparx]

The Catcher In The Rye doesn't have a movie. Its my favorite book in the world, and its such a great topic to write about.

Looking for Alaska (the movie rights have been released, but no movie yet).

 

[paintnolish]

The Book Thief is being made into a movie (I can't wait-awesome book), but I think your dd should be okay! Water for Elephants was good (quick read but not really earth shattering for me). I know a lot of freshman read Ender's Game for class. The Thirteenth Tale is awesome (gothic, Victorian feel). The Handmaid's Tale is good (makes you think about the role of a woman) but I think it wasd a made for t.v. movie or something.