This month, Teen Board member Sara J. came up with a great idea for our Teen Board question --- which YA book would you adapt into a movie, and why? Below, Sara shares an extended version of her answer --- THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith --- as well as a few runner-up choices.
I would choose to adapt THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith into a movie because when I read it two years ago, it was unorthodox to me and unlike a lot of other books I was reading at the time.
Overall, this book is about two teenagers who meet by chance at the airport and gradually start to form an endearing and authentic relationship over the span of a day. Even though this seems like quite a short time period, it's not an immediate, love-at-first-sight kind of love. The characters are well-developed and likable, and serious scenes are dispersed throughout that make the story seem that much more realistic. These events could certainly happen to an average traveler with some luck up their sleeve.
If this novel was adapted correctly, I believe it would be an amazingly profound and enchanting movie for all ages --- except maybe children because there is a death involved. The airport setting and the varying backgrounds of the characters is similar (in my opinion) to the Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones movie The Terminal, although the story does venture out of the airport. I know that this would be a refreshing movie different from anything released of late.
To learn more, you can also read this wonderful review by the New York Times.
And a few book-movie runners up:
The Selection Trilogy by Kiera Cass--- This would be like a dystopian, elegant version of The Bachelor
THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan--- It's a zombie novel, except better than all the rest. It’s also a trilogy.
SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi--- This is also a trilogy, with a very original storyline.
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher --- This is another unique story.
Sara J. is a member of the Teen Board.
