Be the change you want to see. The authors of books for those thirteen and older, known as the Young Adult (YA) genre, recognize the profound influence that seeing a character like oneself in literature can have on their readers. The diversity in YA literature is evident in the settings, characters, and situations found in today’s works and even amongst the writers themselves.
Although Hollywood has a long way to go in regards to representation, the following are some examples of YA lit-to-film adaptations that are providing opportunities for more inclusive stories to be told.
And no. Just having one film to represent a “demographic” isn’t good enough. We need multitudes of films that reflect the amazing diversity that exists in our world. This is only just the beginning.
1. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
What it’s getting right: Highlighting Ability Differences
The main character of this film is Trevor, a teenager living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and requiring a wheelchair as well as a caregiver for his day-to-day life. He has dreams of seeing what is beyond the walls of his house and wants to meet his father. His new caregiver, thirty-nine-year-old Ben dealing with his own setbacks, is willing to make that happen. Trevor and Ben have a lot to teach each other and become the unlikeliest of friends. This road trip/coming of age mash-up reminds us that we all have similar hopes and dreams despite our own unique challenges.
2. The Hate U Give (2018)
What it’s getting right: Opening a Dialogue on BLM
Angie Thomas was inspired to write the story this film was adapted from after the police shooting of Oscar Grant, an unarmed, young Black man in Oakland, California. The main character, Starr, is with her friend Khalil when they are pulled over by the police. Reaching for his comb, Khalil is fatally shot. Starr is left reeling and must decide whether to speak out. The decision is complicated by Starr’s two different lives, neither of which she fits in: one where she attends a wealthy, majority-white, private school and the other where she lives with her blended family in a neighborhood that is no stranger to violence. The film emphasizes the point that social injustice isn’t just Starr’s problem to solve, it belongs to all of us.
3. Five Feet Apart (2019)
What it’s getting right: Teens Living With Chronic Illness
YA books’ themes shifted from dystopian worlds to reality-based stories with The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, whose characters have terminal cancer. The main characters in this love story have Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic illness that affects many organs, most notably the lungs and leads to a shorter life expectancy. Released prior to the pandemic, the story illustrates the social distancing that those with CF live with all of the time. The film does not shy away from showing the very realistic details of how CFaffects people, medically and emotionally. This is thanks to the guidance of Claire Wineland, a young activist with CF who worked with the director as a consultant and passed before the movie was released.
4. The Divergent Series (2014, 2015, 2016)
What it’s getting right: A Gutsy Female Not Defined by Anyone but Herself
This collection of movies is based on the three-book dystopian series in which the heroine, Tris, is finding her place in a broken world. Her troubles begin when she does not fit into the ascribed categories that one must be sorted into at age sixteen. In addition, she begins to realize that all is not it appears in the society in which she lives nor in her own family. Tris as the heroine is vulnerable and strong, naïve and wise, all at the same time. She is definitely not waiting around for anyone to save her. Though not the typical happily ever after ending, the conclusion of the series is authentically Tris and ultimately satisfying.
5. To All the Boys Series (2018, 2020, 2021)
What it’s getting right: A POC as a Romantic lead
Korean-American Lara Jean has grown up reading romance novels and has no experience in that department at all. After striking up a deal with high school classmate Peter Kavinsky, she begins playing the role of “girlfriend” and finds she likes it very much. The movies do feature a glimpse of Korean culture but the best part is that the focus is on Lara Jean as a typical teenager with typical teenage problems. This series offers viewers a couple to root for that looks less like what the typical rom-com has to offer and more like who you might spy in high school hallways.
6. The Sun is Also a Star (2019)
What it’s getting right: A Couple Born Out of the Melting Pot
This movie smashes the rom-com mold even harder than To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The male lead is Daniel, who is Korean American. The female lead is Natasha, who is Jamaican American. The good news is that they spend a magical day together in New York City getting to know each other, their cultures, and the families that have helped to shape who they are. The bad news is that Natasha is about to be deported and this day is the only one that they have. A nod to author Nicola Yoon for giving us an unconventional ending through the eyes of characters who we hope are paving the way for new conventions.
7. All the Bright Places (2020)
What it’s getting right: A Spotlight on Mental Illness
Teenagers living it up are what we have been given in the past as the usual adolescent tropes. However, as many adolescents can attest to living in a pandemic and separated from friends, depression is a very real and prevalent issue for this age group. In this movie, we see a young man struggling with depression while trying to lift the spirits of a classmate who is hampered with her own mental health issues. There is a lot of discussion of suicide and a very frank portrayal of the main character's spiral. More movies like this can facilitate us getting a step closer to it being okay to talk about mental well-being without the stigma and hopefully, making it easier to reach out for help.
8. Love, Simon (2018)
What it’s getting right: A LGBTQ Character in the Lead
This movie based on the book Love vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli celebrates what falling in love as a teenager is all about. It’s complicated. And if it just happens to be same-sex love? Then it’s really complicated. This story touches on the struggles of the main character, Simon, admitting his sexuality to his family, friends, and love interest. The best parts of the film are the playful scenes imagining the tables are turned and heterosexuals have to come out to their parents and that homosexual love is the norm. It gives us hope for a day when all love will be respected for what it is, just plain love.
9. Real Women Have Curves (2002)
What it’s getting right: A Latina Experience and Positive Body Image
This movie based on a play is important for several reasons. Ana García has just finished high school and has dreams of college and a career in writing. She is working in a factory to earn money to afford school. At first, she is just biding her time. She soon realizes after spending time with the older women in the factory that education can be found in more than just a textbook. The story weaves in issues of living in America undocumented and loving yourself, including your body no matter its size. Almost twenty years old, this movie still stands up and is waiting for the next YA adaptation to take the baton. May I suggest I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez?
10. Hasn’t Been Made Yet TBD
What it’s getting right: Representing All the Diverse Experiences
Okay, so this is a plea for films that don’t yet exist. Unfortunately, there is still a very long list of all of the faces and voices that still need to be portrayed. We need representation from all regions of the world and all cultures and religions. All those dealing with mental and physical issues to social and socioeconomic injustices to gender and sexuality discrimination. So let’s go, Hollywood. The books are being written. Now it's your turn.
What other adaptations would you applaud? What diverse book should be made into a movie? Who do you want to see on the big screen?