October 2008

NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST actually began when author Rachel Cohn mentioned to her friend, fellow writer David Levithan, her idea for a novel. Two New Jersey teenagers would meet at a music club in Manhattan and have an all-night series of adventures as they keep searching for where the next great band is playing. Levithan loved the idea so much that he asked if he could write Nick’s part, and Cohn agreed. A few months later, he sent her Nick’s opening chapter, and they began emailing each other back and forth for the rest of the summer. Without any planning, the book --- which Levithan has called “a truly kick-ass love story” --- thus emerged and has now been adapted into a major motion picture. Starring Michael Cera of Superbad and Juno fame, and releasing on October 3rd, this is one movie you won’t want to miss.

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Jay Baruchel
Director: Peter Sollett
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 3rd (wide)
Based on: NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST by David Levithan

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living and live, loud music. Nick frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play bass. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except their taste for music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.

Click here to read a review of NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST.

August 2008

Those of us who weren't quite ready to say goodbye just yet to Bridget, Carmen, Lena, Tibby and their magical pair of jeans are in for a treat this summer, as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 arrives in theaters on August 6th. This highly anticipated sequel to the 2005 adaptation of Ann Brashares's hugely popular novel is actually based on the fourth and final installment in the series, FOREVER IN BLUE (while showing flashbacks of events from books two and three). Catch up with the famous denim-clad quartet as they tackle new challenges in life and love while moving on to newer, unfamiliar paths toward adulthood.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Cast: Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 6th (wide)
Based on: FOREVER IN BLUE: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 catches up with the four lifelong friends whose story began with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Now in college and embarking on separate paths for the first time, each will feel the freedom, separation, love and challenging life lessons that mark their individual journeys toward adulthood. Though miles and worlds apart, they strive to stay in touch and share their new experiences and triumphs with heart and humor and, now more than ever, come to value the immeasurable power of their friendship.

Click here to read a review of FOREVER IN BLUE.

May 2008

The wait is finally over for those of you (like all of us at Teenreads.com!) who have been anxiously anticipating the next movie in the Chronicles of Narnia series, because Prince Caspian is now in theaters. This guaranteed summer blockbuster sequel, based on the classic good vs. evil tale by C. S. Lewis, will surely enthrall and enchant moviegoers of all ages with its epic adventure, whimsical fantasy and dazzling special effects.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Cast: Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Eddie Izzard, Warwick Davis, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes
Director: Andrew Adamson
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: May 16th (wide)
Based on: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN by C. S. Lewis

The characters of C. S. Lewis’s timeless fantasy come to life once again in this newest installment of The Chronicles of Narnia series, in which the Pevensie siblings are magically transported back from England to the world of Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage await them.

One year after the incredible events of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy.

The four children will soon meet an intriguing new character: Narnia’s rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of a kindly dwarf, Trumpkin, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians, led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian, embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz’s tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.

February 2008

Now that the holidays have come and gone, and the weather is as temperamental as ever, it's pretty easy to catch a case of the blues this time of year. Luckily, the two films in February’s Books into Movies feature promise to transport cinephiles to different times and places, offering the perfect escape from the winter doldrums. With flicks like Jumper, the big-screen adaptation of Steven Gould's YA novel about a young man gifted with the ability to teleport, and The Other Boleyn Girl, a juicy historical fiction tale from Philippa Gregory about two sisters vying for the affections of King Henry VIII, luckily you won't have to travel any farther than your neighborhood theater to visit Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Fiji, Egypt and even 16th-century England.

Jumper
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell, Diane Lane, Rachel Bilson, Michael Rooker, Katie Boland, Louie Torrellas
Director: Doug Liman
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Distribution
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: February 14th (wide)
Based on: JUMPER by Steven Gould

A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers that this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.


The Other Boleyn Girl
Cast: Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Rue McClanahan, Kristin Scott Thomas
Director: Justin Chadwick
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing, Focus Features
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: February 29th (wide)
Based on: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory

Based on the bestselling novel by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl is an engrossing and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in history. Two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, are driven by their ambitious Father and Uncle to advance the family’s power and status by courting the affections of the King of England. Leaving behind the simplicity of country life, the girls are thrust into the dangerous and thrilling world of court life --- and what began as a bid to help their family develops into a ruthless rivalry between Anne and Mary for the love of the King.

November 2007

The countdown officially has begun to belt-busting festive meals and seasonal celebrations, a couple of well-deserved weeks off from school and a fantastic lineup of buzzworthy movies perfect for the end-of-the-year blockbuster holiday season. With so many terrific book-inspired movies hitting the big screen, we thought we'd get ahead in this latest Books into Movies feature and spotlight the upcoming films in the next couple of months based on some of our favorite reads --- including the poignant and provocative The Kite Runner, the witty and bittersweet P. S. I Love You and the sci-fi fantasy epic The Golden Compass. From the magic of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep and the warm-and-fuzzy sentimentality of Martian Child, to the timelessness of Beowulf and the offbeat innovation of Persepolis, these movies will certainly pack your winter break schedule with multiple trips to the theater.

November

Martian Child
Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Joan Cusack, Sophie Okonedo, Oliver Platt, Bobby Coleman, Richard Schiff
Director: Menno Meyjes
Distributor: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: November 2nd (wide)
Based on: THE MARTIAN CHILD: A Novel About a Single Father Adopting a Son by David Gerrold

A recently widowed science fiction writer forms an unlikely family with a close friend and a young boy he adopts who claims to be from Mars. The new couple ignores some sage parenting advice from the widower’s sister and gets more than they bargained for when a series of strange occurrences leads them to believe that the child’s claim may be true.


Beowulf
Cast: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Hellion Glover, Alison Lohman, Angelina Jolie
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 16th (wide)
Based on: BEOWULF
Movie Tie-in: BEOWULF by Caitlin R. Kiernan and Neil Gaiman

In the age of heroes comes the mightiest warrior of them all, Beowulf. After destroying the overpowering demon Grendel, he incurs the underlying wrath of the beast’s ruthlessly seductive mother, who will use any means possible to ensure revenge. The ensuing epic battle resonates throughout the ages, immortalizing the name Beowulf.


December

The Golden Compass
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Daniel Craig, Tom Courtenay, Christopher Lee
Directors: Chris Weitz and Robert Shaye
Distributor: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: December 7th (wide)
Based on: THE GOLDEN COMPASS: His Dark Materials, Book 1 by Philip Pullman

Based on author Philip Pullman's novel, The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers --- and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well.


The Kite Runner
Cast: Khalid Abdalla, Homayon Ershadi, Shaun Toub, Atossa Leoni, Said Tashimaoui
Director: Marc Forster
Distributor: Paramount Vantage
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 14th (limited)
Based on: THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini

In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It's a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day's victory, one boy's fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban's iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.


P. S. I Love You
Cast: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Gina Gershon, Lisa Kudrow, Harry Connick Jr., Jeffrey Dean Morgan, James Marsters, Kathy Bates, Marcus Collins
Directors: Richard LaGravenese and Steven Rogers
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures Distribution
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 21st (wide)
Based on: P. S. I LOVE YOU by Cecelia Ahern

Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life --- a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry’s life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it’s a good thing he planned ahead.

Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly’s 30th birthday in the form of a cake and to her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to order her to get out and “celebrate herself.” In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way --- P. S. I Love You.

With Gerry’s words as her guide, Holly embarks on a touching, exciting and often hilarious journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into new beginning for life.


Persepolis
Cast: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian, Gabrielle Lopes, Francois Jerosme
Directors: Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 25th (limited)
Based on: PERSEPOLIS: The Story of a Childhood and PERSEPOLIS 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is the poignant story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It is through the eyes of a precocious and outspoken nine-year-old Marjane that we see a people’s hopes dashed as fundamentalists take power --- forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. Clever and fearless, she outsmarts the “social guardians” and discovers punk. Yet when her uncle is senselessly executed in the Iran/Iraq war, the daily fear that permeates life in Iran is palpable.

As she gets older, Marjane’s boldness causes her parents to worry over her continued safely. And so, at age 14, they make the difficult decision to send her to school in Austria. Vulnerable and alone in a strange land, she endures the typical ordeals of a teenager. Over time, she gains acceptance and even experiences love, but after high school she finds herself alone and horribly homesick. Though it means putting on the veil and living in a tyrannical society, Marjane decides to return to Iran to be close to her family.


The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
Cast: Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox
Director: Jay Russell
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: December 25th (wide)
Based on: THE WATERHORSE written by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by David Parkins

Rooted in one of the most enduring and intriguing legends of our time, The Water Horse begins with an enchanted egg. What hatches will set in motion an adventure that will take a young boy on the unforgettable journey of a lifetime.

October 2007

October's Books into Movies feature offers quite a treat for lovers of fantasy and big-budget epics à la The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. The Seeker: The Dark is Rising --- based on the award-winning series by Susan Cooper --- hit theaters on October 5th, providing a breathtaking battle of epic proportions between the forces of good and evil. The dazzling sets and jaw-dropping special effects, not to mention an addicting story full of magic and adventure, make this a must-see for moviegoers of all ages.

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
Cast: Amelia Warner, Gregory Smith, Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Jonathan Jackson
Director: David L. Cunningham
Distributor: Fox-Walden Media
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: October 5th (wide)
Based on: THE DARK IS RISING by Susan Cooper

A young man named Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of a group of immortals dedicated to fighting dark forces of evil. Traveling back and forth through time, Will uncovers a series of clues, some dating back to biblical times, that lead him to a showdown with forces of unimaginable power.

September 2007

September's Books into Movies feature offers something we just can't seem to get enough of here at Teenreads.com --- Harry Potter! Well, almost...

Hitting the big screen in limited release on September 14th was December Boys, starring everyone's favorite wizard, Daniel Radcliffe, in his first major role outside of the Harry Potter films. This edgy movie based on Michael Noonan's YA novel of the same name still knows how to pull on all the right heartstrings as Radcliffe's character Maps --- one of four orphaned boys competing for the affections of a young childless couple --- searches for love, friendship and a sense of belonging.

December Boys
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, Jack Thompson
Director: Rod Hardy
Distributors: Warner Independent Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures International
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: September 14th (limited)
Based on: DECEMBER BOYS by Michael Noonan

The "December Boys" are a close-knit band of four adolescent orphans all with the same birth month. The boys’ hope of ever being adopted grows slimmer with each passing year, and it isn’t until their first summer away from the orphanage that the fading hope of finding parents becomes a real possibility --- for one of them. The boys are befriended by a young couple who, unable to fall pregnant, decide to adopt one of the boys. They compete to be the most adoptable, severely testing their friendships when long gestating feelings of rejection explode to the surface. The boys’ deep friendship eventually overcomes their rivalries, sealing forever the strong ties that bind them.

August 2007

If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to wile away the last days of summer vacation sitting in an air-conditioned room, why not take a trip to the movies? August’s Books into Movies feature offers three irresistible films brimming with romance, adventure, magic and a little self-discovery along the way.

Jane Austen fans are in for a treat, because Becoming Jane --- a biographical portrait featuring the beloved author of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and the whirlwind romance with her very own Mr. Darcy --- hit theaters in wide release on August 10th, the same day as the big screen adaptation of STARDUST, Neil Gaiman’s fantasy about catching fallen celestials and finding your destiny in the process. The Nanny Diaries, opening on August 24th, tells a different kind of fairy tale, as a young woman in Manhattan fumbles her way through life and love while working as an Upper East Side au pair.

Becoming Jane
Cast: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith
Director: Julian Jarrold
Distributor: Miramax Films
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: August 3rd (limited); August 10th (wide)
Based on: BECOMING JANE AUSTEN by Jon Spence

Becoming Jane is the story of the great, untold romance that inspired a young Jane Austen. Willful and spirited, Jane is not ready to be tied down to anything but her writing. That is until she meets Tom Lefroy, a charming rogue from London who spends more time drinking and socializing than on his law studies.

Stardust
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Distributer: Paramount Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 10th (wide)
Based on: STARDUST by Neil Gaiman

Stardust begins in the sleepy English village of Wall, so named for the cobblestone wall that has, for eons, kept the villagers safely apart from the supernatural parallel universe that lies just on the other side. It is here that young Tristan Thorne makes a wild-eyed promise to the prettiest girl in the village, whose heart he hopes to win: that he will bring her back a fallen star. Now, in order to make good on his promise, Tristan will have to cross the forbidden wall, and enter a mysterious kingdom lit by unending magic and unfolding legends of which he will quickly become a part.

In this fantastical realm known as Stormhold, Tristan discovers that the fallen star is not at all what he expected but a spirited young woman injured by her cosmic tumble. Now, she is in terrible danger --- sought after by colossal powers including the King’s scheming sons for whom only she can secure the throne; and a chillingly powerful witch desperate to use the star to achieve eternal youth and beauty.

As Tristan sets out to protect the star and bring her back to his beloved on the other side of the wall, his journey will bring incredible encounters with a pirate captain and a shady trader, among other surprises. But if he can survive by his wits and the strength of his newfound love, Tristan will also uncover the secret key to his own identity and a fate beyond his wildest dreams.

The Nanny Diaries
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, Nicholas Reese Art, Donna Murphy, Alicia Keys, Chris Evans
Directors: Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 24th (wide)
Based on: THE NANNY DIARIES by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The Nanny Diaries tells the story of the emotional and often humorous journey of Annie Braddock, a young woman from a working-class neighborhood in New Jersey, struggling to understand her place in the world. Fresh out of college, she gets tremendous pressure from her nurse mother to find a respectable position in the business world, although Annie would prefer to trade in her blackberry for an anthropologist's field diary. Through a serendipitous meeting, Annie ends up in the elite and ritualistic culture of Manhattan's Upper East Side --- as remote from Annie's suburban New Jersey upbringing as life in an Amazon tribal village.

Choosing to duck out of real life, Annie accepts the position as a nanny for a wealthy family, referred to as simply "the X's." She quickly learns that life is not very rosy on the other side of the tax bracket, as she must cater to the every whim of Mrs. X and her precocious son Grayer, while attempting to avoid the formidable Mr. X. Life becomes even more complicated when Annie falls for a gorgeous neighbor of the X’s who she nicknames Harvard Hottie, and is forced to explore what she wants to do with her life.

July 2007

This is, without a doubt, the summer of Harry Potter! It's impossible not to get swept in the mania with two (yes, TWO) Potter releases heading our way. On July 11th, just days before the publication of the most anticipated book of the year, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes to the big screen, promising a darker, more intense story. This trip to the movies is the perfect way to catch up with the characters we all know and love before their ultimate fates are revealed in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, set to hit stores on July 21st.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, Imelda Staunton, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson
Director: David Yates
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July 11th (wide)
Based on: HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX by J. K. Rowling

Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts only to discover that much of the wizarding community has been led to believe that the story of the teenager's recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort is a lie, putting Harry's integrity in question. Worse, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, the duplicitous Professor Dolores Umbridge. But Professor Umbridge's "Ministry-approved" course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the Dark forces threatening them, so at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry is convinced to take matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army," Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.

December 2006

Just in time for the holiday break, the long-awaited film adaptation of ERAGON by Christopher Paolini swoops into theaters --- promising to deliver thrills and chills, and take our breaths away. With a star-studded cast and jaw-dropping special effects, this major motion picture very well may do justice to the first installment of the beloved and bestselling Inheritance trilogy

Eragon
Cast: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou, Garrett Hedlund
Director: Stefan Fangmeier
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Distribution
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: December 15th (wide)
Based on: ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

A boy named Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest. At first, he thinks it's a lucky discovery, something that will bring meat to his poor family for the winter. Instead, it brings a dragon hatchling, and Eragon is soon thrust into a world of magic and power through which he and the dragon must navigate.

June 2006

Fashion-craving and book-loving teens alike will be thrilled by the June 30th release of The Devil Wears Prada --- the film adaptation of the runaway (runway) bestseller from Lauren Weisberger. The movie stars a very grown-up Anne Hathaway, the star of The Princess Diaries, and Meryl Streep as her demonic boss. Grab some candy and a cold soda and thank your lucky stars that you're not stuck in Anne's too-tight Prada heels this summer.

The Devil Wears Prada
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Tracie Thoms
Director: David Frankel
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: June 30th
Based on: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA by Lauren Weisberger

Based on the bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada stars Meryl Streep as high-powered fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly. Anne Hathaway also stars as Miranda's new assistant, a small-town girl in her first job out of college, trying to navigate a world she's only glimpsed in print --- while surviving her impossibly demanding new boss.

May 2006

On May 5th, the movie version of Carl Hiaasen's HOOT hits theaters. Packed with surprising plot twists, quirky characters and offbeat humor, the book is a favorite among many readers and the film promises to be silly, screwball fun. But May holds more in store. With the May 19th release of The Da Vinci Code, an epic battle between the Owls and the Code ensues. Which are you more excited about? Stay tuned to Teenreads.com for details about this highly anticipated movie, our Da Vinci Code roundup and the opportunity to tell us what YOU thought of the film!

Hoot
Cast: Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Cody Linley, Blake Nelson, Luke Wilson
Director: Wil Shriner
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Release Date: May 5th
Based on: HOOT by Carl Hiaasen

Three middle-schoolers take on greedy land developers, corrupt politicians, and clueless cops in the mystery adventure HOOT, based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery Honor-winning book. It revolves around a Montana boy who moves to Florida and unearths a disturbing threat to a local population of endangered owls. Determined to protect his new environment, the boy and his friends fight to prevent the adults from making a big mistake.

The Da Vinci Code
Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany
Director: Ron Howard
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Release Date: May 19th
Based on: THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci --- clues visible for all to see, and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion, an actual secret society.

In a breathless race through Paris, London and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to work for Opus Dei --- a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic organization believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory's secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's secret --- and a stunning historical truth --- will be lost forever.

March 2006

This is the time of year when winter seems to have been going on for a long time, but summer still seems miles away. Luckily March’s Books into Movies feature offers you and your friends the chance to dive into the warm and sunny waters of Aquamarine --- a sweet and entertaining adaptation of Alice Hoffman’s tale of love, friendship and magic.

Aquamarine
Cast: Emma Roberts, Sara Paxton, Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque, Jake McDorman, Arielle Kebbel
Director: Elizabeth Allen
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 3rd
Based on: AQUAMARINE by Alice Hoffman

Two best friends, about to be parted forever, discover a sassy mermaid named Aquamarine in the pool of their neighborhood beach club. When the mermaid develops a crush on a local hunky lifeguard who works at the club, she enlists the girls' help to win his heart and in exchange offers to grant the girls one wish.

September 2005

The Outsiders: The Complete Novel - DVD release
Cast: Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Leif Garrett, Tom Waits, Diane Lane
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 20th
Based on: THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton

The tension between two groups, the Greasers and the Socials ("Socs"), puts Ponyboy Curtis and his best friend Johnny Cade in a bad spot. One night at the movies, Ponyboy and Johnny fall in love with Sherri "Cherry" Valance and Marcia once they get Dally Winston, the toughest and meanest of the Greasers, to stop attempting to "score" Cherry and Marcia. What Johnny and Ponyboy don't know is that Cherry and Marcia are girls for the snobbish, popular and rich group, the Socs. When Johnny kills Bob Sheldon, the toughest and meanest member of the Socs, the Socs demand a rumble against the Greasers.

Twenty-two years after its debut, Francis Ford Coppola has re-cut his 1983 film and, in an effort to be truer to S.E. Hinton's original novel, has added 22 minutes of extra footage. The special DVD release also features a new soundtrack and commentary from the cast.

Oliver Twist
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark, Harry Eden, Jamie Foreman
Director: Roman Polanski
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release Date: September 30th
Based on: OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens

In this adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, orphan Oliver Twist is forced to live in a workhouse lorded over by the awful Mr. Bumble, who cheats the boys of their meager rations. Desperate yet determined, Oliver makes his escape to the streets of London. Penniless and alone, he is lured into a world of crime by the sinister Fagin, the mastermind of a gang of pint-sized pickpockets.

August 2005

Speak
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Allison Siko, Steve Zahn, Robert John Burke, Michael Angarano, Eric Lively, Elizabeth Perkins, D.B. Sweeney, Megan Pillar, Hallee Hirsh
Director: Jessica Sharzer
Air Date: September 5th on Showtime and Lifetime Television
Based on: SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

Teased and taunted. Virtually ignored by close friends. Even pelted in the chest with a scoop of mashed potatoes in the school cafeteria amidst laughter from the entire student body. This isn't the ideal first day of high school for Melinda Sordino, a sharp, witty "everygirl" who turns into a social pariah following a tragic but obscure set of events at an end-of-summer party.

In the film adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's award-winning novel, Speak follows Melinda through her tumultuous freshman year as an outcast, revealing how she deals with isolation, loneliness, and the trauma of those indescribable events of that summer night that have rendered her physically and emotionally mute.

At once hilarious and utterly heartbreaking, Speak chronicles the journey of this young woman's struggle to express herself as she battles her own inner demons and the unforgiving social environment to finally confront and overcome her catastrophic experience last summer.

In an unprecedented television event, Speak will premiere simultaneously on Showtime and Lifetime on Monday, September 5th at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Immediately following the film, both networks will air a Public Service Announcement from RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization.

Also, beginning September 27th the movie will be available in DVD format, including bonus features such as commentary from Jessica Sharzer and Laurie Halse Anderson, behind-the-scenes footage, photo stills, and more.

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Carmen, Bridget, Lena and Tibby are coming to a theater near you --- along with their pair of magical jeans of course! June 1st marks the big screen release of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the highly anticipated film based on the bestselling novel by Ann Brashares. To celebrate, Random House has published three Sisterhood-related titles that fans will treasure. Click here to learn more about the movie and these wonderful tie-in books.


June 2005

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Cast: Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel
Director: Ken Kwapis
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: June 1st
Based on: THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by Ann Brashares

Based on Ann Brashares's bestselling novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants tells the story of one very special summer in the lives of four lifelong friends who are separated for the first time. On a shopping trip together, the young women find a pair of thrift-shop jeans that fits each of them perfectly. They decide to use these "magic" pants as a way of keeping in touch over the months ahead, each one wearing the jeans for a week to see what luck they bring her before sending them on to the next. Though miles apart, the four friends still experience life, love and loss together in a summer they'll never forget.

To celebrate the film's highly anticipated release, Random House has published three must-have books for fans of the Sisterhood. Go behind the scenes at the making of the movie with THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS: THE OFFICIAL SCRAPBOOK, which includes cast photos and movie stills. Read the Sisterhood's letters and notes (and more!) in KEEP IN TOUCH. And take a trip down memory lane with the movie tie-in edition of THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, complete with a 16-page photo insert.

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A good story can be told and re-told, and the proof is in the number of fall movies that are based on books this year. They include Friday Night Lights, The Polar Express, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Christmas With the Kranks (inspired by John Grisham's 2002 novel SKIPPING CHRISTMAS). If you're in the mood for the original, click on the Amazon link beneath the film headings and check out the books. See you at the movies!


October 2004

Friday Night Lights
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Garrett Hedlund, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black
Director: Peter Berg
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: October 8th
Based on: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger

Friday Night Lights chronicles the entire 1988 season of the Permian High Panthers of Odessa, Texas. While the team is fighting for a state championship, players, coaches and parents are struggling with their own personal conflicts.

November 2004

The Polar Express
Cast: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Peter Scolari, Nona Gaye, Eddie Deezen, Charles Fleischer
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: November 10th
Based on: THE POLAR EXPRESS by Chris Van Allsburg

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary ride on a steam train to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. This delightful film is based on Chris Van Allsburg's 1986 Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.


Christmas With the Kranks
Cast: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Gonzalo, Dan Aykroyd, Jake Busey
Director: Joe Roth
Distributor: Revolution Studios
Release Date: November 24th
Based on: SKIPPING CHRISTMAS by John Grisham

Luther and Nora Krank, a couple who usually looks forward to Christmas, decide to skip the big holiday this year; it just won't be the same without their daughter, who's vacationing in the tropics. They think about joining her in sunny paradise as a surprise --- but she ends up shocking them instead by cutting her trip early to spend Christmas at home. What follows is a mad scramble to prepare for a traditional Christmas on extremely short notice.


December 2004

I Am David
Cast: Ben Tibber, Joan Plowright, Jim Caviezel, Maria Bonnevie, Viola Carinci, Silvia De Santis, Fancisco De Vito, Paco Reconti, Hristo Shopov, Alessandro Sperduti
Director: Paul Feig
Distributor: Lion Gate Films
Release Date: December 3rd
Based on: I AM DAVID by Anne Holm

This is the story of 12-year-old David, who travels across Europe by himself in 1952 after boldly escaping from a Communist concentration camp in Bulgaria, where he has spent most of his life. Fleeing with only a compass, half a loaf of bread, and a sealed letter he must carry across the continent, David cannot foresee the dramatic odyssey that awaits him.


Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Cast: Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Jim Carrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Jennifer Coolidge
Director: Brad Silberling
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: December 17th
Based on: A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS by Lemony Snicket

Fourteen-year-old Violet is brave and a fast-thinking leader. Klaus, who's 12, is highly intelligent and obsessed with words. Sunny, an infant, speaks in a language only Violet and Klaus can understand, and she has a tendency to...bite. After their parents perish in a terrible fire, these three siblings are taken in by a series of odd relatives and other individuals, starting with Count Olaf, a demented evil genius who hatches one outrageous plot after another in order to get his hands on the children's vast inheritance.


An Unfinished Life
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Robert Redford, Josh Lucas, Becca Gardner, Morgan Freeman
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Distributor: Miramax Films
Release Date: December 24th
Based on: AN UNFINISHED LIFE by Mark Spragg

A rancher reluctantly takes in his impoverished and abused daughter-in-law, along with her preteen daughter, even though they have been estranged for quite some time.


The Merchant of Venice
Cast: Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Lynn Collins
Director: Michael Radford
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: December 29th
Based on: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare

In Venice, young Bassanio needs a loan so he can have enough money to impress Portia, a woman he wants to court and marry. Bassanio's friend Antonio arranges for a short-term loan of the money from Shylock, a Jewish usurer. Shylock, who has a deep-seated hatred for Antonio, demands a pound of his flesh if he can't pay back the loan.

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Did you like the book? Well now you can see the movie! Check out the newest summer flicks that are based on books to get another dose of the stories you love. And here's an extra special treat. Some of the films we've assembled have companion books that are based directly on the motion picture screenplay and take you behind-the-scenes at the making of the movie --- which means you can enjoy the story long after the credits stop rolling.


May 2004

New York Minute
Cast: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Andy Richter, Jared Padalecki, Riley Smith, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy
Director: Dennie Gordon
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: May 7th

New York Minute follows one monumental day in the lives of 17-year-old sisters Jane and Roxanne Ryan, adversaries who journey together from Long Island to New York City, where overachiever Jane is due to deliver a speech to qualify for a college scholarship abroad. Meanwhile, laid-back punk rock rebel Roxy hopes to go backstage at a music video shoot and give her demo tape to the band.

But Roxy's and Jane's plans go awry when a mix-up involving Jane's day planner lands them in the middle of a shady black market transaction. Pursued by an overzealous truant officer and accused of kidnapping a Senator's dog, the Ryans must find a way to overcome the forces that are threatening to jeopardize Jane's college dreams and send Roxy to a convent school.

Before (or after) watching Mary-Kate and Ashley on the big screen, why not read the movie book, NEW YORK MINUTE: The Movie Novelization? You can then get more backstory on the film by reading the prequel, THE SECRET OF JANE'S SUCCESS, and the sequel, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ROXY.

NEW YORK MINUTE: The Movie Novelization
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
HarperEntertainment
ISBN: 0060595094
192 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com.

Jane skips school to give a speech in New York that she hopes will make her dream of going to Oxford University come true. Meanwhile, Roxy skips school and heads into New York with a rock CD that she hopes will make her a star. But then, Jane is caught sneaking out of a fancy hotel wearing a towel, and Roxy is being chased through the New York City streets by two men she doesn't know. Jane and Roxy discover anything can --- and everything does --- happen in a New York Minute.

THE SECRET OF JANE'S SUCCESS
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
HarperEntertainment
ISBN: 0060595078
128 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com.

Jane has a three-step wish list: First, volunteer on a senator's campaign. Next, get elected student body president. Then, win a scholarship to Oxford University. Doesn't sound too difficult, does it? But what will Jane do when she uncovers a scandal, falls in love with her presidential opponent and, thanks to Roxy, ends up in trouble with the police?

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ROXY
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
HarperEntertainment
ISBN: 0060595086
128 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com.

There's something about Roxy. Something cool that snags her a hot job on a music video. Something wild that lands her on stage with a rock band. Something mischievous that pulls her sister Jane into trouble. Something sweet that finds her the romance of her life!

Shrek 2
Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Conrad Vernon, Kelly Asbury
Distributor: DreamWorks Pictures
Release Date: May 19th

Picking up exactly where the first movie left off, Shrek 2 takes us to the kingdom of Far, Far Away as Shrek and Fiona return to her homeland to tell her parents the good news. Not everyone is happy to find her married to an ogre, with the most irate in this group being Prince Charming, who was supposed to be the one to lift Fiona's curse. We're also introduced to the mysterious Fairy Godmother and a bar called the Poison Apple, where the villains of the fairy tale world hang out, including the great ogre-slayer, Puss-in-Boots.

If you simply cannot get enough of the green swamp-loving ogre and his companions, be sure to check out SHREK 2: The Movie Novel by Jesse McCann (Scholastic) and SHREK 2: The Movie Storybook by Tom Mason and Dan Danko (Scholastic).


June 2004

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis
Director: Alonso Cuaron
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: June 4th
Based on: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN by J.K. Rowling

Right before Harry's third year at Hogwarts, a new adventure begins when he has to go on the run after an incident where he was unable to control his anger. While on a bus, he hears about Sirius Black, a dangerous renegade wizard who has escaped from the infamous Azkaban Prison. What Harry doesn't suspect is that Black escaped to look for … him!


July 2004

Spider-Man 2
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons
Director: Sam Raimi
Distributor: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Release Date: July 2nd
Based on: The Spider-Man series by Stan Lee

Mild-mannered Peter Parker, who leads a dual life as a college student and a superhuman crime fighter, returns to the big screen. In this exciting sequel, Parker attempts to deal with numerous personal problems while Spider-Man confronts the brilliant Dr. Otto Octavius, who has been transformed into "Doctor Octopus" (a.k.a. "Doc Ock"), a multi-tentacled menace.

Author Peter David has written the official novelization of the film, SPIDER-MAN 2 (Del Rey/Ballantine), as the amazing adventures of one of the greatest superheroes of all time continue.


Catwoman
Cast: Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone, Lambert Wilson, Ellen Pompeo
Director: Jean-Christophe 'Pitof' Comar
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: July 23rd

When Patience Phillips just happens to discover a dark secret that her employer is hiding, she finds herself in the middle of a corporate conspiracy. In a mystical twist of fate, she is transformed into a woman with the strength, speed, agility and ultra-keen senses of a cat. With her newfound prowess and feline intuition, Patience becomes Catwoman, who balances on the thin line between good and bad. Her adventures are complicated by her relationship with Tom Lone, a cop who has fallen for Patience but cannot shake his fascination with the mysterious Catwoman, who appears to be responsible for a string of crime sprees plaguing the city.

The perfect companion to this movie is CATWOMAN by Elizabeth Hand (Del Rey/Ballantine). Discover all of Catwoman's sizzling secrets as she cracks her whip and sinks her claws into her most petrifying, death-defying adventure yet.


August 2004

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Heather Matarazzo, Hector Elizondo, Caroline Goodall, John Rhys-Davies, Callum Blue, Chris Pine, Julie Andrews
Director: Garry Marshall
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: August 11th
Based on: The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot

After getting over the revelation that she is a princess of the small and obscure European nation of Genovia, American teenager Mia moves to the actual country she represents, with her best friend Lilly accompanying her. As she learns the job of being a country's future ruler, one challenge she must face is the prospect of being set up in an arranged marriage.

   --- Compiled and written by Sara Shapiro

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After doing homework, taking tests, writing papers and tackling "required reading," we think one of the best ways to unwind on the weekend is to go to the movies. It's doubly great when there is a movie based on a book! There are two films that do just that that we think you'll enjoy:

The Perfect Score focuses on those dreaded S.A.T. exams --- and the six high school students who will do whatever they can to achieve perfect scores. The film, based on David Levithan's THE PERFECT SCORE, is now available in theaters.

In Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Lola and Carla do battle to determine who the "resident drama queen" is at their high school. To celebrate the film's February 20th release, Candlewick Press has published a movie tie-in paperback edition of Dyan Sheldon's CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN featuring a brand new cover.

Also available from Candlewick is the sequel, MY PERFECT LIFE, in which Lola tricks her best friend Ella into running for class president against the wickedly popular Carla.

January 2004

The Perfect Score
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Erika Christensen, Chris Evans, Bryan Greenberg, Darius Miles, Leonardo Nam
Director: Brian Robbins
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: January 30th
Based on: THE PERFECT SCORE by David Levithan

The six high school seniors in The Perfect Score believe that the Educational Testing Service, which administers the S.A.T. exams to anxious teenagers all across the country, isn't playing fair with the students, so they decide to rebel. They have one common goal --- to steal the answers to the S.A.T. --- and six different reasons for doing it.

February 2004

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Adam Garcia, Megan Fox, Alison Pill, Glenne Headly
Director: Sara Sugarman
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Release Date: February 20th
Based on: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN by Dyan Sheldon

Lola, a New York City teenager from Greenwich Village, is forced to move to the New Jersey suburb of Dellwood. Upon arriving at her new school, she discovers that Carla Santini is "the most popular girl" --- a title that Lola held at her old school. Determined to oust Carla from her reign, Lola has her sights set on landing the lead role in the next big school play, which Carla also hopes to star in.

Not to be outsmarted, Carla obtains tickets to the sold-out "farewell concert" of Lola's favorite band. Can Lola somehow sneak into the concert and sabotage Carla's latest scheme, while at the same time meet the band's English lead singer, Stu Wolff, whom she has a huge crush on?

Available now on video:

Holes
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette, Rick Fox, Khleo Thomas
Director: Andrew Davis
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Video Release Date: September 23rd
Based on: HOLES by Louis Sachar

A teenager named Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a Texas detention camp, for a crime he didn't commit. There, the warden tells the boys they must dig holes in order to "build character." But Stanley soon realizes that this isn't the real reason why they're being subjected to such treatment. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something --- and Stanley will do his best to dig up the truth.

October 2003