Movies: Young-Adult Heroines
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1
Nov. 21
If you thought Catching Fire was dark, you ain’t seen nothing yet. In Mockingjay — Part 1, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) endures more violent loss and personal betrayal when she reluctantly becomes the face of the rebellion seeking to overthrow the Capitol. Director Francis Lawrence, returning for the two-part finale, is undaunted by the challenge of adapting the last book in Suzanne Collins’ beloved trilogy. “Even though it may be the toughest and people view it as the bleakest,” he says, “it’s the story that gives meaning to all of them.” —Nicole Sperling
The Fault In Our Stars
June 6
When Shailene Woodley read John Green’s poignant best-seller, she knew she wanted to portray protagonist Hazel Grace, a funny, tough, and resolute teen who falls for Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. Woodley assures us that Ansel Elgort, who plays Augustus, shares her passion. “We’re both committed to making it exactly as John Green depicted it,” Woodley says. “I can’t even talk about it without crying.” —Sara Vilkomerson
Divergent
March 21
Beatrice “Tris” Prior, the teenager at the center of Veronica Roth’s best-selling YA trilogy, isn’t your typical action figure. “I like superhero movies but I like that Tris is not one,” says director Neil Burger. Instead, Tris (Shailene Woodley) must teach herself to be brave in a dystopian city whose residents are divided into five factions devoted to different virtues. “The themes of the book are so interesting — of free will and determinism,” says Theo James, who plays Tris’ enigmatic love interest, Four. “It can be not only a cool love story and adventure but make you question your own being. Wait,” he says, “did that sound pretentious?” —Sara Vilkomerson
Other YA Faves
Vampire Academy (2/14)
A boarding school for teen bloodsuckers (including Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland).
The Giver (8/15)
Newcomer Brenton Thwaites plays Jonas, the hero of Lois Lowry’s 1993 book, who is chosen to store humanity’s past memories.
The Maze Runner (9/19)
In this dystopia, a group of (mostly) boys is trapped in an impossible, critter-filled maze.
