The Best Middle Grade & YA Book-to-Movie Adaptations (That Didn’t Ruin Everything). PS (A totally unbiased and not-at-all salty list)

 Let’s be real. YA and MG book-to-movie adaptations are either cinematic masterpieces or so bad they make you question life choices (looking at you, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief). But once in a while, Hollywood gets it right. Here are some of the best-received adaptations that didn’t make fans want to riot in the streets.

1. The Hunger Games (2012-2015)

Success Level: May the odds be ever in your favor
They actually respected the source material (crazy, I know). Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss? Perfection. The world-building? Top-tier. The emotional damage? Let’s just say I’m still recovering from Mockingjay Part 2.

2. Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)

Success Level: Yer a billion-dollar franchise, Harry!
Okay, not everything was perfect (justice for Peeves and book Ginny), but overall, the movies captured the magic of Hogwarts. Also, Alan Rickman as Snape? Unmatched.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Success Level: We are infinite (and emotionally wrecked)
The author himself directed this one, which explains why it actually stayed true to the book (take notes, Hollywood). Logan Lerman and Emma Watson delivered, and the tunnel scene? Chills. Every. Single. Time.

4. The Maze Runner Series (2014-2018)

Success Level: Way better than expected
Did they make changes? Yep. Did we care? Not really, because Dylan O’Brien carried the whole franchise on his back. The action was intense, the visuals were solid, and at least it didn’t end up like the Divergent movies (shudders).

5. A Monster Calls (2016)

Success Level: Beautiful and heart-wrenching
This adaptation was criminally underrated. It’s one of those rare films that makes you want to curl up in a blanket and rethink your entire emotional stability. Just… bring tissues.

6. Coraline (2009)

Success Level: Spooky, but make it iconic
Stop-motion animation was the perfect choice for this eerie, button-eyed nightmare. The vibes? Immaculate. The Other Mother? Certified horror villain. Also, Coraline herself is peak MG protagonist energy.

7. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Success Level: Childhood trauma unlocked
Anyone who went into this movie thinking it was just a fun fantasy adventure quickly realized they were lied to. It stayed faithful to the book’s heartbreaking message, which is why so many people are still emotionally recovering from it.

8. Holes (2003)

Success Level: "I can fix that."
Flawless adaptation. No notes. The cast? Amazing. The humor? On point. The fact that we all wanted to dig holes after watching it? Slightly concerning.

Honorable Mentions (a.k.a. “They Did a Decent Job”):

• Enola Holmes (2020-2022) – Fun, fresh, and Millie Bobby Brown owned the role.
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018-2021) – Cute, fluffy, and made us all wish we had a Peter Kavinsky.

What About the Not-So-Great Ones?

We’re not gonna talk about Eragon, The Mortal Instruments, or Artemis Fowl. Those just… never happened.

Did I miss your favorite (or least favorite) adaptation? Drop it in the comments! 😆