March is Reading Month: Are these books better than their movies?
“The book is better.”
This is what most booklovers say when in a conversation about books that have been made into movies. They believe that the book gives more details and connects to the audience more than a movie can.
Students at KHS agree with this well-known statement.
Two popular books that have been made into movies are “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green and the “Maze Runner” series by James Dashner.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green was published in 2012 and became a film in 2014.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green
Anyone who has read this book or any other book by Green knows how he can pull at his readers’ heartstrings.
This book is about an unconventional love story between teenagers Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters.
The love story between these two starts in an odd place for romance — a cancer support group.
Lancaster has been going to the support group to appease her mom in coping with her lung cancer. Waters goes to support his friend, Issac, who has cancer in his eyes, so Waters can share his story of his bone cancer with the rest of the group.
Waters and Lancaster alternate between happiness and disappointment throughout the novel and show the reader the meaning of true love and heartbreak, while also adding in some whit and sarcasm from the characters.
This book was made into a movie in 2014 but the original story continues to hold a special place in the hearts of readers.
Freshman Hannah Simms enjoys Green’s book and would recommend it to others.
“Throughout reading this book, I was on an emotional roller coaster,” Simms said. “The plot of the book was planned out so well. This book can be very relatable to teens today.”
Simms watched the movie, but like all booklovers, believes the text beats out the screenplay.
“I, by far, think the book is better,” Simms said. “In the book it explains the events in better detail than the movie.”
“The Maze Runner” series by James Dashner was entirely published in 2016 and the latest movie, “The Death Cure,” was released in 2018.
“The Maze Runner” series by James Dashner
Readers who enjoy dystopia settings and action, this series is for you.
This series is about a group of teenagers who are transported to The Glade, and the only thing they can remember is their name. Nothing else.
Outside the walls of The Glade is a giant maze with creatures who come out at night. The maze is their only way out, but no one has been able to make it out alive.
Many lost hope until a girl named Teresa shows up and is the last person sent to The Glade; she is also the first girl.
Teresa and Thomas begin to remember things, but they are the only ones. Soon they remember how they got there and begin to find a way out.
Thomas and the other inhabitants of The Glade are now on a mission to get out and fight the people who put them there.
The series has five books and a small, 50-page companion book called “The Maze Runner Files.”
The books, in order, are as follows: “The Maze Runner,” “The Scorch Trials,” “The Death Cure,” “The Kill Order,” and “The Fever Code.”
The latest book, “The Fever Code,” is a prequel to the first installment, “The Maze Runner.”
The first movie, “The Maze Runner,” was released in 2014 followed by the second movie, “The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” in 2015.
Producers made the fans wait a long time for the third chapter of the series to come out, with the latest movie, “The Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” being released Jan. 16, 2018.
Sophomore Devon Perkins enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others because of the lessons it teaches.
“I enjoyed this book because it was action packed and full of adventure,” Perkins said. “During the book, it makes you realize that you need the help of others to overcome challenges.”
Perkins enjoyed that “everyone thought it was a free-for-all inside of the maze.”
He watched the movies, and while they were better than Perkins expected them to be, he still thinks the book is better.
Other books made into movies:
- “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins
- “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth
- “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
- “Red Sparrow” by Jason Matthews
- “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, release date Thursday, March 29, 2018
Birthday: June 3, 2000
Extracurricular activities: volleyball
Hobbies: Reading
Plans after high school: Go to college to be a sign language...
