Animation And Its Potential To Break The Mold For YA Adaptations {Book Blog Discussion}

It’s either a reader’s dream come true or their worst nightmare to see beloved YA books adapted on screen. But we can’t ignore how incredibly exciting it is for that moment we’re able to rush to the theaters or tune into Netflix and see our favorite books come to life, regardless of its faithfulness to the source material.

With that in mind, think of any Young Adult adaptation in recent years whether you liked it or not. Have you noticed something they all have in common?

They’re all live action.

From contemporary to dystopia: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Hate U Give, and iconic franchises such as The Hunger Games and Twilight, to name a few. They’ve all found their way to both the big and small screens featuring real-life actors and sets.

Consider the most recent adaptation deal that’s got readers everywhere excited, Shadow And Bone.

It was announced back in January, Netflix acquired the rights to Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy world of the Grishaverse to be adapted as a live-action television show.

While it’s great to see the steady progress thus far for Shadow And Bone, consider the potential YA adaptations could have, especially in fantasy, to develop ground-breaking work in the field of animation.

Think about the influence Japanese animation has had on audiences with creators that have impacted the industry around the globe, such as Satoshi Kon and Hayao Miyazaki to name a couple. From beloved anime films and series that have found audiences worldwide to even more recent works such as Violet Evergarden (from Kyoto Animation), Your Name, Mob Psycho 100, and Demon Slayer.

Japanese animation reminds audiences how 2-D (and 3-D) animated projects carry emotion, heart, depth, and legacy to storytelling in a way that can’t be done in through any other medium.

With regards to adapting written works/established properties Kyoto Animation (a beloved Japanese animation studio that develops unique and captivating stories), for years has had its “Kyoto Animation Awards.“ This award grants a prize to written works (full length & short novels) written in Japanese, which are then adapted into anime.

At its core, what makes animation such a beautiful art form is its unique ability to portray a range of emotion, color, and imagination you just can’t capture through live action.

Animation can present itself in a variety of ways from traditional 2-D to hand-drawn, and even stop motion. Its limitless and that’s what makes it such a powerful medium capable of pushing boundaries and expanding on new horizons.

In animation everything is intentional, from the heightening of expressions, pauses, motion, and subtleties. The versatility of this art form can create certain atmospheres that portray much more beyond just what we see on screen.

One animation powerhouse that understands this very well is Studio Ghibli. The films they create, showcase a balance between fantasy and reality.

One of the many tasks within animation, is creating a unique world that’s both immersive and real to the audience. This studio is just one example of how that can be done successfully, even when adapting written works, such as Howl’s Moving Castle.

Think about the 2018 animated film, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. It’s the unique “vintage comic-book aesthetic,” according to The Vulture’s article discussing how it changed the game of animation, that won audiences over and set this feature apart.

Into The Spider-Verse centers around teenager Miles Morales, whose from an African and Puerto-Rican background, as he takes up the role as Spiderman and embarks on the grand adventure of becoming a hero.

From sci-fi to fantasy, contemporary, historical fiction, and the paranormal, this medium has the unique ability to bend rules or break them entirely in ways live-action just can’t―and that’s the magic of animation.

Consider the potential for more inclusive and diverse storytelling featuring YA, if they were to be animated features.

One author that comes to mind is Anna-Marie McLemore. She’s a YA author known for her lush magical realism novels that feature Latina protagonists and Queer representation.

For example, consider if one were to adapt McLemore’s 2016 novel When The Moon Was Ours. Throughout it, she layers wondrous prose alongside themes of family, friendship, and identity.

With animation, it would be possible to bring to life the meaning behind Sam’s painted moons, the flowers that grow from Miel’s wrists, and the vivid imagery that weaves its way throughout McLemore’s masterful writing!

Breaking the mold of live-action adaptations can unlock more doors for opportunities to feature YA that identify as #OwnVoices and are written by authors of color. The creativity that comes with animation can bring their works to life beyond the page like never before.

Thank you so much for checking out this post! I’ve been wanting to create more unique discussion posts to share on the blog and this is one that’s been on my mind for a while, in regards to YA adaptations! There’s many more sides to this discussion I’m looking to share in the future, but please let me know your thoughts on the one I’ve shared today 🍃📚😍

Do you have an ideas on what YA Books you would want to see as an animated film or show? Lets discuss in the comments 😄💖📚🎨

King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo {Bookish Theories}

I’ve been wanting to create more book features for the blog to talk about all the wonderful books I’ve read or am planning to read, so that’s why I’m so excited to share Bookish Theories today!

Bookish Theories is a feature I was inspired to create which came into my mind while scrolling through twitter, seeing all the upcoming books people were excited for, and thinking about my own TBR for the upcoming year!

The idea is that I list my thoughts or theories about the book before I read it & spark conversation with those who are looking forward to it too 😍📚✨

With Bardugo’s King Of Scars being such an anticipated YA Release just a week away now and already forming theories about it myself, I thought her book would be a great one to start off the series! (*SPOILERS AHEAD for Ruin & Rising & Crooked Kingdom)

Let me know what you think of my theories & list yours in the comments below! 

King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (Nikolai Duology #1)
Available for Pre-Order through The Book Depository (Paperback)

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Pages: 528

Summary: Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Bookish Theories

1. I’ve already read a couple pages of chapter excerpts, so I do know its written in 3rd person, but I haven’t read past Ch.1! So, I’m guessing the book will have multiple POV’s similar to Six Of Crows & Crooked Kingdom.

2. From the summary we know Nikolai is now king and looking to help improve Ravka’s finances & gain allies! So, I believe there’ll be a lot of traveling in this book!

3.Zoya! I think this one may be obvious because she was with Nikolai in Crooked Kingdom, but I think she’ll have an even bigger role in King Of Scars compared to previous books! (Even a POV)

4.Because Nikolai was originally from the Grisha Trilogy, I think we’ll be getting a good amount of backstory to catch us up on what happened in between its end to now!

5.With the events that happened in Ruin And Rising, Nikolai will probably still be recovering mentally. With the summary stating a Grisha Squaller will help him, I think this plot point will appear before the 50% mark, maybe shortly after!

6.Nina! With the reveal earlier last year of her POV, I think there’ll be a lot of exploration of her evolved power as a Heartrender and the grief she feels for Matthias! But, its obvious she’ll pull through!

7.I also think Nina will have a big hand in helping the Grisha army against the “big threat”

8.This one is a bit out there & I’m positive it’ll unlikely happen, but I feel the Dregs will have some sort of cameo? Whether its in a brief flashback, description or maybe a quick appearance! (My bet is on either Inej or Kaz?)

9.With this being Nikolai’s book there’ll be a lot of world-building when it comes to the inner politics and history/development of the setting!

10. Even though there’s a lot that Nikolai will be going through, I think overall the atmosphere and feel in King Of Scars will be hopeful! Because the previous books had a very dark atmosphere and story, this book feels like it’ll be a welcoming light & represent the change/growth to the world & characters since the Grisha Trilogy!

11. *The Darkling will for sure be included one way or another! There’s no doubt in my mind that Bardugo is going to weave him somehow into the “rising threat” or Nikolai’s increasing dark magic!

12.As a big Kingdom Hearts fan & having compared the series to the Grisha Trilogy, I’m pretty certain there’ll be a lot of discussion about the light vs. dark!

13.Back to Nina, our Waffle Queen✨👑! With the loss of Matthias, I think there’ll still be echoes of him that we hear from her POV! Like her still hearing his voice or her thinking about him in little moments of the story!

14.I think the story will have an interesting split in tone/setting! What I mean is I feel the first 50% or so will focus on Zoya, & Nina in Ravka helping Nikolai & Nikolai doing his work as king (with continuous action, etc.)! But I feel after, the story will go in a more “quiet” direction as Nikolai goes to the Squaller for help with the dark magic inside of him!

15.I mean it can’t be a Grishaverse book without the Grisha! So, I’m guessing there’ll be more in-depth discussion of Grisha powers! Even how they’ve changed since Ruin & Rising!

16.I’m also absolutely certain there’ll be a reference to Alina + Nikolai! I also theorize that Zoya will also mention Alina & fill in gaps on whats happened to her!

17.This one I’m not to sure of now that I’m writing it, but I think there’ll be a couple references to both the Darkling & Alina when they were together in the Grisha Trilogy!

What are your theories for King Of Scars? 👑✨⚔

Are you looking forward to Leigh’s next book in the Grishaverse? 🤩🎉🎉✨⚔

August 2018 Wrap-Up

# Of Books Read: 4

1.A Thousand Beginnings And Endings edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman

Library | Started July 28 + Finished August 2 | Rating: ★★★★☆ | A Thousand Beginnings And Endings Full Review

Overall Thoughts: This is a wonderful YA anthology that contains 15 short stories inspired by East & South Asian Folklore/Mythology! There are stories inspired by myths/folklore from Korea, the Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, & much more! Every author’s story delivers its own unique spin to their favorite tales. Within each story, the writing pulls you in! While there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, this is not an anthology to miss! While I loved so many of the stories, these were some that were definitely my favorites: Forbidden Fruit, Olivia’s Table, Land Of The Morning Calm, The Smile, Bullet Butterfly, & Daughter Of The Sun!

2. Interludes From Melancholy Falls Vol. 1 by Jeff Heimbuch

Owned | Started August 3 + Finished August 6 |Rating: ★★★★☆ | Interludes From Melancholy Falls Vol. 1 Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Fans of the Return Home podcast do not want to miss out on this short story collection! Filled with 16 short stories, Heimbuch expands on the world of the Return Home podcast, by centering the stories around the lesser known settings and characters! Told through different mediums, each story builds into the world or even an episode of the show! Because the stories are more character/plot-driven, there are moments when the descriptions were a bit minimal! However, this is a great addition for readers looking to learn more about the world of Return Home!

3.Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo (The Grisha Trilogy #1)

Owned | Started + Finished August 14 |Rating: ★★★★★ |Tattered Sundays feat. Shadow And Bone

Overall Thoughts: Not much to say other than I loved it even more than when I read Shadow & Bone the first time! What I loved about this re-read was how I focused more on the characters & their development! I just found myself loving the characters even more (like The Darkling, Alina, etc.) and connected to the story more on a level of characters & world-building/development than just the story as a whole. I picked up on little details I forgot the first time around that also helped me as an aspiring YA Fantasy writer! 

4. Ace Of Shades by Amanda Foody (The Shadow Game #1)

Library | Started August 9 + Finished August 22 | Rating:★★★☆☆ ¾ | Ace Of Shades Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Ace Of Shades is an immersive YA Fantasy that delivers such unique and different elements through its world! What I loved the most about this book was the main characters, Enne & Levi! The dual POV really built them both as characters, but also how they see the world of New Reynes. However, there were elements that made this book fall a bit flat for me: Pacing, made-up swear words, repetition of phrases, & lack of expansion on the world + some characters! Aside from that however, the way Foody crafts her stories makes it unexpected & immersive! The journeys that Enne & Levi have ahead, is what will definitely keep me invested in  book 2!

Additional Posts From This Month:

Podcasts In Publishing feat. Sadie by Courtney Summers {Literary Listens}

Book Bytes #14

Sacred Lies Mini-Series Review

YA Contemporary Books That Need Netflix Adaptations {Book Blog Discussion}

Tattered Sundays: Shadow & Bone + My Heart And Other Black Holes

Plans For September:

~ Catch up on ARCs & read more! I was a bit disappointed at the lack of ARCs I was able to get through this month, so next month I’m really planning to catch up + read/review upcoming ARCs & ones from a week ago! 💖📚📚🎉

~ Post TBR Lists! I’ve been drafting a couple TBR lists that I’ve had in the works for a while, but just haven’t had the chance to share yet! I’m definitely planning to share them & recommend some great upcoming books! 📚✨💖💕

~ I’ve also been planning another Literary Listens post & I’m really looking forward to sharing this one! 😍💕🎙✨

~If I make time for it, I definitely want to finish up my summer reading bullet journal & talk about it on the blog! ☀📝✨📚

What books did you read this month? 😍📚

Tattered Sundays: Shadow & Bone + My Heart And Other Black Holes

Hey, 24hr.YABookBlog here (~˘▾˘)~ 💞📚✨ Today’s post is Tattered Sundays which was a weekly tag originally started by Mel over at MelsBookRealm

Tattered Sundays is a weekly post that according to Mel, showcases “damaged yet beloved books and gives them their time to shine.” 

I originally found out about her blog through this post and loved the idea so much that I planned on making a post like it, but wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it.

That’s mainly because I’m the kind of person that takes a lot of care with my books to avoid any kind of damage & I also tend to read/review new releases from the library. So, I’m changing it up a bit to instead showcase: secondhand books that I’ve gotten either through used bookstores or trading/buying through the book-related tags on twitter!

If you haven’t read Mel’s Tattered Sundays post I definitely recommend checking it out! The post that allowed me to discover her blog was talking about her well-loved copy of Shadow And Bone!

Today I’m showcasing: Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo & My Heart And Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga!

Shadow And Bone (or the Grishaverse as a whole) was a series I was pretty familiar with, but hadn’t read when I first got back into reading YA in around 2012/2013!

It wasn’t until I’d gotten my copy for the first Yallwest (2015) to have Leigh Bardugo sign at the event, that I knew I had to finally read it! (Also, considering how much I told her I’d heard a lot of great things about it, I was looking forward to it!)

I distinctly remember taking a trip later that year during the summer (around June) and knew that it was finally time I read it! I stayed up most of the night during the plane ride, turning pages + pages, and remembering how vivid and dark the atmosphere was as I read it for the very first time!

During vacation I marathoned all 3 books within the span of about 3 days! With Shadow And Bone having been read around June 10, & Siege And Storm + Ruin And Rising having been read from June 15-16!

What I loved about reading that series for the first time too, was how it inspired me as a writer! During that time I was brainstorming a YA Fantasy idea (that’s now evolved since then & that I hope to start drafting within the next year!!😍🎉) and how much it helped me to think about atmosphere, setting, and character depth/emotion through a first person narrative in YA Fantasy!

So fast forward to today! If you’ve been on twitter recently, you may have heard about a hashtag going around called #BookishWish! It’s basically a tag where people say what’s on their wishlist & if someone has it/is able to offer it, or someone posts a picture of books there willing to offer, you both can set up an agreement to work out a trade, etc.!

When that tag went around, I was surprised to have found Shadow & Bone with the original cover (because I knew at this point, they were out of print or really difficult to find. & I’d been looking for an extra copy that would serve as my ‘reading copy’ instead of my signed one). 

Luckily I was able to find one through twitter, with the person being so kind to also add in Siege & Storm (which I didn’t own).

Bonus story time: This past week I went on vacation again & thought it was time to reread Shadow & Bone! I brought my reading copy and this time around, I speed-read it within 1 day and loved it even more than when I read it the first time! (´▽`ʃƪ)*:･ﾟ✧✧ﾟ*♥♥

Next up is: My Heart And Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

I first read My Heart And Other Black Holes back in March of 2015 (more specifically from March 13-14).

At that stage of my love for reading, I mainly read YA Contemporary and I distinctly remember how much I was able to connect with the unique story, important themes, and the main characters Aysel + Roman.

Compared to the other YA Contemporary books I’d read recently, there was just something about this book as a whole that stuck with me and that I still remember to this day!

So as of yesterday, I was browsing a used bookstore I visit from time to time & luckily found a hardcover copy of My Heart And Other Black Holes for $1!

I’d been thinking whether to just get it off Book Outlet for some time, but just never got around to it!

I’d also been wanting to reread it recently after I saw the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before movie and made a post about some YA Contemporary books that I want to have Netflix adaptations! I’d thought about My Heart just after I’d posted that list and just felt like reflecting back on this YA Book I’d really loved!

Its in pretty great condition and was so happy to have gotten for such a great deal.

So this is my first edition of Tattered Sundays! Thanks to Mel for creating such a great tag, this was a lot of fun! 😄💕📚✨🎉

Do you have any well-loved or secondhand books that have stories behind them? 

Book Bytes I #8

Book Bytes is a monthly feature I created to share news in the world of YA!

Each month posts can contain anything from new cover/title reveals, book-to-movie news, even the latest book deals!!

1. Flame In The Mist Excerpt

Renee Ahdieh, author of The Wrath And The Dawn Duology, had an excerpt of her upcoming 2017 novel Flame And The Mist shared on Entertainment Weekly!

Full excerpt can be found Here

Flame In The Mist is set to be released May 2, 2017!

2. If Birds Fly Back Cover Reveal

Carlie Sorosiak, 2017 debut author, had a cover reveal for her upcoming YA Contemporary If Birds Fly Back on October 5 over at Pop Goes The Reader 

Its set to be released June 27, 2017 from Harper Collins!

Here’s a summary: A sparkling debut about love, family, and the mysteries of the universe.

Linny has been fascinated by disappearances, ever since her sister Grace ran away in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.

Sebastian can tell you how many galaxies there are, and knows how much plutonium weighs. But the one thing he can’t figure out is the identity of his birth father.

They’ve never met, but Linny and Sebastian have one thing in common: an obsession with famous novelist and filmmaker Alvaro Herrera, who went missing three years ago and has just reappeared. As they learn more about the mystery of Alvaro, Linny and Sebastian uncover the answers they’ve been searching for.

3.When Dimple Met Rishi Cover Reveal

Also on October 5 Sandhya Menon had her cover reveal + excerpt for When Dimple Met Rishi, over at Bustle!

Set to be released May 30, 2017 from Simon Pulse, this YA Contemporary is “A laugh-out-loud, heartfelt YA romantic comedy, told in alternating perspectives, about two Indian-American teens whose parents have arranged for them to be married.

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.”

4.Now I Rise by Kiersten White Cover Reveal + Excerpt

On October 12, EW revealed the cover + an excerpt for the sequel to And I Darken.

Now I Rise is set to be released June 27, 2017!

YOU MUST see the cover for @kierstenwhite's next book NOW I RISE and read an exclusive excerpt via @EW! https://t.co/EIQxT6hVWw

— Random House Kids (@randomhousekids) October 14, 2016

5.Miss Peregrine’s Trilogy Expands

As of October 20, it was announced that Ransom Riggs, author of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children will be adding 3 more books to the original trilogy!

The next book is set to be released Fall 2017!

ICYMI: Three more Miss Peregrine books to come from @ransomriggs! https://t.co/j3yfqoMw5e

— PenguinTeen (@PenguinTeen) October 21, 2016

6.Epic Reads Summer 2017 Covers

As of October 24, Epic Reads has a number of books coming Summer 2017 so they put together a list (30+) and stated they have more covers to come!

You can check it out Here

Some include: Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab, Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau, and The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye!

7.Leigh Bardugo 2-Book Deal

Leigh Bardugo, author of the Grisha Trilogy and recently concluded Six Of Crows Duology, will venture out of YA Fantasy to write Ninth House.

This adult series will center around:

“Alex Stern, a 20-year-old California high school dropout with a criminal past who is mysteriously offered a second chance as a Yale University freshman. Ninth House, the first book, follows Stern’s freshman year, where she is charged with monitoring Yale’s secret societies, who engage in sinister occult activities.”

More info can be found on The Hollywood Reporter announcement Here!

'Six of Crows' writer nabs seven figures for next two books https://t.co/I2gkbQpVt4 pic.twitter.com/ArGN29El4v

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 25, 2016

8.The Girl Who Drank The Moon Gets A Screenwriter

On October 26, it was announced that Kelly Barnhills’s middle grade novel The Girl Who Drank The Moon found screenwriter Marc Haimes (Screenwirter of Kubo And The Two Strings).

Currently with Fox Animation, The Girl Who Drank The Moon is also set to be a hybrid live-action/animation.

Full article from Deadline can be found Here!

Kubo and the Two Strings Screenwriter to Adapt @kellybarnhill’s THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON: https://t.co/iLv8dPulTg pic.twitter.com/p0G7vfTnjA

— Tor.com (@tordotcom) October 26, 2016

What Book News Have You Heard? 📚✨

Crooked Kingdom Playlist

Today I am happy to share with you my Crooked Kingdom playlist!

Crooked Kingdom is the finale to the Six Of Crows duology.

A Spoiler-Free review of Crooked Kingdom is already up on my blog which you can read Here!

Songs featured in today’s playlist were one’s that I not only listened to while reading CK, but songs I felt matched the atmosphere of this magical + fantastical world that Bardugo created!

Songs Feat. From: Kingdom Hearts (Spin-Off Titles) + Final Fantasy (XIII & XV)

Songs:

• Le Sanctuaire (Kingdom Hearts 3D) • La Cloche (Kingdom Hearts 3D) •
• Black Garden (Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep) • Miracles (Final Fantasy XIII) •
• Forever Fugitives (Final Fantasy XIII) • Apocalypsis Noctis (Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV) • At Struggle’s End (Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV) • Our Hope Goes With You (Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV) •

Let Me Know Your Thoughts On This Playlist In The Comments Below! 🙂