In an age when technology is on the upswing and books seem to be left in the dust, it seems ironic that some of the newest and most popular shows are based on books. We can’t blame them; we’re big fans of both the books and TV shows that are now out there—Gossip Girl, Secret Circle and The Vampire Diaries, to name a few. While these shows have appeal, maybe next season, TV producers can look to these book series for inspiration:
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot: For the teenager’s answer to all things ghostly, The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot is the perfect answer. It has all the things a teenager, and let’s be honest, adults too, look for in a primetime TV show—a little romance with impossible odds, a little humor and a whole lot of mystery and thrill.
Our mediator for all things ghostly, Suze, has just moved to California with her dad and yes, she sees dead people. During the course of her mediation, Suze meets Jesse, a young man who haunts her room. Suze then has the unfortunate problem of falling in love with Jesse—can we ask for anything better? Throughout the six book series, Suze faces the problems of the ghost of the day, plus the added complication of another mediator causing trouble. The characters are all dynamic, especially Suze and Jesse, and it truly highlights Cabot’s biggest talent of giving readers relatable teen characters who have a cross-generational appeal. This serise has the potential to be both fun and dramatic, mixing the charm of Cabot’s Princess Diaries with the thrill of campfire ghost stories.
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins: The trend in teen TV seems lately seems to be for the supernatural. Well, what could be better than a supernatural boarding school? This isn’t any normal supernatural school though—it’s the juvie of all things paranormal. In the first book of the series, Sophie has been sent to Hex Hall, where all delinquent supernatural teens go to shape up or ship out. But something is attacking the students at Hex Hall, and it might very well be Sophie’s only friend, a vampire. I won’t reveal the twist at the end of book one, but book two finds Sophie going to London to have her powers removed in a potentially fatal procedure. Currently there are only two books in the series, but there is a third due out March 2012. With a spunky heroine, love triangles and the equivalent of supernatural Mean Girls, this series is ripe for the taking.
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick: With the success of shows like “Walking Dead” and the new show “American Horror Story,” the general public seems to realize that horror is not just for the big screen anymore. While zombies seem to be the norm now in mainstream movies and television, Ashes takes the stance that these semi-humans are creatures of our own making and a very real possibility. When billions of people are wiped out by an electromagnetic pulse, three strangers are left to fend for themselves in a world drastically changed.
The key to a good young adult series is believable characters even in a world where you have to suspend reality and Ashes captures just that right tone. Yes, the majority of the characters are teenagers and do have the tendency to complain, but the audience also has the sensation of a proud parent watching their child grow beyond their circumstances. This is the first in a trilogy, so it’s hard to guess where the story might go, but by the looks of this first book, it has the ability to rival some of its adult counterparts.
Jennifer Proffitt is a Midwest transplant to New York City. She spends most of her time reading and writing about romance, but you can follow her other adventures on Twitter @JennProffitt.
