14 Middle School Books Made into Movies (That You Can Teach)

One of my favorite classes I ever taught was a books and movie elective class. Students loved it. I loved it. In this class, we would read books that were made into movies for young adults. While teaching this class, I saw how movies were a huge incentive for students. I had reluctant readers who would finish a book because they wanted to compare it to the movie. I also saw kids get really excited about reading because they were familiar with a movie.

Of course, you don’t have to teach an elective to make this possible. You can incorporate popular books made into movies into your regular classroom curriculum.

Why Read Books That Have Been Made into Movies?

Who doesn’t love a good movie? In all honesty, movies can be a great motivator for students to read. Getting to watch a movie after reading is like a reward for doing the hard work. That’s not the only bonus, though.

Students may have an easier time reading if they are already familiar with a movie because they have more context. They are already familiar with the general plot and characters, which makes comprehension much easier. You can also use movies to touch on certain ELA skills like comparing and contrasting, plot, character development, and more.

How Do You Balance Reading and Watching Movies?

In most classrooms, I recommend reading the book first. You can read together as a whole group or have students read in a book club format. Read the book like you typically would in class, and then have students compare what they read to the movie at the end of your unit.

If you have ESL students or special education students, you may want to watch the movie first (or at least watch the trailer before reading). By doing this, you are making the comprehension aspect easier because students are building background information through the movie. Then, you can dive into more complex skills when reading because students have a better understanding of the book.

One of the benefits of using popular books that have been made into movies is that students may already be familiar with the book on a surface level. Still, it allows us to use that background knowledge to encourage higher levels of engagement and interest.

Books Make into Movies for Young Adults

I used a lot of these books and movies in my elective class, but not all of them! Some were suggestions by fellow middle school teachers. Additionally, I always recommend watching these movies before showing them to students, so you know what to expect and can ensure it is acceptable In your school.

Holes by Louis Sachar 

This is a classic, and I loved teaching it every year. In short, this book follows Stanley Yelnats as he is sent to a correctional facility in a desert in Texas. This funny and bizarre story will hook students and the movie is really well done, too. You can easily find the movie on Disney+.

Grab my Holes Novel Study Unit to maximize the impact of this book without the stress of prepping and planning. It includes 20 lesson plans, PowerPoint slides, reading response notebooks, and more.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber

If you want to ease into pairing movies with books, start with this short story. This story is about a daydreamer who uses his imagination to escape his reality. Mundane tasks like driving lead Walter to imagine different scenarios and events. The movie has some notable actors like Kristen Wig and Is available to rent on Amazon Prime.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Another classic, this novel dives into the complexities of childhood friendship. Two kids, both with their own challenges, feel alienated and freakish. But together, they can accomplish anything. The movie version, called The Mighty, is available to rent on Amazon Prime. The movie does an excellent job of bringing this popular book to life.

Check out my Freak the Mighty Novel Study Unit to make planning for this book and movie pairing a total breeze. Inside it, you’ll find lesson plans, comprehension questions, a Socratic Seminar guide, and more.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders tells a compelling story of the age-old class conflict through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old boy. Every year, I had students who adored this book, and it led to great conversations about how the struggles of being a teenager aren’t all that different today. The movie, while filmed in the 80’s, is pretty good and makes this story even more meaningful to students. You can find it streaming on Amazon Prime.

If you’re planning to dive into this popular book turned movie, check out The Outsiders Novel Study Unit resource. This unit gives insight into how to approach this novel and includes lesson plans, pacing guides, student examples, and more.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Speaking of books guaranteed to start a good conversation, The Giver is absolutely in that category! This book always gets students thinking about the importance of history and memory. This uber-popular novel has been made into a movie over 20 years after its original publishing, which goes to show that this story has stood the test of time. You can find the movie on YouTube.

Looking for a way to incorporate this popular book turned movie without spending hours planning? The Giver Novel Study Unit makes this simple with ready-to-use lesson plans, comprehension questions, vocabulary, reading response prompts, and much more.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This next novel dives into the main character’s first year of public school after being homeschooled due to a medical condition that has caused some facial differences. This book provides the backdrop to discuss many important topics, like bullying. This popular book was turned into a movie in 2017. It’s available to stream on Hulu and is also available to rent on Amazon Prime.

Snag my Wonder Novel Study Unit to go even deeper with this book. Included, you’ll find lesson plans, comprehension questions, reading response notebooks, and more.

Other Popular Books Turned into Movies

• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (a graphic novel by James Patterson)
• The Crossover (a series by Kwame Alexander)
• Ender’s Game (a series by Orson Scott Card)
• The Hunger Games (a series by Suzanne Collins)
• The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
• Monster by Walter Dean Myers
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Reading books made into movies for young adults is a fantastic way to engage your students and get them more interested in reading. So many incredible and popular books are now movies, and incorporating both into your lessons can deepen understanding, build excitement, and keep students engaged.