A new study by Bowker Market Research just served to confirm something that a lot of us already knew: Many of the readers buying books aimed at the teen market are no longer teenagers. But the numbers are more dramatic than we may have guessed. According to the Bowker study, 55% of customers who buy young adult books are 18 or older.
Not surprisingly, there has also been a flurry of movie releases that began their lives as teen books. Movie-makers have taken note of this growing market of teen lit readers, and they are cashing in on the hordes of us who will flock to the theatres just to watch our beloved heroes and heroines brought to life on the silver screen — especially because the 20- and 30-somethings who’ve read the books have the cash flow to do so!
The undeniable successes of Twilight and The Hunger Games as feature films has given directors and producers the confidence to invest in teen lit screenplays….and the proof is in the lengthy list of upcoming releases! Check out these soon-to-be flicks! Just be sure to read the book first!!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (book by Stephen Chbosky)
15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman), an endearing and naive outsider, copes with first love (Emma Watson), the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs.
Release date: September 2012
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (book by Stephanie Meyer)
After the birth of Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) daughter Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
Release date: November 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (book by J.R.R. Tolkein) 
A curious Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
Release date: December 2012
The Seventh Son (book by Joseph Delaney)
An 18th century adventure story centered on young Thomas (Ben Barnes), who is apprenticed to the local Spook to learn to fight evil spirits. His first great challenge comes when the powerful Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away.
Release date: February 2013
Beautiful Creatures (book by Kami Garcia) 
A supernatural drama centered on a local teenager, Ethan Wate (Alden Ehrenreich), and the mysterious new girl in town, Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert), who uncover dark secrets about their respective families.
Release date: February 2013
Ender’s Game (book by Orson Scott Card)
70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child, Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.
Release date: March 2013
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (book by Cassandra Clare)
When her mom is attacked and taken from their home in New York City by a demon, a seemingly ordinary teenage girl, Clary Fray (Lily Collins), finds out truths about her past and bloodline on her quest to get her back, that changes her entire life.
Release date: August 2013
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (book by Suzanne Collins)
The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell.
Release date: November 2013
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