11 Shows Based on Young Adult Novels

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It's been said that there is no such thing as an original idea in the entertainment industry any more. TV and film adaptations would seem to be the clearest example of that sentiment. 

On the flip side, adaptations can often meet the expectation set by their written predecessors (or even surpass them)! Such is the case with critically-beloved and mega-popular series like The Vampire Diaries, The 100, and Pretty Little Liars.

Beyond those three shining examples of successful transitions from book to TV screen, there are several others. Unfortunately, not all of them managed to attain that level of success.

Check out our slideshow of some of the best (and worst) YA series turned TV shows!

1. The 100

The 100, a post-apocalyptic drama series set in a future 97 years after Earth became uninhabitable, is an incredibly popular (and critically-beloved) show on The CW. It is based on the first book of the same name in a YA trilogy by Kass Morgan.

2. The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries is one of The CW's longest running series. It debuted at the height of the teen-vampire craze and has been chugging along for seven seasons (and counting!). The show is based on the novel series of the same name by L.J. Smith.

3. The Carrie Diaries

While we all know that the show is a prequel to the HBO mega-hit Sex and the City, following the early life of protagonist Carrie Bradshaw, The CW's The Carrie Diaries was also adapted from a young adult novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell.

4. The Secret Circle

The CW clearly realized it had hit a gold mine in its adaptation of The Vampire Diaries. Obviously, adapting another YA series by the same author (L.J. Smith) seemed like a foolproof plan. Unfortunately, The Secret Circle (based on the book series of the same name) didn't do nearly as well as that other supernatural teen drama. It only lasted for one season. On the bright side, it did introduce the amazing Phoebe Tonkin onto our screens!

5. Gossip Girl

Who can forget this early CW classic? This is one of the few cases where the YA book series was actually more prolific than the show. The source material, a series of the same name, featured over ten novels and a spin-off series. The book series was written by Cecily von Ziegesar and ran from 2002-2011. The show aired for six seasons, from 2007-2012, and was a huge hit in its own right.

6. The Nine Lives of Chloe King

This series, about a teenager who discovers she has cat-like abilities after a near-death experience, only made it one season on ABC Family before an abrupt cancellation that left fans begging for closure. The show was based on a book series of the same name by Liz Braswell. It starred Skyler Samuels as the titular catty protagonist, who would later go on to star in Fox's Scream Queens.

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The 100, The Vampire Diaries, The Carrie Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, The Secret Circle, Gossip Girl, The Nine Lives of Chloe King, The Lying Game, Shadowhunters
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