Best Media Tie-in Young Adult Novels

We've already taken a look at extended universe novels for television shows (https://manybooks.net/articles/extended-universe-novels-for-television-…), but there are also other forms of media that have been turned into novels. In many cases, these novels reach the same popularity as the source material, which results in a series of books for readers to enjoy. These types of media tie-in novels also tend to be aimed at the young adult market in many cases. Here are just a few of the best media tie-in young adult novels for fans and newcomers alike.

Disney Villains

by Serena Valentino

Everyone is familiar with Disney and there's no shortage of novels based around their most popular heroines, but even the villains of the franchise got their chance to shine in this series. Each book in the Villains series focuses on a different antagonist from the Disney franchise and examines what caused them to follow the path of darkness. If you ever wanted to know why the wicked Queen is so nasty to Snow White, where Mother Gothel came from and the dark truth about who the diabolical Odd Sisters are, then this series is highly recommended. Some of them might even change your entire outlook of your favorite Disney tales.

Five Nights at Freddy's

by Kira Breed-Wrisley and Scott Cawthon

The Five Nights at Freddy's franchise shot to popularity in 2014 after the release of an indie video game of the same name. The game cast players in the role of a nighttime security guard who has to monitor the fictional Freddy Fazbear's Pizza restaurant. The twist is that the restaurant is inhabited by animatronic characters with a penchant for murder when the lights go out. In addition to a guidebook and planned film adaptation, the franchise has also spawned a series of novelizations. The books add a human element to the franchise by focusing on a group of childhood friends trying to discover the secrets of the restaurant. One of the characters, Charlie, is the daughter of the man who owned the restaurant before it was locked up and abandoned.

Minecraft

by Various Authors

Minecraft took the world by storm ever since the game was first released way back in 2011 and it still shows no signs of slowing down. It should come as no surprise, though, as the game is basically an unlimited set of Lego blocks for players to create anything that they can imagine. Many players consider it to be one of the most influential games of all times and it has resulted in several spin-off games that further explore the story elements of the Minecraft world. The popularity of the game also saw the release of officially licensed novels written by different authors. The first novel, Minecraft: The Island, was written by Max Brooks who is the author of World War Z. Other authors who contributed to the series include Catherynne M. Valente, Tracey Baptiste, and Mur Lafferty. The massive popularity of the game has also seen the release of many unofficial novels that are set in its world.

Halo

by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Halo franchise kicked off with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox video game console in 2001. The massive popularity saw the release of numerous sequels as well as a multi-billion-dollar franchise consisting of toys, films, comics, and books. The books include tie-in novels such as Halo: The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund and novelizations, such as Halo: The Flood by William C. Dietz. Numerous other authors, including Greg Bear, has written novels set in the Halo universe. One of the Halo Young Adult Novel series by Cassandra Rose Clarke. These titles follow the adventures of a group of high school teens who find themselves having to team up when their colony world is attacked.

Pop Shakespeare

by Ian Doescher

One of the strangest, but enjoyable, media tie-ins for young adults has got to be the Pop Shakespeare series by Ian Doescher. These books take classic pop culture movies, such as Mean Girls, Back to the Future, and Clueless, and retells the stories in Shakespearean verse. Doescher took the scenes and dialog from the movie scripts and then re-imagines everything in authentic Shakespearean rhyme, complete with meter and stage directions as well as dramatic asides. The author has also given the Star Wars movies the William Shakespeare treatment, so be sure to check out the novels in that series too if you enjoy Pop Shakespeare.

Lois Lane

by Gwenda Bond

The Lois Lane series by Gwenda Bond sees the author taking a fresh look at the plucky reporter from the Superman franchise. Instead of just being a love interest for Superman to rescue, the books follow Lois as she arrives in Metropolis for the first time as a teenager. She not only has to deal with the kids at her new high school, but also her new job at the Daily Planet. The books also reveal her budding relationship with an online friend by the nickname of SmallvilleGuy. Fans of the Superman franchise who have been waiting for Lois Lane to step out of the man of steel's shadow and take a starring role will enjoy these books. Gwenda Bond has also gone on to write the first official novel that serves as a prequel for the Stranger Things Netflix series.