I picked this book up at a Borders that was going out of business a long time ago on the vague notion that it was being made into a film and haven’t thought about it since. Even in my great stack of books, I seriously considered skipping it, especially since there are three book to film adaptations coming out next weekend and two the following weekend. But I picked it up anyway when I saw the big print that’s used so often in Children’s Lit and figuring I needed a break from some of the heavy stuff I’ve been reading.

I am so glad that I changed my mind about it. The book follows two kids as they start to question their world- an underground city built for a mysterious, but necessary purpose- and if there might be something more out there. It’s a little bit like Brave New World and a little bit like Wall-E, but mostly it’s a really cool and dark concept for a children’s book and I love what I’ve read so far. My only regret in picking this book up is that there are two more in the series that I know I won’t have a chance to read for some time.

Adapting this book into a film will prove to be interesting. While it has great characters and an easy and visual plot, I can’t imagine if it will be marketed as a children’s film or an action film. It should fit nicely into a Spy Kids or Journey to the Center of the Earth kind of audience, but as far as I know it’s being released next weekend (10/10) and I haven’t seen a single poster. I vaguely recall seeing a teaser attached to a summer release, but can’t remember who’s in it or what it really looked like. I’d hate to think that this series will go the way of Lemony Snicket– great source material, great movie, but not enough of an audience to make the rest of the series. Either way, I look forward to seeing this film. With how much I’m loving the book, I can’t imagine that the movie won’t do justice to such an awesome story.