After every big movie release, one question always sparks debate: “Was it better than the book?” People struggle to answer because books and movie adaptations are often completely different experiences. Still, there’s one thing most people agree on: the book almost always dives deeper, bringing more detail, emotion and insight than a two-hour film ever could.

Harry Potter, written by British author J.K. Rowling and published in 1997, is an all-time favorite for many readers. This coming-of-age fantasy book has captured hearts worldwide with its magical universe. The story explores themes like friendship, love, education and loyalty. 

Interestingly, J.K. Rowling began as a single mother struggling financially and spent many years developing the world of Harry Potter. She faced multiple rejections before her book was finally published in 1997. It was an immediate success, becoming one of the best-selling series of all time and establishing Rowling as one of the most famous authors in the world. 

The story follows Harry Potter, an orphan living with unkind relatives, who eventually discovers he is a wizard and is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, Harry makes friends, learns magic and uncovers dark secrets–which he bravely confronts.

Leyla Bouzzani, a junior at Baruch, says, “When it comes to Harry Potter, I feel like the movies portrayed the magic better than the book because I was actually able to see it. However, the books included more details. I felt more immersed with the characters and story. I would say the movies are the best because I was physically able to see the story come to life, which I enjoyed way more.”

Additionally Anna Garland, a student at Baruch, also shares her opinion, “The movie encapsulates the vibe of the magical world of Harry Potter very well. I see it and its magic. But I will say there were some details that the movie changed that ended up changing the whole identity of the books.” said Garland.

The Hunger Games, written by American author Suzanne Collins and published in 2008, is a young adult dystopian novel that explores harsh

themes like oppression, rebellion, propaganda, and sacrifice. The Hunger Games is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  The series became so popular after its release that several prequels and spin-offs focusing on other characters were also published.

The story follows the main character, Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a poor district within a society structured by a strict hierarchy. The government forces citizens to participate in a deadly game as a means of controlling the population. Katniss, forced to volunteer to save her sister, becomes a tribute in the Games, where she must fight to survive.

Amelia Bose, a junior at Baruch, has read both The Hunger Games books and watched all the movies. “The Hunger Games movie did a great adaptation of the book. The plot was the same and it did a good job of portraying the story. But I have to say the book is definitely better because it was an overall better experience.”said Bose. 

In addition Lila Bondy, another junior at Baruch, shares her opinion on the movies and books“I think the movies were a good representation of the book; however, the book went into way more detail. I think the movies were able to portray the main points of the books and were very fun to watch. But overall, I think the books are better because there are more small details that the movies missed out on.” said Bondy. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is an extremely popular book series written by Rick Riordan. The iconic story blends Greek Mythology with

modern concepts, following Percy Jackson: a seemingly ordinary kid who soon discovers he is a demigod, son of a Greek god. The books follow Percy as he is thrust into a world full of adventure, monsters, gods, and heroic quests— gaining a mass fan base over the years. Readers particularly cherished this series for its humor, action, and heartfelt friendships.

Because of the series’ long-lasting popularity, Percy Jackson and the Olympians was recently adapted into a television series, bringing the story to life on screen for old and new fans. 

Junior student at Baruch, Katie Caba, expressed her views on how the television adaptation compares to the original books, “Overall, I would say that the Percy Jackson show is an okay adaptation of the books. I really like the actors who play the main characters, and they do an amazing job representing them.”

Caba continued, “ However, I feel like the show lacks the sense of humor that made the books so special to me when I read them for the first time. The show just doesn’t have the same spark that the books have, which is why it doesn’t gain as much attraction as other book adaptations [like Harry Potter]. I do enjoy watching the show because it’s still pretty entertaining, but I still wish that the writers did a better job making the show more accurate and engaging for the newer audience.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a young adult romance book written by Jenny Han in 2009, following Isabel “Belly” Conklin as she navigates a

complex love triangle between brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. The story revolves around Belly’s evolving relationship with the brothers as they spend their summers at Cousins Beach. The trilogy gained a large following from longtime Jenny Han stans and rom-com lovers, particularly resonating with the themes of love, coming of age, grief, and friendship.

During the summer of 2022, the series was adapted into an Amazon Prime original, quickly becoming a fan favorite for readers of the books and for viewers who were newly introduced to the world of Cousins Beach. 

Nora Lundqvist, a junior at Baruch, presented her perspective on the books and the show, saying, “I feel like the books were mostly focused on Belly’s storyline and teenage drama, but the show had a lot more storylines, like Jeremiah’s sexuality, new characters, etc. So I feel like they were quite different, but the show is more relevant today and to teenagers today because it explores a lot of themes that teens can relate to.” 

Ultimately, the debate over whether books are better than their screen adaptations continues to divide audiences. While movies and television series bring life to stories visually and can portray the magic of a universe in profound ways, books tend to include deeper details, stronger plot and character development, and more immersive experiences for audiences. From The Hunger Games and Harry Potter to Percy Jackson and The Summer I Turned Pretty, fans can agree that both formats of content offer unique aspects. In the end, whether someone prefers the book or the adaptation truly comes down to personal perspective– demonstrating that iconic stories can thrive in both forms of media.