5 books that marked the 2000s

“The word has magical power”! This phrase adapted from the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud it can be taken from the psychological context and used to try to explain the impact of literature, since, through written works, we can move between different emotions through the actions of the characters, and transform worldviews through the different perspectives presented on the pages.

Furthermore, the set of phrases, verbs and adjectives that form the narratives have the fantastic ability to take the person who reads them to a completely new and different universe from the one they live in, as happens mainly in stories aimed at young audiences, who in Many times, they are responsible for forming readers in childhood.

Thinking about young literature, RECREIO has put together in the following list 5 books that transformed the reading experience among teenagers in the 2000s and are great to remember this Tuesday, 23rd, International Book Day. Check out!

1. Twilight

The first title in the Twilight saga was released in 2005. The book written by Stephenie Meyer addresses the unlikely romance between human Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen.

Surrounded by a mysterious atmosphere, the story won the hearts of teenage readers and became a worldwide sales success, being considered one of the 100 best books ever written for young people by Time magazine, as explained by the publisher Intrínseca.

2. Harry Potter

“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was originally released in 1997, but only reached Brazilian bookstores in January 2000 by publisher Rocco through the translation of Lia Wyler. The delay in reaching national shelves did not discourage readers, quite the opposite, since in 2020, Brazil occupied seventh place in the Pottermania ranking, with more than five million books sold, as explained by the OGLOBO portal.

It is also worth remembering that more than two decades after the release of the first book, the ‘Harry Potter’ literary series created by J.K. Rowling which has seven titles, became the best-selling in the world after surpassing the mark of 600 million copies sold, according to information collected by Scholastic.

3. The Hunger Games

The literary trilogy had its debut title released in 2008, where it is possible to follow Katniss Everdeen, one of those chosen to participate in an annual event known as the Hunger Games. The battle begins by choosing one boy and one girl from each of the 12 local districts who must fight to the death, as only one of them can emerge victorious in the end.

The plot created by Suzanne Collins became a success, and in addition to the books, it received film adaptations distributed in four films released in 2012 and 2015 where Jennifer Lawrence brought the main character of the saga to life.

4. Percy Jackson

Adapting Greek mythology for the 21st century, the five books by “Percy Jackson” became a great success after the release of his first title: “Percy Jackson & the Olympians”, released in 2005. In the story, the author Rick Riordan describes the twists and turns that involve the title character after he discovers that he is a half-blood son of Poseidon, god of the sea.

Coming from the books to the big screen, the plot was adapted for cinema in two films released in 2010 and 2013, where Logan Lerman played the demigod. Additionally, a live-action series is set to be released next year starring Walker Scobell. Watch the trailer above!

5. The Princess Diaries

Written by Meg Cabot, “The Princess Diaries” became a best seller in a short time, as in Brazil, 20 thousand copies were sold in just 6 months, as explained by the UOL portal. The book follows Mia Thermopolis, a 15-year-old teenager who discovers she is a princess and heir to the throne of a small kingdom called Genovia.