4 Films and Books You’ve Never Heard of That You Should Know
By ShayLa Blake
1. Gigi (1958)-
Number one on our list happens to be a personal childhood favorite of mine. This coming of age classic has humor, drama, sass, as well as a killer soundtrack. The movie follows young Gigi as her grandmother pushes her into Parisian aristocratic society. Being the tomboy she is, Gigi resists her grandmother’s desire for her to get married soon in order to hold on to her childhood for a little while longer. If you enjoy classic musicals with catchy music and a stellar storyline, then Gigi is the movie for you!
2. Perks Of Being A Wallflower-
You may have heard of this movie (which is fantastic), but you may not have known it was a book first. Another coming of age story following incoming highschool freshman Charlie as he navigates his first year of high school; making friends, lamenting the struggles of teenage love and dealing with his tragic past. Perks of Being A Wallflower handles a few mature themes, but overall tells a beautiful story that many high schoolers can relate to.
3. 500 Days of Summer -
This is the epitome of modern-day romance. The story follows Tom, a greeting card writer, and his life before and after meeting the girl of his dreams—Summer. The movie is shown through artistic and fresh cinematography stylings that tell the story through flashback and flashforward scenes, detailing the complicated love story of Tom and Summer. Despite the dramatic ups and downs of love, 500 Days of Summer also provides plenty of laughs as well as a surprise ending you won't see coming.
4. Number the Stars -
Number the Stars is the wonderful historical fiction novel by author Lois Lowery set in 1943, Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. The story is centered around ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen who happens to be Jewish. As the story unfolds, we see the hardships and the danger both Annemarie and her family go through in order to protect her best friend and her persecuted family. Jam-packed with suspense and complex storylines, Number the Stars is perfect for historical fiction lovers as well as those who may not enjoy historical fiction at all— anybody will fall in love with this beautiful story of the power of friendship.