The latest engrossing book-to-film adaptation “The Darkest Minds” is set in a very near future society where most of the nation’s children have perished – all victims of a terrible disease. The surviving children are considered to be dangerous Enemies of the State because they possess extraordinary powers and therefore pose a threat to the government.

In the movie, the nation is in a state of crisis, 98 percent of the children have died. For the few who remain, it’s a fight to stay alive. The kids and teenagers, who all have remarkable powers and abilities, have been taken from their families and sent for brutal ‘rehabilitation’.  Here they are segregated by color according to how dangerous to society they are deemed to be. Amandla Stenberg (“Hunger Games,” “Everything, Everything”) plays Ruby who is an ‘Orange’ – signifying that she is a major threat because she can read minds and manipulate memory. She escapes and meets new friends, young survivors from different camps. Among them is Liam, played by rising British actor Harris Dickinson. There’s an immediate attraction between the two. Also starring in the gifted cast of young actors are Skylan Brooks as Chubs and Miya Cech as Zu. On the road, the kids empower themselves and discover a sense of family.

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, whose previous hit movies include Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, “The Darkest Minds” is her impressive first foray into live action.

“The Darkest Minds” opens August 1 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox.