It’s not often that a fledgling female filmmaker is given the reins to even a mid-budget studio pic, so news that up-and-comer Rebecca Thomas will helm “The Fault in Our Stars” author John Green’s next screen adaptation feels like a small win for women directors.

Set in an Alabaman boarding school, “Looking for Alaska” centers on a teenage boy’s crush on a popular but deeply unhappy girl named Alaska.

Thomas will replace Sarah Polley, who was to write and direct the YA romantic tragedy. (Hopefully Polley’s quiet departure means she’s busy working on the Amy Pascal-produced remake of “Little Women” as her follow-up to “Stories We Tell.”)

Encouragingly, Thomas was one of two female finalists Paramount had in mind; “Palo Alto” helmer Gia Coppola was the other. Thomas’ directorial debut was the 2012 teen drama “Electrick Children,” which screened at SXSW and the Berlinale.

[via THR]