Twilight

Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. Little Brown & Co (2005). ISBN 978-0-3161-6017-9

Plot Summary

                Bella moves to Forks, WA to live with her father when her mother gets remarried.  She hates the rain and feels that she has subjected herself to some sort of purgatory for her last few years of high school.  Everyone at school is immediately interested in her because, in a small town, new people are rare.  Bella doesn’t get close to anyone very quickly, and doesn’t really want to, until she sees the Cullens.  They are the most beautiful people she’s ever seen but they seem untouchable.  This point is only driven home when she gets to Biology class, sits next to Edward Cullen, and he is immediately hostile. 

                Bella stills feels drawn towards Edward and he eventually comes around and starts being nice to her.  Neither of them can deny their connection – which remains even once Edward reveals his secret.  The secret that he, and his family, are vampires.  The rest of the book is about them trying to make their relationship work even when so many people are against it.  Discover the magic that Meyer delivers in the book that started the entire teen craze.

Critical Evaluation

                No one can deny the phenomenon that is Twilight.  Many say that Meyer can’t write and that they could write a book better than her.  To them I say, then do it.  But most of them don’t.  There is something so fascinating about the Cullens and this magical, wooded place that is Forks.  Bella has a very frustrating personality, at times, as if she can’t be herself unless she is with Edward.  Edward can be, let’s be honest almost always is, overbearing and way too over protective.  Being a vampire for almost a century, being practically indestructible, may make someone want to be very careful with the fragility that is the human life. 

                For the most part, the book is well written.  It is not meant to be an extreme literary classic.  It is meant to entertain and pull readers into the story.  And it certainly does that.  For four books.  The Cullens are great characters.  Because their main human characteristics were amplified when changing over to being a vampire, their personalities are larger than life and their pasts even more intriguing.  Charlie, Bella’s dad, is very endearing and loveable.  The book leaves of in a way, with so many questions unanswered, that it transfers seamlessly into the sequel.   However, enough of the main problems of Twilight itself are wrapped up that the reader won’t get too frustrated by unnecessary cliffhangers. 

Reader’s Annotation

Come discover the world of Forks, where the rain is constant, the town is small, and vampires exist.

Author’s Information

Stephenie Meyer got the idea for Twilight when she dreamed of a vampire sparkling in the sunlight.  Two years later, Twilight was published.  Since then, Meyer has had a book come out about once a year.  She got her BA in English and is a New York Times bestselling author.  Lots of information about her books, upcoming movies, and much more is here at her website: http://stepheniemeyer.com/.

Genre

Single Series

Book Talking Ideas

Most people who want to read Twilight have probably already read them.  If they haven’t, and say they hate it, need to really give it a chance.  If they want to say they hate it, they need to at least try to read some of it.  They might even enjoy it.  The vampires are awesome, there are some good fight scenes, and there is definitely some good romance.  I might remind people that this isn’t supposed to be literarily amazing.  It’s supposed to be a fun, exciting read.

Reading Level/Interest

14/14

Challenge Issues

Some challenge issues could be that these books deal with vampire and human relationships.  Many have said that Edward is a very unrealistic idea of what a boyfriend should be (hello, he’s a vampire.  Of course he’s unrealistic).  Most of the challenge issues have been met with, already, I think, but if something does arise, it is important to remember that this book is a work of fantasy and fiction.  Nothing about it is real, nor is it meant to be.

Why Include This Title?

When thinking about popular YA books that many teens will read, teen girls at least, Twilight must be included.  It sparked the new kind of paranormal romance that is very popular now in YA literature.  Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay.