Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown and Company, 2005, 498pp., $10.99,
Fiction/Fantasy,
ISBN: 9780316015844
“So ready for this to be the end…for this to be the twilight of your life…”
The story starts when Isabella Swan moves from her mother’s home in sunny Phoenix, Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington to live with her father. Almost immediately after starting high school in Forks, Isabella becomes intrigued by the Cullen family. This group consists of five beautiful, mysterious, loners who do not involve themselves with the rest of the student body. After Edward Cullen saves her from a near fatal car accident, Isabella develops an almost fatal attraction for him. After the accident Isabella questions Edward, “How did you get out of the way so fast? You were there, and then you were gone….” She is then driven to discover the truth about how Edward was able to save her life. In doing so, she discovers that his family are vampires who have blended into this twilight town of Forks among the humans. Isabella deliberately begins a relationship with Edward despite the dangers involved. The tide quickly turns when a member of a drifter group of vampires becomes mesmerized by Isabella. Forcing her new family to keep her save and out of danger. In the end the family manages to keep Isabella safe.
Meyer draws a young adult female audience between the ages of 12 to 18. She manages to incorporate love, family, friendship, fantasy, vampires, suspense and adventure in this book. The author uses fantasy and love to draw her readers in. The vocabulary used by the main character Bella was well beyond her years and I do not know many high school students who would use such terminology today. Meyer touched on many areas I feel today’s young teens either want to explore or have ventured into already that of relationships, love or sex. This author gives the illusion of sexuality but does not speak the words where young readers will make their own assumptions or unhealthy choices to experience such sensations. Meyer allows Bella to almost become a fatal attraction as it relates to Edward, which I think is just alittle unhealthy. Overall, I enjoyed how Meyer appears to make Bella wise beyond her years, in doing so she makes it almost possible for her to date a man a hundred plus years older then her. Teachers can incorporate this book when discussing Romeo and Juliet as it relates to love, family and fantasy.
Interested in other adolescent vampire focused fantasy/fiction books, then check out the following:
The Vampire Diaries #1-2: The Awakening and The Struggle by L. J. Smith and Fade Out Morganville Vampires Series #7
by Rachel Caine
Delana- You summed the book up very nicely. It is short, sweet, and to the point. I like how you used the terminology "fatal attraction". It reminds me of the movie of the same name and clearly describes Bella's fascination with Edward. I almost find her adoration of him a bit unhealthy. I also like how you related it to Romeo and Juliet. I thought that myself as I was reading the book. The whole forbidden love thing. The only difference is Bella's father doesn't know how involved she is with Edward. I think that maybe Romeo and Juliet should be in italics or underlined since it is the name of a book-or is it a play? I'm not sure, but it is something you may want to look into.
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