The Twilight Series
The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight, ISBN 0-316-16017-2, Little, Brown 2005
Plot Summary:
The first novel in the series focuses on Isabella Swan, who goes by Bella, a teenage girl who has moved from her home in Arizona to a small town called Forks, Washington. When Bella is seated next to handsome Edward Cullen in her biology class, he seems disgusted by her. After not seeing him for a few days at school, Edward returns and the two form a friendship. When Bella is nearly crushed by a car, Edward saves her life by holding the car with just his bare hands. Edward refuses to tell her how he was able to do this. Another student, Jacob Black, tells Bella that all the Cullens, including Edward, are vampires. After months of prodding, Edward finally admits to Bella that this is true. When another coven, led by a vampire named James, shows up in town, it’s up to Edward to protect Bella at all costs.
New Moon, ISBN 0-316-16019-9, Little, Brown 2006
Plot Summary:
New Moon begins with Bella’s 18th birthday party. While unwrapping a present at the Cullen’s, Bella gets a papercut and Edward’s brother, Jasper, attacks Bella because the smell of her blood is irresistible. Edward and his family leave in order to protect Bella, but Edward tells her he’s leaving because he no longer loves her. In his absence, Bella grows closer to Jacob Black, although he begins to show drastic and erratic changes in personality and in his body. Bella soon learns that Jacob has become a werewolf just like the other members of his family. When Edward mistakenly believes that Bella has committed suicide, he goes to Italy to meet the Volturi, vampire royalty, in order to be killed himself. Edward’s sisters save him in time and let him know that Bella is safe. Bella is desperate to become a vampire and she must try to convince those around her that her wishes should be respected.
Eclipse, ISBN 978-0-316-16020-9, Little, Brown 2007
Plot Summary:
The story begins with a series of murders being committed in nearby Seattle, Washington, Edward has his suspicions that these murders are happening because a new vampire cannot control his or her thirst for human blood. The Cullens finally find out that the murders are being committed by an army of new vampires under the control of Victoria, and old foe. Bella and Jacob begin to spend more time together and Jacob confesses to Bella that he’s in love with her. When she kisses him, Bella realizes she’s in love with Jacob as well as Edward. Victoria brings her army of vampires to Forks to fight and the Cullens must engage, even though they had sworn off fighting many years ago. Bella grows closer to Rosalie, Edward’s sister, a vampire who has a strange attraction to being a human. Even though Bella still desires to be a vampire, her growing feelings for Jacob and her understanding of Rosalie’s journey force her to reconsider as she, the Cullens, and the werewolves head into what will surely be a deadly battle.
Breaking Dawn, ISBN 0-316-06792-X, Little, Brown and Company 2008
Plot Summary:
The fourth and final novel of the series is divided into three parts. The first is focused on Bella as she and Edward are married and go on their honeymoon. Bella soon realizes that she’s pregnant with a half human, half vampire child. The pregnancy is progressing much faster than a normal one, which causes Bella to fall ill. The second section is dedicated to Jacob Black’s perspective as he deals with the loss of Bella as his love. When Jacob hears that Bella has fallen ill, he thinks she’s been turned into a vampire. When he finds her and realizes that the baby is causing her sickness, Jacob asks Bella to abort the child and save herself. Bella is adamant that she will have the baby and be turned into a vampire after she’s given birth. The third section switches back to Bella’s point of view as she gives birth and is turned into a vampire. What none of them could see is how much this child will change all of their lives.
Critical Evaluation:
This series is good for any young adult wanting to read a good romance novel. Most readers looking for good vampiric fiction will be disappointed. Edward and the other Cullens are described as having glittering skin and can be out during the daylight, which conflicts with traditional vampire lore. Also, despite several mentions of vampire wars and the inherent dangers of vampires, the Cullens, especially Edward, are portrayed as idealistic, peace seeking vampires. Myers has created a coven of vampires and a pack of werewolves that seem much more interested in the lives of one human than any story concerning these factions in previous fiction. The language in the book leaves much to be desired as Myers tends to use the same words and phrases over and over again to make the same point; that point that despite all the supernatural material at hand, Myers chooses to focus on a Romeo and Juliet style relationship between Edward and Bella. Even the addition of Jacob as part of a love triangle is not enough to convince the reader that these two won’t end up together. The reader is left with very few surprises and the happily ever after ending seems predetermined and not earned in any way.
Reader’s Annotation:
When Bella meets Edward, she thinks it’s true love. Little does she know what’s in store for her now.
Information about the Author:
Stephenie Meyer's life changed dramatically on June 2, 2003. The stay-at-home mother of three young sons woke up from a dream featuring seemingly real characters that she could not get out of her head.
"Though I had a million things to do, I stayed in bed, thinking about the dream. Unwillingly, I eventually got up and did the immediate necessities, and then put everything that I possibly could on the back burner and sat down at the computer to write—something I hadn't done in so long that I wondered why I was bothering."
Meyer invented the plot during the day through swim lessons and potty training, and wrote it out late at night when the house was quiet. Three months later she finished her first novel, Twilight. With encouragement from her older sister (the only other person who knew she had written a book), Meyer submitted her manuscript to various literary agencies. Twilight was picked out of a slush pile at Writer's House and eventually made its way to the publishing company Little, Brown where everyone fell immediately in love with the gripping, star-crossed lovers.
Twilight was one of 2005's most talked about novels and within weeks of its release the book debuted at #5 on The New York Times bestseller list. Among its many accolades, Twilight was named an "ALA Top Ten Books for Young Adults," an Amazon.com "Best Book of the Decade...So Far", and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.
The highly-anticipated sequel, New Moon, was released in September 2006, and spent more than 25 weeks at the #1 position on The New York Times bestseller list.
In 2007, Eclipse literally landed around the world and fans made the Twilight Saga a worldwide phenomenon! With midnight parties and vampire-themed proms the enthusiasm for the series continued to grow.
On May 6, 2008, Little, Brown and Company released The Host, Meyer's highly-anticipated novel for adults which debuted at #1 on The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The Host still remains a staple on the bestseller lists more than a year after its debut.
On August 2, 2008, the final book in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn was released at 12:01 midnight. Stephenie made another appearance on "Good Morning America" and was featured in many national media outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, People Magazine and Variety. Stephenie headlined the Breaking Dawn Concert Series with Justin Furstenfeld (lead singer of Blue October) to celebrate the release in four major markets across the US. Breaking Dawn sold 1.3 million copies in its first 24 hours.
The Twilight movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, was released on November 21, 2008. Twilight debuted at #1 at the box office with $70 million, making it the highest grossing opening weekend for a female director.
Stephenie lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons.
Genre:
Fantasy, Romance Fiction
Curriculum Ties:
n/a
Challenge Issues:
This book has been challenged for violence, language, teen sex, and supernatural characters.
Creating a Defense:
- Make sure you have thorough knowledge of the library’s selection policy as well as a copy on hand. Your insight as well as pointing out specific portions of the policy will be helpful in discussion with the patron.
- Always have the library Bill of Rights close to show the patron your library’s commitment to providing all kinds of information.
- Make sure you’re familiar with the books that might be challenged. Be prepared to discuss the book’s intended audience, its educational significance, purpose, and also some alternative titles to read.
- Don’t get defensive. The librarian can’t take the challenge personally and either party getting upset will cause the discussion to devolve into a fight.
- LISTEN. Even if you don’t agree with the patron, their views are as valid as yours and should be respected.
Reading Level:
Grades 9-12
Booktalking Ideas:
Were you surprised at all how the events unfolded? Do you think you could live forever?
Why is the material included?:
This series is revered by many young adult readers.
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