Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2008). Breaking Dawn. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316067928

768 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 3 stars

Subjects: Vampires, Werewolves, Marriage, Pregnancy, Relationships, Family, War

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan gets married and finally becomes a vampire, but reconciling the human and the supernatural worlds may be more than even she can manage. 

Summary

This is the fourth and final installment in the Twilight Saga and it is packed with drama. Bella gets married and goes on her honeymoon, but there are some unexpected arrivals. She finally becomes a vampire, but not in the way that she expects, and with that comes a whole new set of problems and issues. Her relationship with Jacob continues to be problematic and Bella tries to find a way to keep her life the same when everything has changed. Most loose ends are tied up within the first 300 pages, and then Meyer creates a new conflict to keep the story going. Although it is the conclusion of the series and it wraps up some all of the loose ends, it doesn't feel as realistic as the other books in the series- and that's saying a lot. 

Notes

Many readers weren't totally satisfied with this conclusion to the saga, myself included. Things were wrapped up a little too neatly, and as it turns out, Bella is the best vampire ever! Compared to the other three books in the series, this one both has more action and less substance. It's an enjoyable conclusion, but it would have been stronger if everything wasn't quite so perfect. Then again, that wouldn't really be in keeping with the Twilight Saga as a whole, so I guess you can't have everything. 

Awards

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

After the success of the film Twilight, it looks like New Moon, and Eclipse will both be gracing the big screen as well, but the same doesn't seem to be true for Breaking Dawn- at least not yet. Readers and fans of the series, I'm certain, will wait with baited breath for further information. 

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2006). New Moon. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316024969

608 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Vampires, Werewolves, High School, Desertion, Relationships, Family

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan deals with the repercussions of her interactions with another group of vampires with her father when Edward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend, leaves her and she must face high school alone. 

Summary

Shortly after this book begins, Bella finds herself in danger again by vampires. Edward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend, feels that it is his presence that has endangered her once again, so he leaves in an effort to remove any destructive presence in her life. This doesn't have the effect that he desired, as Bella seems to be a magnet for disaster. In his absence, Bella turns to her friend Jacob Black, who, as it turns out, is going through a lot of problems on his own caused by the presence of the vampires. As he undergoes a transformation and seems to be deserting her as well, Bella strives to find balance in her life and continues to face any danger head-on. 

Notes

The Bella and Edward story gets a twist when Edward leaves Bella. The strife and heartache at the center of this novel show Meyer's writing talent- she handles this very well, better than the lovey-dovey take on Bella and Edward's relationship. The conclusion is somewhat less satisfying, as it appears that all of the characters refuse to use any common sense- or verify facts before leaping to conclusions. Still, this is a quick read that has action and drama mixed together nicely. Readers will especially enjoy the growth (both literal and figurative) that Jacob Black undergoes through this novel as he asserts himself as a contender for Bella's heart. 

Awards

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

The movie Twilight was a domestic and international success, and it looks like the sequel will be following in its cinematic footsteps. Currently slated for release in 2010, New Moon will keep stars Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward in this film. 

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2006). Twilight. New York, New York: Little, Brown, and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316015844

544 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: High School, Vampires, Relationships, Family, Outcast

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, where she must forge a relationship with her father, deal with a new high school and new people, and she discovers that the little town might be more interesting than she thought. 

Summary

Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, leaving her erratic, harebrained mother free to travel with her husband, a minor-league baseball player. This finds her living in the cloudiest place in the continental United States with a relative stranger- her father, Charlie. Starting at a new high school, and armed with typical insecurities of a teenager, she faces life in Forks. While she struggles to adapt to life in Washington, she is immediately intrigued by the Cullen family- and specifically, Edward Cullen, a mysterious figure who seems to be repulsed by her presence. As she begins to learn more about him, she realizes that there may be more to him and his family than meets the eye- and she's dying to learn more. 

Notes

This book has a quick pace and a great introduction to the characters of Bella and Edward. The plot is pushed forward quickly, and although Bella can play the part of a damsel in distress a little too convincingly at times for modern young women to truly appreciate, this is a quick, enjoyable read. 

Awards

New York Times Editor's Choice

Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year

ALA "Top Ten Books for Young Adults" 

ALA "Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers"

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

This was recently released as a movie starring Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward. Readers may enjoy discussing and debating the merits of the books compared to the movie. See the following for information about the movie: Twilight the Movie

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com