Twilight

* Bibliographic information
Meyer, S. Twilight. Little, Brown and Company, 2005. ISBN: 9780316015844

- First book in the Twilight saga.
- School Library Journal Best Books: 2005
- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2006
- YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2006


* Plot Summary
Bella has just moved to Forks, Washington to live wither Dad who she has barely seen in the past few years. She left her mom, her friends and, sunny Phoenix to move to a cold damp place where the sun hardly ever shows. Bella likes living wither Dad but hates everything cold. That is until she falls in love with Edward; a cold undead vampire. When Edward saves her from being crushed by a van by using his strength she knows he is different and will stop at nothing to find out why. Once she has learned the truth she must then deal with the stares at school as everyone see her walk in with the best looking guy at school, the stares from his vampire siblings who do not approve and if that was not enough she has to keep from getting killed by a group of new deadly vampires in town.


* Critical Evaluation
A great Romeo and Juliet type love story; a vampire and a girl fall in love. What is so great about this book is the passion between Bella and Edward. The pages in the book where they kiss are so suspenseful because of the sexual tension between Bella and Edward. They want to be with each other so bad and Meyer has written it in a way where the reader feels the intensity too. Readers either love the book or hate it. Whether or not someone likes the book, they will discuss it. Meyer’s intense page turner has become so popular that people talk about this book everywhere. The story creates strong feelings in people, some good and some bad but it does make people think and talk about it; this makes it a great book because it gets people talking. Books should make people feel something when they read them and this one does it with a strong intensity I have never experienced with books before.


* Reader’s Annotation
Falling in love in high school is never easy, try falling in love with a vampire. You will not able to stop reading this intense love story; it will suck you in.


* Information about the author
Meyer lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons. She has a degree in English literature from Brigham Young University. She was a stay at home mother until she had a dream about the character of Edward and got to work writing Twilight, three months later it was done and she submitted it to literary agents. Eventually it was picked up and published in 2005 followed quickly by the other three books in 2006, 2007, and 2008. To find out more about Stephenie Meyer or the Twilight Saga, check out her website, http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/index.html.


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Fantasy, Romance


* Curriculum Ties, if any
N/A


* Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss Bella’s relationship with her parents and Edward, why does she worry about them before herself?
2) Discuss Bella’s human friends and her relationships with each of them.
3) Many people think that Edward is to protective over Bella, what is your opinion on the matter?
4) Bella is never afraid of Edward and always feels comfortable around him; even after she knows what he is, why is that?


* Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 9 and Up / 14 and Up


* Challenge Issues and Defense
N/A


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
I included this book on my blog because I cannot remember ever being so committed to a book until I read this one. The books in this series, starting with Twilight, have a way of sucking you in so that you cannot stop reading until it is done; then you want the next book immediately. I started reading it because I became obsessed with the story after seeing the movie in the theatre. Once I started reading them I started looking at all things Twilight; anything I could find online I watched or read. I knew this book had to be included because I am not the only person that reacted this way after reading this book; I’m not even the only adult. The obsession has spread across the country and into others as well. This book is very relevant right now.