What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this series is the biggest thing
going with teen girls in 2008, especially with a movie of the
first book coming out in December. The main characters --
Bella, 18, mortal, and Edward, vampire -- have sex after
they're married. Little is described in detail except that
broken furniture and bruises are found the next day (thanks to
vampire super-strength). The goriest part of the book is a
supernatural birth scene with lots and lots of blood, cracking
bones, and near death. Vampires spend half the book fearing for
their lives and the lives of family and friends.
Families can talk about the popularity of the series. What draws so many super fans to the books? The romance? Melodrama? Supernatural elements? Very handsome characters? Do you think this book is too long? Why or why not?
Common Sense Media Review
Fans
finally get what they want at the beginning of this
fourth book in the bestselling
Twilight Saga: a fairytale wedding, a honeymoon, and
s-e-x. Once that's out of the way, teens who are just in it for
the romance shouldn't go any further. The small percentage of
readers who are in it for the blood and supernatural creatures
will get both, but one of the creatures turns out to be pretty
bizarre and ridiculous, and there aren't enough compelling plot
twists and suspenseful moments to carry the book through the
full 755 pages. There's plenty of talking, though. And fear
that something really sinister is coming for all of them. But
when the force they all fear comes for them, all the build-up
goes nowhere.
All the books in the series always ran too long, but they made up for the length with fun fantasy characters, plenty of romantic tension, and a good final battle at the end. This time the characters get everything they want at the beginning of the book and leave fans hanging at the end.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
