book review of twilight

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Twilight: the twilight saga, book 1, common sense media reviewers.

Obsessive vampire romance is absorbing and fun.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Bella studies vampire lore from around the world i

On the plus side, loyalty to family and friends an

Bella is quiet, studious, and accident-prone and i

The fangs don't come out until the end, when injur

Some passionate kissing and flirting.

Versions of "damn" and "hell" a few times.

Edward's family loves their cars, especially the V

Bella takes cold medicine to fall asleep the night

Parents need to know that Twilight is the first book of a series that brought the vampire-romance genre back from the undead in 2005. Movies starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, fan groups (Twihards), and a whole lot of merchandise followed. The forbidden, obsessive romance in Twilight …

Educational Value

Bella studies vampire lore from around the world in a series of web searches. Readers can compare the various myths to the author's interpretation. Mentions of classical music pieces and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.

Positive Messages

On the plus side, loyalty to family and friends and self-sacrifice. On the minus side, depicts a possessive relationship with some stalking behavior that's not called out.

Positive Role Models

Bella is quiet, studious, and accident-prone and is often being saved by Edward. By the end of the book she says he shouldn't be doing all the saving -- she'd rather be his equal and not Lois Lane. Edward angers easily, is possessive, and sometimes stalks Bella and watches her sleep -- to make sure she's safe, he says. He mellows out a bit, but maintains that uncomfortable air of authority over someone he loves. Some Native American characters, and when White students go to beach near a reservation, White and Native American teens mingle harmoniously.

Violence & Scariness

The fangs don't come out until the end, when injuries are blood loss, a broken leg, and a cracked skull. There's only a mention that the bad guy is ripped up and burned by other vampires. Plus a car accident with minor injuries and men threaten the main character in an alley. Mentions of how vampires turned years before: in an attack, after nearly dying in a suicide attempt, and in the 1918 flu pandemic.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Edward's family loves their cars, especially the Volvo, BMW, and Jeep.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Bella takes cold medicine to fall asleep the night before her big date.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Twilight is the first book of a series that brought the vampire-romance genre back from the undead in 2005. Movies starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson , fan groups (Twihards), and a whole lot of merchandise followed. The forbidden, obsessive romance in Twilight attracted many fans and worried more than a few parents of teen girls -- still does. Edward the vampire is possessive, angers easily, and stalks Bella, his human love interest. He even sneaks into her house to watch her sleep before they start dating. After one date he says to her, "You are my life now." By the end of Twilight, Bella professes that she's sick of being the weak one who always needs to be saved, and would like the relationship to be more equal, but Edward still has power over her because of what he is. For a romance, the sexual content is mild -- just kissing. And for all the talk of the killer instinct of vampires, there are only a few harrowing scenes with injuries including blood loss, broken bones, and a cracked skull.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (132)
• Kids say (598)

Based on 132 parent reviews

It's fine for kids!

Bella's just like us ....human, what's the story.

In TWILIGHT, Bella thinks she made a huge mistake when she moves back in with her dad in Forks, Washington. She misses her mom and sunny Phoenix, her dad can't cook, and she has a rough time on her first few days in a much smaller high school. Most of the kids are nice, sure, but her new lab partner in biology, Edward, looks like he wants to kill her. In the school office she even overhears him try to switch out of her class. This makes his actions even stranger in the school parking lot on an icy morning. When a car swerves toward Bella, Edward rushes over with impossible speed, puts a dent in the oncoming car with his bare hand, and saves her life. At the hospital, Edward tries to keep her quiet about the superhuman details of the accident. Bella says nothing, but can't quell her curiosity about him now. What exactly is he? And why can't she stop thinking about him?

Is It Any Good?

Fans of obsessive and impossible romances swoon over this hot-vampire story despite its length and some excessive moony-ness. Moony-ness as in the million ways love-struck Bella describes Edward as perfect. Here's one: "I couldn't imagine how an angel could be any more glorious. There was nothing about him that could be improved upon." Really, Bella? He gets angry awfully easily and he watches you sleep. Still, with the world of teen romance so hard to navigate, there's something about having your love life all figured out in one date. And author Stephenie Meyer may not write with economy or brilliant turns of phrase, but she builds up the romantic tension successfully.

Meyer is also successful at building her curious world of vampires. It's clear she's carefully considered each of her minor characters. Their origin stories of how each turned and joined the coven add an extra layer to this fantasy world. The setting in small-town Washington also adds appeal. The rain-soaked green and aliveness of Forks make the presence of deathly pale vampires in the town even more surreal. But readers will mostly sink their fangs into Twilight for the dramatic romance, and there's plenty of that here and in the rest of the series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Bella and Edward's relationship in Twilight . Is it a healthy one? If Edward were a regular guy and not a vampire and he snuck into your house to watch you sleep, what would you think?

What books that you've read depict a healthier relationship than Bella and Edward's? Are they as fun to read?

How into the series are you? Will you read all the books? Watch all the movies? Demand a family trip to Washington state for a Twilight -themed tour of Forks? What do you think turns a reader into a mega-fan?

Book Details

• Author : Stephenie Meyer
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , High School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
• Publication date : October 1, 2005
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 12
• Number of pages : 498
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Book Review – Twilight

Twilight is a phenomenon; or that is what I hear. I began to receive emails about it a short time ago and the requests for a review have increased as the release of the Twilight movie has approached. Strangely, I get more requests to review teenage fiction than any other genre. I usually reply with an apologetic email saying that I do not review such titles. But because of the popularity of this series I decided to make an exception. With great trepidation and with eyes fixed firmly on the floor, I went to a local store and purchased the whole series–four books. I read the first volume, which I will review today, and left it to Aileen (the fiction expert in our home) to read the rest of the series.

Admittedly, this is my first foray into fiction written for teen girls. Actually, it is one of my first ventures into teen literature at all. When I was young I read books for children, but largely skipped over teen fiction, opting instead to dive straight into the history books. So I admit to being largely ignorant when it comes to this kind of book.

I found Twilight surprisingly well-written, at least for the genre. This is not to say it will be supplanting Jane Austen in the university lecture hall, but merely that it is readable and reasonably good as fiction. The dialog, the characters, the pacing, the prose–all of it, at the very least, is good enough that it does not detract from the story. This is more than I can say for many novels.

The book begins with seventeen year-old Bella Swan moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, so she can live with her father, Charlie. Her mother, meanwhile, is traveling with her boyfriend Phil, a minor league baseball player. A too-typical teenage girl, Bella is convinced she is an ugly duckling when in reality she is a swan (the inspiration for her last name, perhaps?). Where in Phoenix she had been a social outcast, in Forks she is immediately popular and she catches the eye of several boys.

I’ll continue this plot summary by (lazily) quoting from Wikipedia: “When Bella sits next to Edward Cullen in class on her first day of school, Edward seems utterly repulsed by her. He even attempts to change his schedule to avoid her, leaving Bella completely puzzled about his attitude towards her. After tricking a family friend, Jacob Black, into telling her the local tribal legends, Bella concludes that Edward and his family are vampires. Although she was inexplicably attracted to him even when she thought Edward drank human blood, she is much relieved to learn that the Cullens choose to abstain from drinking human blood, and drink animal blood instead. Edward reveals that he initially avoided Bella because the scent of her blood was so desirable. Over time, Edward and Bella fall in love.” Without spoiling the plot, the book concludes with some page-turning action involving a vampire tracker (which, for those who are as ignorant as myself, is a vampire who tracks humans, not a human who tracks vampires) who seeks to hunt Bella as a sick kind of sport.

I am sure that the subject matter will immediately convince some parents that the book is unsuitable for their girls. This was my initial reaction–why would I allow my daughter to read a book about vampires? But I know there are some, perhaps myself included, who may allow an older teenager to read it. It is primarily to assist such parents that I write this review.

The book is relatively clean. That is to say that there is little explicit violence and no overt sexual activity. However, I think this bears some further discussion. While there is no sexual activity portrayed in the book, it really does ooze with a kind of teen or tween sexuality. The book is, at its heart, the story of a young girl’s sexual awakening. It may be that the tween reader will be sufficiently young and innocent that this is lost on her, but I’m convinced the older teenage girl will find it in the story. The most explicit sexuality is found in a brief discussion between Edward and Bella where they talk about whether they desire one another in that way and whether Bella has ever been with another boy. Edward declares that he may be a vampire, but he is still a man. The quiet sensuality is far more pervasive and, I would suggest, far more powerful. There is scene after scene where Edward and Bella gently stroke one another, softly and slowly running their hands over each other’s bodies, exploring, pressing their heads against each other’s chests to hear their hearts pounding, feeling electric shocks as their fingers touch flesh, twisting and cavorting with their lips on one another’s faces and necks. Bella is inflamed by Edward and, while there may be no explicit mention of sexuality, it is clear that she desires Edward– all of Edward.

Edward, meanwhile, has a creepy kind of love for Bella. As a vampire he cannot sleep, so he spends his nights sneaking into Bella’s room to watch her sleep (as if this is sweet, not perverse) and often follows her unnoticed as she goes about her business. He reveals that her scent–the scent of her blood–drives him wild. His overwhelming love for her is sometimes nearly indistinguishable from revulsion or hatred. There is part of him that wishes to hold her, to make love to her, and another part that wants to attack her and to drink her blood. In one scene she has been bitten and Edward needs to suck some poison from her if he is to save her life. After he does so he discusses both her taste and her smell and how enchanting it is to him. Is this love or is this perverse obsession?

While the love between the two of them is meant to be real, it also has a strange, unearthly quality to it. It also has an obsessive, idolatrous quality. Perhaps this is true of any love story, but I wonder whether girls are well-served by reading of a young woman who is so utterly consumed with her boyfriend that she seeks and desires and thinks of nothing else. She lies, she disobeys her parents, she does whatever is necessary to be with him. She is convinced that in this boy she will find her all-in-all. All she desires–to the point of wanting him to drink her blood so she, too, can be a vampire–is to be with him forever. She would rather be undead eternally than live without him.

I just don’t know that young girls will derive any benefit from spending hours reading and thinking about such an unrealistic, unobtainable, perverse kind of love. It glories in love that is forbidden, dangerous and just plain weird. The fact that the story involves vampires may be beside the point. My primary concern with Twilight , as I consider handing it to a girl of thirteen or fifteen or seventeen, is its sensuous quality. The lack of overt sexuality means that it is not an erotic book, but it is very nearly so. It oozes sensuality even without an act of consummation.

It is not insignificant that on the cover of Twilight is the simple image of hands–female hands–holding out an apple. This clearly evokes the forbidden fruit of Genesis 2:17, verses that are quoted at the beginning of the book. This represents not only the forbidden love between a human and a vampire, but Edward himself as Bella considers partaking of him . My suggestion to parents would be to leave this book on the shelf instead of handing it to your teenage girl (and especially your young teenage girl). At the very least, read it yourself and see if your conscience is clear before you hand it to her.

Postscript: Aileen read this book and promptly read the other three volumes in the series. Her assessment of the sensuality and the violence in Twilight : “that’s nothing compared to the other three books.” It should be noted, however, that Edward and Bella marry in book four and that they do so as virgins.

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In-Depth Review of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: A Modern Vampire Romance

• Author: Admin
• March 10, 2024

Stephenie Meyer's debut novel, "Twilight," has undeniably left a lasting impact on the young adult fiction landscape. Released in 2005, this book swiftly became a bestseller, captivating a vast audience with its unique blend of romance, fantasy, and coming-of-age drama. Set in the gloomy town of Forks, Washington, "Twilight" introduces us to Bella Swan, a seventeen-year-old girl who relocates to live with her father and soon finds herself entwined in the mysterious world of Edward Cullen, a seemingly young and enigmatic classmate, who is revealed to be a vampire.

The core of "Twilight" lies in the burgeoning romance between Bella and Edward. Meyer crafts a relationship that is both intense and problematic, marked by Edward's supernatural allure and Bella's human vulnerability. The novel explores the theme of forbidden love in a manner that resonates deeply with its teenage audience. Meyer's writing, while accessible, does occasionally lapse into overwrought prose, but this seems to only enhance the appeal for its intended demographic, who find in it a voice for their own intense emotions and experiences.

Character development in "Twilight" is a mixed bag. Bella Swan, as the narrator, is relatable to many teenagers, with her feelings of awkwardness and alienation. However, her character often lacks depth and agency, particularly in her interactions with Edward, which can be troubling from a feminist standpoint. Edward Cullen, on the other hand, is the quintessential brooding hero, torn between his love for Bella and the inherent dangers that his vampire nature poses to her. His character offers an intriguing glimpse into the burdens of immortality and the struggles of maintaining one's humanity.

One cannot discuss "Twilight" without addressing the unique lore of vampires that Meyer introduces. Straying from traditional vampire mythology, Meyer's vampires sparkle in the sunlight instead of burning, and they possess varied supernatural abilities. This fresh take on vampire lore has been both praised for its originality and criticized for straying too far from established conventions. However, it is precisely this reinvention that allowed "Twilight" to stand out and capture the imagination of a new generation.

The novel also touches upon themes of identity, choice, and morality, albeit sometimes superficially. Bella's attraction to the dangerous world of vampires metaphorically represents the universal teenage journey of self-discovery and the allure of the unknown. The moral dilemmas posed by Edward's vampire nature, and his family's decision to refrain from consuming human blood, add a layer of ethical contemplation to the narrative.

Meyer's narrative style is straightforward and immersive, making "Twilight" an easy and engaging read. While her descriptions of the gloomy, rain-soaked Forks effectively set the tone for the novel, some readers might find the pace slow in parts, particularly in the middle section where the focus is heavily on the developing relationship between Bella and Edward.

The impact of "Twilight" on young adult fiction cannot be overstated. It has spawned a massive fanbase, numerous adaptations, and even a genre of literature that blends romance with supernatural elements. Meyer's book has become a cultural phenomenon, influencing not just literature but also films, fashion, and fan fiction.

In conclusion, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer is a novel that polarizes opinion. Its strengths lie in its unique twist on vampire lore, the exploration of intense teenage emotions, and its impact on the genre of young adult fiction. However, criticisms regarding its prose style, character development, and portrayal of relationships are valid. Nonetheless, "Twilight" remains a significant and influential work, offering both an escape and a reflection of the turbulent emotions of adolescence. For those seeking a romantic, fantastical journey through the eyes of a teenager, "Twilight" is an essential read.

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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga: Book 1)

After seeing and enjoying the movie Twilight , I had to get the book.  If I was less of a glutton for punishment I probably would have heeded the warning signs. Every teenage girl I knew of swooning over the book and the Romeo of the story, Edward Cullen. I even had a 24 year old friend update her status with something along the lines of “After Edward Cullen I can never again want a human male.”

Also, I know I can be obsessive and with the exception of a small few, once I read the first book in a series, I have to read the whole series whether I really want to or not. I don’t like unfinished stories. Did I really want to subject myself to at least 4 (which was the length of the saga when I bought Twilight and I hadn’t researched whether or not it would get longer) teen love books? I didn’t do much thinking when I spotted the book for £4, knowing how much I enjoyed the movie; I willingly handed over my money in order to be Bella and Edwards’s voyeur.

The book begins with Isabella “Bella” Swann moving from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to live with her dad, the local police Chief, Charlie Swann, in wet and dismal Forks, Washington. Almost immediately, it is obvious that Bella wishes she still had an option to live in Phoenix, which only increases when she meets Edward Cullen in class. Edward looks at and treats Bella as if she is something dark and sticky on the underside of his shoe, with a hostility Bella has never felt before.

“The class seemed to drag on longer than the others. Was it because the day was finally coming to a close, or because I was waiting for his tight fist to loosen? It never did; he continued to sit so still it looked like he wasn't breathing. What was wrong with him? Was this his normal behavior? I questioned my judgment on Jessica's bitterness at lunch today. Maybe she was not as resentful as I'd thought. It couldn't have anything to do with me. He didn't know me from Eve. I peeked up at him one more time, and regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. As I flinched away from him, shrinking against my chair, the phrase if looks could kill suddenly ran through my mind.” An extract from Twilight

Edward continues to treat Bella this way until she is almost killed by a car in the school car park. One of her fellow students comes careening towards Bella after losing control of his car and is almost about to sandwich Bella between it and Bella’s 1950’s truck. In steps Edward Cullen from the other side of the school car park to stop the car from almost certainly killing the girl he has so openly disliked.

So begins Bella and Edwards forbidden romance, with revelations aplenty coming out about Edward until Jacob Black, the son of Chief Swann’s best friend, tells Bella about the ancient legends surrounding his tribe including those of “the cold ones.” Bella finds out about the true nature of the Cullen’s being vampires. A romance book which ends with a fantastic, high-octane finale, I’m sure most readers will find something they like about Stephenie Meyer’s first novel.

One of the influences that Meyer lists for her writing is Romeo and Juliet . This is clearly evident throughout the book as hardly anyone believes they should be together, Bella’s friends obviously don’t agree with it, and Rosie Cullen seems to hate Bella with the hate she believed Edward once had for her.

The book is full of romance, but is padded with enough action and vampirism to keep most fantasy readers from putting the book down. A kind of Harry Potter meets Shakespeare , the book is a fine read with plenty of talking points that I’d better leave out of the review for fear of ruining the twists and turns for would-be readers of the book.

Overall, I believe Twilight deserves a 7.5/10. A Shakespearean love story with monsters and myth.

8/10 A Shakespearean love story with monsters and myth.

• Buy on Amazon

Review by Stephen Messham

10 positive reader review(s) for Twilight

Stephenie Meyer biography

Clementine from Australia

The book Twilight is about a seventeen year old girl named Bella who moves to a small rainy town called Forks, to live with her dad. Bella’s life is pretty ordinary, gloomy, but still ordinary, until she meets a strange boy named Edward. Later in the book she creates a theory that Edward is a vampire, which turns out to be true. Soon she finds out that there’s a dangerous side of her discovery. I particularly like the plot line in the story, because the author, Stephenie Meyer uses several writing techniques to build up suspense and tension along the plot line, I also find the plot line unpredictable. The only fault I find with Twilight is that at the beginning and several parts during the book may be slightly disengaging for readers as there is no action for some time and many people would stop reading. Twilight is categoriesed as a romance fantasy book. Which is rated for 13+ by parents and 11+ by children and teens. I would rate the first book of Twilight for 11+ however, it also depends on how mature the reader is. I give the book 9 stars because the plot is very intriguing, even though it has faults.

Rachel from United states

The book Twilight was about Bella moving away from Phoenix to go live with her dad for a while because her mom wanted to travel with phil. As soon as she got to forks Washington she got a truck from her dad who got it from Billy Black. She got to meet Jacob Black and was a werewolf. When she got to school she made some friends and met the Cullen Family. She fell in love with Edward the first time she saw him. Over time she got closer and closer to Edward's big secret of being a vampire. The time when she found out she was not afraid of him she was afraid of losing him. I would love to have a love connection like they do but I think Bella made a big mistake for falling in love with Edward. I am a Jacob fan myself and I always wanted to see what they would do about the whole Vampire war problem. I absolutly loved this book but if she fell in love with Jacob it would be even better.

Anindita from India

This book is the best... I love it

Kaya from Morocco

I completely love the book how's it's full of love and romance something that we don't see these days some people saying that bella is an independent figure i completely disagree with them bella was depending on Edward because what she been through wasn't human it was supernatural what are you expecting to throw her life to a complete end that's such a rubbish i love the sweetness of the story it's kinda better sweet it might get slightly boring in the middle but it gets better and in my opinion i think that the book is better than the movie i think that Emma Stewart isn't good for bella's swan character while Robert Pattinson was perfect for the role in few words twilight is a delightful book can't wait to read the rest

Kelli from United States

THE BEST BOOK EVER

Lauren from United States

Reasons to read this book: 1) you are newcomer to vampires or 2) are between the ages of 12-17. Twilight is to vampire lore as fairytales are to Grimm's tales. Far from the real, abet mythological, truth. This is a land not far away from our reality, where vampire's roam about not dying in the sun, but sparkle like a diamond. They live among us hiding in plain sight, avoiding bright spots? The main protagonists of the books are smitten in awkward teenage love. One confused about the other's strange behavior. The other worried about prohibited interspecies co-mingling and associated other issues. This book devolves into an emotionally abusive rollercoaster. Unless you really like drama, the following books are better for newcomers to vampire lore: Robin McKinley's Sunshine, PC Cast's Marked, or Darren Shaw's Cirque de Freak. Overall, when I was a teenager, I read this and never thought about it again. I'll give it a 6 for some creativity about the lore, but only a 6 because of the plot line.

Blah balh from Heaven

This is a really good book u should read it I m waiting for another series.

Hayley from New Jersey

I love this book

Sarah from USA

I love this book.

Taniya from India

Stephenie Meyer, India wants to read beyond Breaking Dawn part 2... we are crazy about the story... it's the single story which we think should never stop... plzzzzzzzz, we the readers want more series of Twilight... just break all the barriers of Twilight and go on writing about the mesmerizing love story of Bella and Edward... waitng for another series of Twilight...

Holly from England

SERIOUSLY GOOD BOOK, it's got so much detail and is very romantic, but I love the way at every moment there relationship was hanging on an edge. I was always turning the page expecting to find out if their fragile relationship would survive but I never got an answer, all the haters have just got to stop being so rude, and I know everyone's entitled to there own opinion but at least try to say it nicely. People keep saying it gives young girls the wrong message, but as I young girl myself it honestly doesn't and I know that having a boyfriend isn't the most important thing, and so many adults think us young girls believe that the way Bella stays with Edward even though he could hurt her and is dangerous makes us believe that abuse is alright but it's nothing like that and we are not that stupid to think that it is ok. Plus Edward hardly abuses Bella and when he does hurt her he doesn't mean to and when he stops her going places it's only because he is so worried about losing her. Anyway,I loved the book and how it made me feel excited and anxious. So I recommend it to years 12 plus.

Kirti from India

I just love it .

Andy from Reading

The books are reasonably well written given that they are for teenagers, New Moon was extremely whiny though. These are overall enjoyable books and I would recommend them to any teenager. I particularly enjoyed Breaking Dawn after Bella was turned as there is more humour and fun involved.

Britt from Georgia

THE best book.

9.2 /10 from 15 reviews

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Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) Summary and Reviews

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Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

by Stephenie Meyer

Critics' Opinion:

Readers' rating:

Published Sep 2006 544 pages Genre: Romance Publication Information

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About this book

Book summary.

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die - I'd had reason enough in the last few months – but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this... . Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of something else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something."

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret. What Bella doesn't realize is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back... . Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight will have readers riveted right until the very last page is turned.

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Reader reviews.

"Meyer's description of the lovers' emotions is palpable, and readers will be drawn into the couple's spiraling dance, feeling the intense longing that comes from being a hair's breadth away from the thing you want most in the world. Ages 12-18." - KLIATT. "Starred Review. Although Edward and Bella's romance and subsequent danger develops slowly, the pacing is appropriate for teens who want learn all the details in this suspenseful tale. An excellent purchase for both school and public libraries." - School Library Journal. "Starred Review. There are some flaws here--a plot that could have been tightened, an overreliance on adjectives and adverbs to bolster dialogue--but this dark romance seeps into the soul." - Booklist. "This is far from perfect: Edward's portrayal as monstrous tragic hero is overly Byronic, and Bella's appeal is based on magic rather than character. Nonetheless, the portrayal of dangerous lovers hits the spot; fans of dark romance will find it hard to resist." - Kirkus Reviews.

...8 more reader reviews

Author Information

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Stephenie Meyer Author Biography

Stephenie Meyer was born in Connecticut in 1973, but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and considers herself a native. She went to high school in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was awarded a National Merit Scholarship, and she used it to pay her way to Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah. she majored in English, but concentrated on literature rather than creative writing. Meyer is the author of the Twilight series, as well as the stand-alone novel The Host . She lives in Cave Creek, Arizona with her husband and two sons.

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Book Review

Twilight — “twilight” series.

• Stephenie Meyer
• Fantasy , Paranormal , Romance

Readability Age Range

• Little, Brown and Company, a division of the Hachette Book Group
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2006; ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2006; Amazon.com Best of the Decade…So Far (Teens), 2010

Year Published

This romantic vampire fantasy is the first book in the ” Twilight ” series by Stephenie Meyer and is published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of the Hachette Book Group.

Twilight is written for kids ages 9 and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.

Plot Summary

When 17-year-old Bella Swan moves to her dad’s home in perpetually-cloudy Forks, Wash., she has little hope of enjoying her new life. Her father, Charlie, is the small town’s police chief. He lives as a resigned bachelor in the same house he owned during his brief marriage to Bella’s mom. Bella enrolls in the high school and makes some new acquaintances. While sitting with them in the cafeteria, she spots a group of five strange and incredibly beautiful people and learns that they are the Cullens. Two sets of them (Alice and Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie) are couples, but they’re all in the same family, adopted by the town’s young doctor. They keep to themselves. Bella later shares a lab table with the fifth member of the group, named Edward. She’s taken aback by his hostile behavior toward her. He sits far away from her and casts searing glances in her direction. She later sees him in the office trying to change his schedule to avoid her. She wonders what could make him hate her so much.

When icy weather hits, Bella’s truck and another student’s car collide in the school parking lot. Edward, whom Bella had seen standing far away, is suddenly at her side and saves her life by holding back the other car. She’s perplexed by the deep hand indentions he’s left in the vehicle. He’s reticent when she asks how he got to her so fast and had the strength to save her. He does, however, begin to act more friendly toward her at school. Through their cryptic banter in class, Bella becomes more and more attracted to the pale, gorgeous boy whose eyes “smolder” and drive her wild.

On a day trip with other school friends, Bella runs into an old acquaintance who lives on the Indian reservation. Jacob Black, a few years younger than Bella, is eager to impress and reveals classified information about the Cullens when Bella prods him. Jacob explains that the ancestors of his tribe have a territorial agreement with the Cullens, as the Cullens and other “cold ones” are their mortal enemies. Back home on the Internet, Bella further investigates Jacob’s claims and discovers Edward’s chilling secret: He and his family are vampires.

Bella knows she should be more fearful, but Edward’s increasing attention, protective nature and passionate gazes have left her entranced. Bella travels to a larger city with two girls from school to help them shop for prom dresses. When she gets separated from her friends, a group of four men surround her in a dark alley. Just in time, Edward appears and saves her. She’s stunned by his intense anger and often witnesses it in the days thereafter. He takes her to dinner and calms down before driving her back to Forks.

Edward warns her that he’s dangerous and that she should stay away from him. Thoroughly smitten, Bella repeatedly tells him (and herself) she doesn’t care what happens to her. No fate could be worse than being separated from him. Edward takes Bella to a remote area in the forest, allowing her to see how his skin glows in the sunlight. The glow is just one of the reasons Edward and his “family” (the others in his vampire coven) must stay in places like Forks where there’s significant cloud cover. Edward explains that his family attempts to be civilized, eating only animals and not people (though it is like subsisting on a diet of tofu and soy milk). Bella’s scent is so tantalizing to Edward, he says she’s like a drug to him. The same urges that cause him to want to devour her (literally) also drive him to protect and love her. He’s tormented, knowing he should stay away from her for her own safety but feeling he can’t bear to be without her.

Edward takes Bella home to meet his family. Most of the clan welcomes her, though Rosalie feels Bella is a threat to their life in Forks. Alice foresees a thunderstorm, and the vampires make a plan to play baseball high in the forest. When Bella joins them, she understands why loud peals of thunder are necessary to cover up their powerful hits. In mid-game, the family catches the scent of other vampires. There isn’t time to get Bella out of the area, so they try their best to cover her scent as they talk to the new vampires Laurent, James and James’ mate, Victoria. But James, a tracker, quickly picks up Bella’s scent. When the two vampire clans part ways, Edward tells Bella he’s read James’ thoughts. James will stop at nothing to devour her.

Alice and Jasper go with Bella to her home, where she quickly packs and lies to her dad, telling him she can no longer live in Forks. They drive her to Phoenix while Edward and the others protect her father and track James. Alice, Jasper and Bella hole up in a Phoenix hotel and wait for directions from the others. One morning, Bella receives a call. James is on the other end of the line, telling her he has her mother. He orders her to pretend she’s talking to her mom so the vampires won’t catch on. James directs Bella to lose Alice and Jasper. She gets away from them in the airport where they’re supposed to pick up Edward. James directs her to the dance studio she attended as a child. When she arrives, she realized James has tricked her. Her mother’s voice on the phone was from an old videotape. James brutally attacks Bella. When she’s nearly lost consciousness, she hears Edward’s voice. He and the rest of his family have arrived to kill James. It’s up to Edward to suck the poison out of Bella’s blood without killing her or turning her into a vampire. Though it takes every ounce of self-control he has, Edward manages to save Bella’s life.

The Cullens help Bella make up a detailed story to calm her parents. She returns to Forks to recover. Edward tricks her into getting dressed up, leg cast and all, to go with him to the prom. She begs him to change her into a vampire so they can always be together, but he refuses.

Christian Beliefs

Carlisle, head of the Cullen clan, keeps a cross from the 1600s in their home. It was carved by his father and hung on the wall of the vicarage where he (the father) preached. Carlisle’s father was intolerant of Roman Catholics and other religions, and he led witch hunts in which many innocent people were burned based on accusations of practicing black magic or being werewolves and vampires. On one such raid, a real vampire attacked Carlisle and changed him.

Edward says it’s hard for him to believe that the world could have been created all on its own.

Other Belief Systems

Bella learns about vampire lore on the Internet, though Edward later dispels some misconceptions. In addition to their regular vampire qualities, which include incredible speed and strength, several of the Cullens have unique abilities. Edward can hear people’s thoughts, Alice can see the future, and Jasper has the ability to manipulate people’s emotional states.

Bella wonders if by saving her from the van, Edward was tampering with her fate. She says good luck avoids her and suggests at another time that luck or good odds were on her side. Edward gives in to his love for Bella because he says he’s decided if he’s going to hell, he might as well do it thoroughly. James says he has a sixth sense when he’s hunting.

Jacob tells Bella about Quileute Indian legends dating back to the time of Noah and the flood. The Indians supposedly survived by tying their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees. Another legend suggests the Quileutes descended from wolves.

When Bella hears Edward’s voice after James’ violent attack, she says she hears the sound of an angel calling her name, calling her to the only heaven she wants. Later, she says Edward is her life, and he’s the only thing it would hurt her to lose.

Authority Roles

Bella’s dad, Charlie, is a bachelor who spends most of his time fishing, watching sports or working. Unused to having parental responsibilities, he makes weak efforts to monitor Bella’s activities. Bella appears much smarter than her father since her frequent lies keep him thoroughly in the dark. At the outset, she “lets him know” where she’s going because she feels asking permission sets a bad precedent. Charlie imposes some rules and curfews after Bella’s attack, but he still has no idea what kind of boy his daughter is dating. Before Bella’s mom, Renee, remarried, Bella was in charge. She was the one making sure the bills were paid and that she and her “erratic, harebrained” mom had food on the table.

Profanity & Violence

The words d–n, h— and butt each appears a few times. Bella endures a violent attack by a vampire. He strikes her in the chest, throws her into mirrors and crushes her leg by stepping on it. Glass cuts into her scalp and she begins to bleed profusely before she blacks out.

Sexual Content

Edward and Bella engage in a good deal of kissing and sensual (not overtly sexual) caressing, primarily of the face and neck. “Smoldering” glances, passionate whispers and purposeful breathing of one another’s scents heighten their emotions. They are careful not to act too intensely on their passion for fear that Edward will lose control and bite Bella.

Though Edward is attracted to Bella physically to some degree, her scent is her most tantalizing attribute to him. His primary desire as a vampire is to devour her and taste her blood. Edward sometimes stays all night in Bella’s room to watch her sleep. Edward asks a suggestive question about Bella’s sexual history, and she indicates she is a virgin since she’s never felt about anyone like she does about him.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Anger: Edward longs to be with Bella, yet he knows his bloodlust puts her in mortal danger. He’s tormented and angered by the decisions he must make and by the intensity of effort required to maintain control when he’s with her. He never physically hurts Bella, but he often lashes out in ways that frighten her. He sometimes demonstrates “righteous indignation” toward evil people or other vampires. Still, his fierce temper and the magnitude of his fury produce fear and anxiety in Bella.

Lying: Bella frequently lies to her parents about her activities or relationships, even when she knows the lies put her in dangerous situations. She lies to her friends to get out of things. She often lies to Edward, telling him she’s not afraid or conflicted. After she is attacked by another vampire, the Cullen family helps her concoct an elaborate lie about why she left Forks and how she got hurt.

Substances: Bella admits to “gratuitously” taking cold medicine on one occasion to help her sleep. Edward compares the scent of blood to a drug or alcohol addiction. He says Bella’s scent is like his “exact brand of heroine.”

Theft: Edward steals a car in his effort to get to Bella before James devours her.

Suicide: Before her vampire days, Esme lost a baby. She jumped off a cliff in her grief.

PluggedIn.com , an entertainment and media ministry of Focus on the Family, has written an article that offers an overview of the whole “Twilight” series: Darkness Falls After Twilight .

Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie review.

Book reviews cover the content, themes and world-views of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. A book’s inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

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Stephenie Meyer

Published 2005        434 Pages

When seventeen year-old Bella Swan leaves sunny Arizona to live with her father in the small and gloomy Pacific North-West town of Forks she doesn’t expect to like it.  After all she has made excuses not to go there enough times over the past few years.  If living in Forks, with its constant mist and rain, wasn’t bad enough she will have to make a whole new set of friends and settle into a new school.

Bella soon makes some new friends at school but when she sees a boy called Edward Cullen sitting with his brothers and sisters in the cafeteria she is instantly intrigued.  Edward is stunningly attractive, almost inhumanly beautiful, and yet he is an outsider too.  Although Edward and his family have lived in Forks for two years they have never really been accepted by the townsfolk. 

At first Edward is aloof, sometimes it almost seems like he can’t stand to be in the same room as her, but eventually they strike up an unlikely friendship.  Even as Bella falls hopelessly and irrevocably in love with Edward, she still can’t work out exactly what makes him so different to everyone else.

On a trip to the beach, Bella is told of the local legend about the “cold ones”, a group of blood drinkers who have sworn off hunting humans but are still not welcome on Indian land because vampires are not to be trusted.  Realising Edward is vampire changes nothing for Bella, she knows that she still loves him even if he’s not human.

Edward and his whole family are vampires.  Edward himself was made a vampire when he was seventeen years-old, although that was at the end of World War I.  For Edward his love for Bella is both a delight and a torment.  A delight because she is the first person he has loved since he was made a vampire.  A torment because although he has sworn off human blood and only hunts animals the craving for human blood never truly leaves him and the very scent of her also stirs his hunger for blood….

Twilight is the story of Edward and Bella’s romance.  Forget any vampire romance you have read before, Twilight is so unique it is almost like it’s in its own genre.  The book is marketed at Young Adult readers but it has the ability to cross age barriers and will satisfy both teenagers and adults alike.

The story is told in first person from the perspective of Bella, so the reader only ever know what she knows, making Edward and his family a mystery that is slowly unravelled through out the book.  Even by the end of the book I was still thirsting for more of the Cullen family back story - hopefully their characters might be developed further in future books.  Bella herself is a well written and realistic character, shy and lacking in confidence, her sarcastic inner voice narrates the story for the reader.

Twilight is simply and yet beautifully written.  The descriptions of Forks leave you feeling like you can almost smell the damp air and hear the rain falling on the roof. 

The romance between Edward and Bella is both touching and compelling.  There is a melancholic feel to their impossible love, yet at the same time they both are unwilling to give up hope that their relationship is not doomed.  The book reaches a fever pitch of excitement as the romance between Bella and Edward turns into a frantic race to stay alive. 

I have heard Twilight described as “a vampire story for people who don’t like vampire stories” and I think I would agree with that.  This book really has something for everyone.  Young adult readers, vampire fans or romance readers will all find Twilight to be an appealing story.

For a Young Adult novel the book is quite long but don’t let that put you off reading it because each page is to be savoured.  Believe me, this is one book that you won’t want to end.

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Twilight Audio CD

Twilight is also available in audio CD format too.  Narrated by Ilyana Kadushin the novel is completely unabridged and is nearly 13 hours long (that’s 11 compact discs.)

Audio is obviously a convenient format, you can listen to a novel just about anywhere and anytime.  Twilight was the first novel that I ever listened to in audio format and it was a strangely enjoyable experience.  The story is unabridged so the listener doesn’t miss a single word, although this does make for a long listening experience!

Ilyana does a good job of narrating the story and manages to illustrate the story will with just her voice, although her rendition of Edward’s speech does take a little getting used to.  She uses an odd deep, soft, breathy voice whenever Edward speaks and this was a little off-putting at first but all in all Twilight in audio format is a great way to get another shot of Forks goodness.

Twilight audio sample

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Reviews of other books by this author.

You can find out more about Stephenie Meyer and read an excerpt from this book by visiting her web site.  Visit Stephenie’s site.

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Twilight – Review

For my second book review attempt, I chose another series by a well heard of and much loved and hated writer: Stephenie Meyer.  

I have not seen as many negative reviews about this series, but it does seem to be one that people certainly love to hate.

LV Gaudet is a Canadian writer and mother of two. Her writing endeavors range from stories written for her young children to the realm of horror.

Some of her short stories can be found scattered in the dark void of the internet.

A Moment of Purity

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Carpet Ride

I love the story in this series. The characters are relatable and the tension between Jacob and Edward is thrilling. Stephenie Myers can tell a great story. I too was turned off in the beginning of Twilight, but once I got into the characters, I was hooked, and could not read the next three books fast enough.

Yes Joanie, this is one thing she certainly did right in this series. Even with the target audience being much younger and their reading tastes requiring a simpler read, I still found myself getting mad at the characters and wanting to read the next book to find out what happens.

I thought the first third of the first book was a little boring, but by the end I was totally caught up in the romance. The rivalry between Jacob and Edward is, surely, the most exciting thing about the series. I, too, read through the remaining three books rapidly, determined to find out how it would end.

When I did get to the end, I decided Meyer was trying to do a Chronicles of Narnia thing, with Edward in the place of Aslan. Aslan, as you know, is not a tame lion, and Edward Cullen is not a tame vampire.

Would he be a terrible boyfriend in real life? Absolutely. Charlie’s real-life equivalent would quite possibly have “accidentally” shot him (or at least threatened to when Bella was out of earshot). Of course, fantasy novels are not real life. Lots of fantasy romance readers want the alpha male with magical powers who will sweep us off our feet. I do.

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The Book Nanny

A look inside your book

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer | Parent Guide & Review

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and decide to buy, I make a small commission for referring you. This helps me make a few cents for doing what I love.

Twilight will always have a special place in my heart because I remember reading and discussing it with my friends when I was 13 and 14. After all of the books came out, my mom mentioned that if she had read all of them first, she would have made me wait until I was older. That conversation sparked the idea for The Book Nanny and made it possible almost ten years later. Keep reading for the Twilight Parent Guide parents should have had 15 years ago!

Summary of Twilight

When Bella Swan shows up in the small town of Forks, her plan is to endure high school for two years and get out. Instead, she discovers that vampires are real and not a nightmare. One of those vampires craves her blood above all others.

Twilight Parent Guide

Language: 7 biblical swear words; 1.4% of pages contain language; Adult Content: PG-13 a couple of heated kisses and allusions to sex; Violence: PG-13 for the boss fight at the end, and thematic elements

Judging a Book by the Movie

Everything has both pros and cons. However, when it comes to Twilight, I just hear the bad. There is a bad stigma around the Twilight series from the movies, book critics, and relationship experts criticism. Let just start by saying the books were way better than the movies.

While I was reading, I pictured Kirsten Stewart as Bella but with a completely different personality. If you base your ideas of Twilight on the movies, you got the main story. But it’s hard to represent the inner thoughts of characters on film. So I suggest at least reading the first book (or half of the first book) before forming your opinion.

Critics of Stephenie Meyer

As for the criticism from readers and relationship experts, yes, the book isn’t perfect. Stephenie Meyer tried her best when writing it. I can’t fault her for accomplishing something that I only dream of someday. She has written not just one book but nine. Plus, she has more than made up for her shortcomings by rewriting Twilight twice! Once as a gender-flipped novel and again from Edward’s perspective. Is Stephenie Meyer’s writing perfect? Nope, but no one’s writing ever is. For more about Stephenie Meyer and her writing journey, check out this author spotlight.

Is Twilight Abusive?

One of the biggest criticisms of Twilight and later books in the series is the characteristics of a toxic relationship in Bella and Edward’s relationship. Some critics argue that Twilight romanticizes abusive traits and holds them up as a standard for ideal relationships. I can understand why they would say Bella and Edward’s relationship is toxic. They recognize and acknowledge this is the series and then work to change it. As long as you realize that it isn’t a perfect relationship and don’t try to copy it, you’ll be good.

This would be a great topic to discuss with your teen or young adult while reading the books. Books are great conversation starters. You could talk about what a healthy relationship looks like and the warning signs of a toxic or abusive relationship. Talking about touchy topics in a book can provide a natural setting for hard but necessary conversations.

Twilight Parent Guide Recommendations

Twilight has some sexual innuendos. In later books, there is making out, an attempted seduction, and a honeymoon. There aren’t any sex scenes, but I recommend waiting until at least 16 to start the series, so you can read all of them at once. I appreciate that only biblical profanity is used and is relatively low compared with similar books.

If you enjoyed Twilight, here are some other books you might enjoy: City of Bones, Vampire Academy, Marked, A Kiss of Deception, Everless, and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Right now, I’m working on a long post with lots of fantastic fantasy reads. Keep an eye out or join our email list to get blog updates.

Happy Reading! Emily

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Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer review – dusk falls on Twilight saga

This plodding retelling of the first book from Edward’s perspective is a 750-page exercise in toothless tedium

S et aside the millions of copies sold, the controversies over both its sexual overtones and its lack of actual sex, and the blockbuster film franchise and celebrity careers it spawned: Twilight told a simple story, one nearly as old as its immortal antihero. Vampire meets girl. Vampire wants to bite girl. Girl wants to be bitten, but vampire must resist, for the girl’s own good. “I refuse to damn you to an eternity of night,” Edward tells Bella firmly, “and that’s the end of it.”

Actually, that’s only the end of book one in Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling four-part series. Vampire and girl settle for some heavy necking – and some agonised yearning, which they seem to enjoy just as much.

As was made explicit when the story was wrung dry of teen pheromones and repurposed as Fifty Shades of Grey, what fuelled the Twilight phenomenon 15 years ago was the ecstasy of delayed gratification, and the pleasure to be found in pain.

Neither apply to the experience of reading Midnight Sun, Meyer’s long-awaited project, which has been described as a “companion” novel to the first instalment, this time retold from Edward’s perspective rather than Bella’s. Early chapters of the book were leaked in 2008, prompting Meyer to put the project on hold. But 12 years later, the novel is out – and, at more than 750 pages, it is immediately clear why it took her so long.

The key difference between Twilight, narrated by Bella, and Midnight Sun, narrated by Edward, is the latter’s special vampire skill of hearing other people’s thoughts (though not Bella’s, contributing to her appeal). His sister Alice sees visions of the future and both skills function quite prosaically as plot devices as Edward listens in on people thinking about Bella, or grills Alice about what is going to happen to her. This, any Twihard already knows from Twilight. But Edward’s agonising over his urge to bite the new girl at school is supposed to lend the story a dark new twist. Instead, by page 150 he is hopelessly in love with her, and the feeling is soon reciprocated. The next 600 pages feel a bit like being sat uncomfortably close to a young couple who won’t stop kissing.

It would be hard for any reader to find Bella as fascinating as Edward does, with her character, never very distinctive, now smothered by his adoring gaze (“the English language needed a word that meant something halfway between a goddess and a naiad”). But taken together, the two narratives at least depict mutual attraction. Midnight Sun could be read as Meyer’s attempt at a do-over, following criticism of Twilight for romanticising a coercive relationship. Edward’s habit of breaking into Bella’s bedroom to watch her sleep, for example, was held up by some highly literal commentators as modelling unhealthy boundaries to impressionable young women, who were still learning how to navigate their own relationships with vampires. (As Meyer pointed out in a recent interview : “Really the problem is that he’s murdered a ton of people.”)

In Midnight Sun, we learn that Edward at least feels guilty about the surveillance, almost more than the slaughter: “I was repulsed by myself as I watched her toss again. How was I any better than some sick peeping tom? I wasn’t any better. I was much, much worse.”

Unfortunately, Midnight Sun does not make for gripping reading, nor significantly expand Meyer’s vampiric lore, an obvious missed opportunity when writing from Edward’s perspective. It feels below the belt to criticise the quality of the writing, given that Twilight was never loved for that – but there is something to be said for editing. Midnight Sun is chronically overwritten, plodding along almost in real time. Nine whole pages are given over to a chat about their likes and dislikes: Bella’s favourite gemstone is whichever one matches Edward’s eyes, while he analyses Linkin Park lyrics for clues to unlock his lady love: “It didn’t seem to match any of her moods that I’d seen, but then, there was so much I didn’t know.”

Despite its door-stopper density, Midnight Sun does not amplify the original novel. At times, it even undermines it. The whole appeal of a vampire-boyfriend is that he is deadly and undead, but Midnight Sun just exposes how toothless Edward really is. Meyer has described him as an anxious character, and says that writing him exacerbated her own anxiety – one of the reasons Midnight Sun was a “huge, pain in the butt book to write … Every single word was a struggle.” Why, then, are there so many of them?

The weight of expectation might have gotten to Meyer, given that Midnight Sun is not a new narrative. But it wasn’t until I had finished reading it and dug out a copy of Twilight that I realised quite how much overlap there is. The two books are almost exactly the same, down to scenes, dialogue and viewpoint. Compare Bella, in Twilight: “I looked down at my dress, fidgeting with a stray piece of chiffon. He waited in silence.” And Edward, in Midnight Sun: “She looked down at her beautiful dress, tugging absently on a chiffon ruffle. I knew what was coming. I let her find the words she wanted.”

It is inexplicable why Meyer chose to limit herself so when she has said sticking to the blueprint of Twilight was the toughest part of writing Midnight Sun. “The best parts to write, hands down, were the times that Bella was not present, and I wasn’t locked into a certain set of dialogues and actions,” she recently said . Her publishers, at least, are confident, with a huge initial print run and global release. But moving from Bella to Edward could be a less dramatic shift in perspective than that undergone by the Twihards over the last 15 years, now mostly in their 30s and finding themselves reading the same book. Will they readily be swept away by a vampire-meets-girl love story? It is hard to imagine when they’ve already read it.

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer is published by Atom.

• Stephenie Meyer
• Young adult
• Children and teenagers

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LIT TIME TRAVEL

traveling around places, to periods & inside pages

*Note: This is a review of Twilight , the first novel by Stephenie Meyer. This is NOT a review of the entire series – which is even more problematic.

I remember how popular Twilight was back when I was in school. After its publication in 2005, the novel by Stephanie Meyer was THE book everyone talked about. And when the movie was released in 2008, the vampire romance captivated teens worldwide.

But I was one of the few teens who didn’t read the book. I couldn’t read the novel or watch the film because I was unbelievably busy at the time. So despite the hype and frenzy around Twilight , I went about my life not knowing much about it. (Besides the fact that girls were torn between “Edward” the vampire and “Jacob” the werewolf.)

Now that I have the time, I finally read the novel that everyone was obsessed with 17 years ago. And… I’ve got stuff to say about it.

I’m sure most people already know the basic plot of Twilight from reading the book or watching the film. But if you haven’t done either of the two, here is a detailed summary:

Bella Moves to Forks, WA

Isabella “Bella” Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her dad so that her mom can live with her boyfriend. She leaves her dear mother and hometown out of self-sacrifice and dreads living in the gloomy small town of Forks with her dad, who she rarely talks to. On the first day at her new school, she sees the “devastatingly beautiful” Cullens in the cafeteria and later finds out that her lab partner is one of the Cullens named Edward. But to her surprise, he glares at her with furious eyes and moves to the edge of his seat to stay as far as he can from her.

Edward Rescues

Despite his bizarre behavior and following absences, Bella and Edward eventually exchange a few words when he comes back to school. But one day, after he saves her from a deadly car accident, Bella realizes that he possesses superhuman strength and speed. They get to know each other more, with Edward looking out for her and giving her rides.

During her visit to Port Angeles with her school friends, Bella encounters a shady group of men who try to hurt her. She’s magically rescued by Edward who take her away in his car. That night, Bella finds out that Edward is a mind reading vampire who, with his family, refrains from drinking human blood.

Love & Danger

Being the “monster” that he is, Edward is unwilling to endanger Bella with his presence and tries to warn her to stay away from him. But regardless, the two grow very close, spending time alone with each other and learning everything about one another. Bella learns that the reason behind Edward’s strange behavior on her first day of school was the delicious “floral” scent she was giving off unintentionally to vampires.

They officially date, with Edward visiting Bella’s dad and Bella visiting his vampire family. But while Bella and the Cullens are playing “vampire baseball,” they encounter other vampires who feed on human blood. One of the vampires named James sets his eyes on Bella, so the Cullens set a plan to thwart his hunt. Bella gets tricked, falls into James’s trap, and faces imminent death.

Edward comes to the rescue, James the bloodthirsty vampire is killed, and long story short, Edward and Bella go to prom together. The novel ends with Bella wanting to become a vampire to live forever with Edward and with Edward, knowing the pains of becoming a vampire and living as one, adamantly against Bella’s wishes.

Twilight Book Review: The Good

To start with the positives, I personally think Stephenie Meyer did a great job writing about/for her teen audience. She starts with a strong hook with Bella facing her death and goes into the story with her dreaded first day of school, which is something every teen can relate to.

Bella is also very self-conscious, not wanting to stand out at all, just as most teens are when they’re in middle/high school.

Likeable Protagonist

On top of making her protagonist relatable, Meyer describes Bella as someone who’s modest despite being very pretty. Bella realizes her beauty for the first time when Edward the mind reading vampire tells her that lots of guys find her attractive.

She’s also mature for her age, caring more about her mother’s happiness than her own. All of these traits of Bella Swan make her a pretty likeable protagonist. At least in the beginning.

Teenage Dream Come True

But what Meyer did best was introducing the first hot Italian vampire to teen literature. There are lots of vampire romance novels out there, and perhaps there was already a tale about a sexy teen vampire before Twilight . But Meyer’s Edward Cullen was the first to really become popularized to the point where legions of fangirls cried over him.

I’ve never heard of the Stregoni Benefici (Italian vampires on the good side who fight against evil vampires) before, and I thought Meyer did a good job on her research to create the ultimate teen fantasy: a handsome, superhuman Italian teen vampire boyfriend who doesn’t drink human blood. Who goes against his instincts to be with the one and only girl he loves. (Click HERE for more on Edward Cullen.)

Twilight Book Review: The Bad & Ugly

Despite Meyer’s strengths and her successful launch of the perfect vampire boyfriend, Twilight is full of disturbing details.

🚩Red Flag #1: Edward Cullen is 100 years old.

Even though he is stuck being 17 forever, he was “born in Chicago in 1901” (Meyer 287).

So… Edward, a hundred year old man, falls in love with Bella, a seventeen year old girl. Edward says himself:

For almost ninety years I’ve walked among my kind, and yours…all the time thinking I was complete in myself, not realizing what I was seeking. And not finding anything, because you weren’t alive yet.” From Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (pg 304).

🚩Red Flag #2: Bella is OBSESSED with Edward.

When you fall in love, it’s normal to sometimes fall hard and obsess over your girlfriend/boyfriend to some degree. But Bella Swan takes her obsession with Edward Cullen to the next level.

She’s so excited and stressed for her trip with Edward that she “deliberately [takes] unnecessary cold medicine” to knock herself out for a good night’s sleep. So that her day with Edward will go smoothly next morning.

She even says that her life was about Edward since she’d come to Forks (251).

Not to mention the fact that she’s willing to die for him. She’s willing to leave behind her mom, dad, everyone she’d known, and even herself to go through excruciating, unbearable pain in order to become a vampire. Just to be with this handsome vampire she’d just met for a few months.

By the time I finished reading Twili ght, my regard for Bella Swan plummeted to the point where I didn’t want to read the next sequel.

🚩Edward Cullen is a stalker.

Not only is he a 100 year old man calling himself a “sick, masochistic lion” that “fell in love with the lamb,” but also he’s a stalker (274). He confesses to Bella that he’d been spying on her in her house “almost every night” listening to her sleep talk (293).

Oh my God… Hot Italian vampire or not, this is beyond creepy!

If I found out that my crush at school had been following me, sneaking inside my home to watch me sleep every day… I would call the police.

But Bella, being the obsessed girl that she is, just feels embarrassed for having said Edward’s name in her sleep. She goes straight back to obsessing over him.

And it’s implied that this creep of a vampire tastes her teardrop:

He touched the corner of my eye, trapping [a tear] I missed. He lifted his finger, examining the drop of moisture broodingly. Then, so quickly I couldn’t be positive that he really did, he put his finger to his mouth to taste it.” From Twilight page 329.

I think, like what Robert Pattinson (actor who played Edward Cullen) said in one of his interviews, Edward would be a serial killer in real life…

As the first author to skillfully catapult a hot vampire boy into teen fiction, Stephenie Meyer enjoyed enormous commercial success. She knew exactly what her teen audience wanted/would like in her vampire romance novel.

But it glosses over and condones obsessive, disturbing and unhealthy behaviors. Twilight is a problematic teen romance novel about a stupid human girl and her creepy vampire boyfriend who she can’t live without.

I would recommend Twilight if you…

• are an upcoming author who wants to write the next bestselling teen romance novel like Stephenie Meyer.
• want to know why girls around the world fell in love with Twilight ‘s Edward Cullen back in the late 2000s. (If you want to know why teens fangirled over Jacob Black, then you’d have to read the sequel, New Moon ).

P.S. Here is the official website of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.

P.P.S. I heard and read that the series become worse and worse. Apparently Bella tries to kill herself to see Edward, Edward tries to kill himself thinking that she died, they marry, Bella gets her wish and becomes a vampire, and Jacob the werewolf falls in love with Bella and Edward’s baby?! 🤢

I’m not going to read the sequels… but the covers are quite aesthetic:

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