New Moon

Meyer, Stephenie. 2006. NEW MOON. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316160199 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-11]

REVIEW
Bella and Edward warmed their way into reader’s hearts in Stephenie Meyer’s debut book TWILIGHT. Though still not a vampire, Bella celebrates her eighteenth birthday in the company of Edward Cullen and his family of vampires. When paper slices through her finger, “a single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.” The Cullen family quickly retreats, moving on to their next location, and taking Edward with them. Left in a state of shock and heartbrokenness, Bella becomes a shell of her former self, until she learns how to hear Edward’s voice.

Using that as her strength, Bella begins to “wake up.” She becomes reacquainted with Jacob Black and a deep friendship quickly forms. A friendship that is complicated by the fact that he is a werewolf, whose one enemy is the vampire. While protection from Laurent and his troop of vampires, who still seek Bella, is appreciated, Bella is torn between Jacob and Edward. NEW MOON will not disappoint the many fans that TWILIGHT produced. Meyer continues to develop her characters in this romantic, suspenseful sequel that will once again leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book.

CONNECTIONS
The love of Bella’s life and her best friend both happen to be non-human. Traits are recognizable in both, but being enemies, they are obviously different. Have readers compare and contrast werewolves and vampires and discuss which one is most likely to win in a fight and why.

RELATED BOOKS
Other novels with vampire characters:
de la Cruz, Melissa. BLUE BLOODS. ISBN 0786838922
Meyer, Stephenie. TWILIGHT. ISBN 0316160172


By Mary D. Buckalo