New moon by Stephanie Meyer
Little, Brown and Co., 2006
(Age 12+) More than 6,000 US teens voted Stephanie Meyer's New moon as their top choice for
the American Library Association's Teen’s
Top 10 so this book is sure to be popular, particularly with girls.
It follows Twilight, the
first in the series where readers are introduced to Bella, a teenage
girl who falls in love with a vampire. In New moon, which could be read as a
stand-alone, the reader follows Bella and the dangers she faces having
a vampire as her boyfriend. When Edward leaves her, refusing to let her
become a vampire, she is left devastated
'like a lost moon – her planet destroyed in some catacysmic,
disaster-movie scenario of desolation.'
Deeply depressed, her friendship with Jacob Black, a North American
Indian with some supernatural powers of his own, helps her regain some
interest in living.
Teens will love the idea of a perfect love like Romeo and Juliet and
will relate to the obsessive feelings that Bella has for Edward. They
will also revel in the fact that Michael, a normal boy, and Jacob with
his strange powers, are also in love with her. Dangerous sports like
motorbike riding and jumping off cliffs add a sense of danger, as well
as a vengeful vampire who is determined to kill Bella and werewolves
who come to her rescue!
A cliff-hanging ending will ensure that the sequel Eclipse will have an eager
audience. Teens who enjoy this series could be introduced to
Westerfeld's Peeps, which has
more action and less angst, and older readers would enjoy Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
Pat Pledger
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© Pledger
Consulting, 2007