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New Moon: The Twilight Saga, Book 2
- By Stephenie Meyer
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Second book in vampire series drips with action and romance.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while very mild by the standards of its genre, this is a vampire romance, so there is talk about blood and romantic kissing. There is more action in this sequel, so teen fans will have no trouble racing through it -- and then taking on the next installments in this popular series. Readers will relate to Bella's romantic misery and find it easy to root for her as she races to save Edward from ending his life.
What's the story?
In this sequel to Twilight, Bella reluctantly attends a birthday party in her honor given by her beloved Edward's vampire family, the Cullens. But when she accidentally gets cut and members of the family have to be forcibly restrained, Edward decides that he's simply too dangerous for her -- and the only solution is to leave. With the Cullens gone, Bella sinks into abject misery and depression for months. Her only solace is her growing friendship with Jacob. She also discovers that when she does risky and dangerous things, she can hear Edward's voice in her head -- so she takes up motorcycling and cliff diving. But Jacob is going through some horrifying changes of his own, and Bella is being stalked by another vampire out for revenge against Edward.
Is it any good?
If the plot summary sounds a little silly, that's because ... well, it is. But it's terrifically readable silliness, which is a good thing, since NEW MOON is even longer than Twilight, its overlong predecessor. It also has lots more action and plot, though not until Bella mopes around, pining after Edward for 200 pages.
Fans of the first novel may be disappointed that Edward is hardly in this one, which focuses on the flatter personality of Bella. But author Stephenie Meyer does pining as well as she did true love in the first book: It's exaggerated but engrossing -- at least until you put down the book and think about what you've been reading. But the target audience, teen girls, won't mind. Romantic misery has its appeal, and this author does it better than most, all the while keeping the objectionable content low and the suspense and excitement rolling.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the popularity of this series. What do you think makes it so appealing? Why has it sparked such a plethora of fantasy and vampire media?
Have you seen the Twilight movies? How do the adaptations compare to the books? Are movies ever as good as the original text? What would you have done differently if you were the director?
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Kid, 12 years old
July 20, 2010
AGE
9+
luv it!!!!!!!!! read it when i waz 9. reread it about 500 times since then!
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AGE
And the lion left lamb...and the lamb went insane
And when you thought it couldn't get any worse, out comes New Moon! In New Moon, Edward leaves Bella, stating that he's "too dangerous" for her. Bella is depressed. We even get four blank pages (representing months) after Edward leaves. When does she start cheering up? When she finds another guy. Even so, she still misses Edward. She starts to have hallucinations when she does dangerous stunts. Recklessness occurs, including jumping off cliffs.
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AGE
Fluff and nonsense
More drama, more whining, more lies from Bella to everyone she knows. She also engages in self destructive behavior because Edward left. Bella begins a somewhat romantic relationship with Jacob, leading him on then dumping cold water on his head.
Edward is also a drama king, with his "I'm going to stand in the sun at noon and sparkle so the Volturi will kill me." Why not just walk right up to Aro and start a fight? But then Alice wouldn't get to steal a car. :/
Then the Cullens and Bella leave the Volturi to eat the tourists. I have a moral objection to that.
Plot holes galore, with vampires who sparkle in the daytime traveling by air from WA to Italy and back. Alice's powers are simply a plot device. Victoria's obsession with Bella makes no sense, and her ability to elude the werewolves and vampires is ludicrous. And did Bella quit going to school?
Again- read it with your kids if you must so that you can help them become critical thinkers and intelligent readers. You don't want them to think that because these novels are popular money makers that they are quality literature.
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AGE
DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK NO MATTER HOW BORING YOUR FRIENDS SAY IT IS!
I love the twilight saga! Everyone at my school who has read it says it is boring, but it really isen't. I think the part where Edward goes away is pretty boring but thats just because Bella is so depressed and can't think staight. I love it when he comes back and tells her the truth (That chapter was appopetly named truth.) because its the story within the story. My advice, do not miss this book because if you do you will be compleatly confused when you read Eclipse.
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AGE
again this series is way too anti-feminist, Romance shouldn't be about killing yourself. Bella tries to kill herself becuase she feels bad, we all feel bad at some point, but the brave ones stand up to life, the cowards, try to jump off a clif.
Also Bella needs protection from Men, either Edward or Jacob she is a Mary sue. Meyer is a horrible writter
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AGE
Awful. Just like breaking dawn. But if you're into the series you have to read it.
UGH this proves bella is a whiny loser who is completely desperate and thinks its ok to put herself in dangerous situations just to relive being with Edward. for those on team edward, this book is boring considering he isn't in much of it. It's all jacob. Its so dumb. I still love the series but this is terrible (just like breaking dawn). Bella is like "waaaaahhhhh uhhhhhh edward left me im going to go do dangerous stuff to see halucinations of him..." man she's dumb. If you like the series, you have to read it but only so you know what eclipse is all about.
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AGE
My least favorite so far.........
Loved the first novel. This one wasn't very good at all. Bella used every word in the dictionary to describe how terrible she felt. I don't think this sends the right message to us girls. Our world shouldn't stop because we lose a boyfriend. It may be hard at first but this type of pain and anquish shouldn't be glorified for a teenager.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 25, 2010
AGE
Meh it was ok
I'm 11 and I read it and it's not really inappropriate or anything, the only thing parents should b concerned about is how an 18 year old (Bella) is just SO addicted 2 Edward I mean when she leaves she can hardly do get on with her life and she does literally ANYTHING 2 c him! Also at times I found it kinda slow at times but all in all it was a pretty decent book (tho not the best twilight book). I think that if anyones gonna read it they should b at the youngest probably 10 and not younger!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | Stephenie Meyer |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | September 1, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 563 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
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