Breaking Dawn: The Twilight Saga, Book 4

Book review by Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Breaking Dawn: The Twilight Saga, Book 4 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Last book of supernatural soap saga is slightly more mature.

Stephenie Meyer Fantasy 2008
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 81 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 396 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this series is enormously popular with teen and older tween girls. 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 on 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.

Community Reviews

gossipgirl13
gossipgirl13 Adult
December 30, 2021
age 12+

Wow. Just wow.

Here's the story: Bella and Edward get married. Finally. Bella and Edward go on a honeymoon in Brazil. Bella gets pregnant with half vampire child. Bella nearly dies from birth, but she's bitten. Bella is a vampire. The Volturi think Nessi is an immortal child. And it goes on and on like that. For 700+ pages. Well. If you have read the books before this, you'll be shocked by how... graphic it is. From a 50 page honeymoon, and a horrific birth scene. I think if you're 12 or older you can read this, but it's nothing like Twilight, where the most intimate moment was one kiss. No, this is bed-breaking honeymoon romance. And the violence - the birth scene - was out of a horror novel. Messages: 2/5 - Bella and Edward are loving parents to Renesme, the family makes sacrifices for each other, and teamwork is a theme. Role Models: 3/5 - Bella and Edward are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their daughter safe. The rest of the Cullen family is a Educational Value: 0/5 - Yeah, no. No educational value. Swearing: 1/5 - Like one bad word. Drinking/Drugs/Smoking: 0/5 - Nothing. Champagne is served at Bella and Edward's wedding. Romance: 3/5 - Like mentioned before, the bed-breaking honeymoon is probably too much for some kids. Violence: 4/5 - Purely for the birth scene out of a horror novel. You might want to have your kid skip this. Overall, if you can handle it, it's a great book with a satisfying ending.
AshBlair1213
AshBlair1213 Adult
March 8, 2020
age 14+

Not for young kids

As my eldest daughter had wanted to read this for so long, I decided to let her read book one only, while I screened the other books in the series. I was very disappointed. For a series that normally sensible parents of my daughter's friends praised, it was filled with violence, steamy scenes, sex, and even childbirth. This is like a slightly less horrible version of 50 shades of grey! To add to this, the story's plotline is murky, with the buildup going nowhere. Do not let your child read this.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 81 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Despite Bella's initial reluctance to be a teen bride, she and her beloved vampire Edward tie the knot at the beginning of BREAKING DAWN. Then comes the honeymoon ... which leaves Bella pregnant with a baby that saps her strength and health as quickly as it grows inside her. The baby's birth leads to massive changes in the lives of all of the series' main characters, particularly werewolf Jacob and Bella herself. It could also lead to more trouble from the meddling Italian Volturi -- which prompts the Cullens to recruit a virtual army ready to stand by their side at any cost.

Is It Any Good?

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 find 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 does finally come 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

  • This is the conclusion to a series that already included three verrrrrry long books Did it live up to your expectations, or did you think this book is too long? How would you have written it differently?

Book Details

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