Common Sense Media Review
Fantasy sequel has action, romance, but iffy messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say the second installment of the series continues to evoke strong reactions, with many highlighting Bella's emotional turmoil and self-destructive behavior following Edward's departure. While some view it as a discussion starter about unhealthy relationships, others criticize it for poor role models and plot inconsistencies, ultimately questioning its value as quality literature for younger readers.
- emotional dependence
- poor role models
- plot inconsistencies
- discussion starter
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 179 kid reviews
Kids say that this book elicits strong emotions, often described as sad due to the protagonist's deep depression following a breakup with Edward, encapsulating themes of love, loss, and recklessness. While some readers appreciate the character developments and dark twists of the story, many criticize it for presenting unhealthy relationship dynamics and a lack of positive role models.
- sad themes
- unhealthy relationships
- dark tone
- emotional struggles
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In NEW MOON: THE TWILIGHT SAGA, BOOK 2, a scary event at Bella's 18th birthday party leads her vampire boyfriend, Edward, and the entire Cullen family to leave town for good. Plunged into hopelessness at the loss of her one true love, Bella struggles to connect with the world around her. Gradually, a friendship with local teen Jacob starts to blossom and pull her out of her despair, but Jacob is struggling to keep an intense secret of his own—as well as the pressure to help protect Bella from a vengeful vampire who's hunting her down. When Bella discovers that she can still hear Edward's voice when she's in danger, she starts to act impulsively to keep his memory alive, which sets in motion a string of events that leads all the way to Italy and a dangerous family of vampire royalty.
Is It Any Good?
The dramatic romance was the main draw of Book 1, and there's no shortage here—though much of the novel focuses on Bella's heartbreak and pining for Edward, rather than interaction between them. New Moon: The Twilight Saga, Book 2 puts Bella even more firmly at the center of things, which can be trying when she does little more than mope a lot of the time. There aren't many distractions in terms of other characters until her relationship with Jacob starts to develop. Introducing a second potential love interest—and new mythical beasts—was controversial for some readers, but it certainly breathes new life into the story, and plenty of fans reluctantly tipped over into Team Jacob after this book. Bella proves that she won't easily forget her first love, though, so Team Edward needn't panic entirely. The new dynamic also means there are brand-new secrets and dangers around every corner, and the fictional world and franchise lore expands even further as a result. The ending becomes almost farcical, with characters rushing around based on misunderstandings, but there's no doubting the high drama at play. As in the first book, teen relationships aren't modeled in healthy ways, but fans will be hooked by the captivating mix of scary moments, suspenseful reveals, return of beloved friends, and anguish and turmoil galore.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how love is portrayed in New Moon: The Twilight Saga, Book 2. Do you think it's a realistic depiction of teen love? Are there behaviors shown by characters that you would consider worrying? What might a healthier relationship look like?
The book was adapted into a movie in 2009. Have you seen the film? How does it compare to the book? What might some of the challenges be in adapting a beloved novel for the screen?
New Moon: The Twilight Saga, Book 2 is part of a popular franchise including four books (in the main saga, plus additional spin-offs) and five movies. What do you think makes the series so appealing? How does it compare to other teen fantasy romances?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters , Vampires )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : September 1, 2006
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 12
- Number of pages : 563
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 11, 2026
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