New Moon

Bibliographic Information: Meyer, S.  (2006).  New moon. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.
ISBN: 978-0316075657

Plot Summary: Bella is finally with her one true love, Edward. The Cullen's decide to throw Bella an 18th birthday party as a way to welcome her to the family and to acknowledge  her relationship with Edward. In the process of opening a gift, Bella accidentally gets a paper cut. This sets off a chain of events in which Edward is forced to protect her from getting attacked from a suddenly blood thirsty Jasper. Fearing for Bella's life, Edward shuns Bella and moves away with the entire Cullen family as a way to protect her. This leaves Bella in an intense state of catatonia and suicidal. Through a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications Edward comes to believe that Bella is dead and vows to end his existence. Bella must race against time in order to save the vampire she loves.

Critical Evaluation: New Moon pulled much inspiration from William Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet. Stephanie Meyer creates a parallel story between her tale and that of Shakespeare's. Edward and Bella come from two different "houses," or worlds, that do not believe they should be together. Bella and Edward, much like Romeo and Juliet, ignore their families and proceed to fall further in love. Both stories then experience game changing difficulties (Romeo killing Juliet's cousin, Bella slicing her finger and exposing Jasper to her blood) which force the young lovers to be apart. Then through several misunderstandings both male characters, Romeo and Edward, come to believe that their beloveds have passed away in their absences. Both characters then decide to take their grief into their hands and end their suffering by committing some form of suicide. This, though, is where both stories diverge. The classic Romeo and Juliet ends in tragedy, whereas Bella and Edward's story ends with an uplifting role reversal and solution. This choice to diverge from the classic tragedy not only gives the book more ample space to explore its own identity but also allows the story to continue on.

Reader’s Annotation: Bella must look beyond her depression to save the one she loves.
 

Information About the Author: Stephenie Meyer, born Stephenie Morgan, was born on December 24, 1973 to a Mormon family in Hartford, Connecticut (biography.com, 2012).  Her family then relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where she grew up (biography.com, 2012). Being the eldest of six siblings, Meyer helped her parents with her younger brothers and sisters (biography.com, 2012). Meyer received a National Merit Scholarship and attended Brigham University to study English literature (biography.com, 2012). She reconnected with an old friend who she married a year after reconnecting (biography.com, 2012). After graduating, Meyer chose to be a stay at home mom to three boys (biography.com, 2012).

Meyer states that she got the inspiration to write Twilight from a very vivid dream she had which she shortly after converted into an outline and then a 500 page manuscript (Meyer, 2012). Meyer has also written: New Moon, Eclipse, and her adult novel, Host.

Genre: Romance, Adventure, Fantasy 

Subgenre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires
 

Curriculum Ties: Can be used to discuss teen love, the vampire myth, and coping skills.

Booktalking Ideas:
1). Are teens capable of experiencing true love?
2). Does this book emulate aspects of Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet? 

Reading Level/Interest Age: YA/ Lexile Reading Level: 690 (Follett's Titlewave, 2012). Grades 9 & up (Follett Titlewave (School Library Journal), 2012). 

Challenge Issues: This book features vampires, violence, and suicidal tendencies. I would use the following items to defend this book if it was challenged:

1) Refer to Library Bill of Rights, see items: I, II, and III (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill).
2) Refer to San Diego Public Library collection policy - (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/freedom.shtml).  Original site: The American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read/View Statement (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement).
3) Refer to California School Library Association (CSLA), Model School Library Standards - September 2010 (http://www.csla.net/index.php/publications/school-library-standards). PDF: (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/librarystandards.pdf).

4) Refer t0 American Association for School, Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner (http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf)

5) Contact Office of Intellectual Freedom for any further support, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or oif@ala.org.

6) Refer to legitimate book reviews, such as: School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book and others; found on either Academic Search Premier, Follett's TITLEWAVE, or Amazon.com.

Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?: This is the second book of the popular Twilight series. Teens will enjoy reading the continuation of Bella Swan's story. This book also contains the popular subgenre of vampires.

Reference Page: 

biography.com.  (2012).  Stephenie Meyer biography.  Retrieved August 2, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/stephenie-meyer-456668?page=1

Follett's Titlewave.  (2012). New Moon.  Retrieved August 2, 2012 from Follett's Titlewave app. 

Follett's Titlewave.  (2012). New Moon (School Library Journal).  Retrieved August 2, 2012 from Follett Titlewave app.

Meyer, S.  (2012). Bio. Retrieved August 2, 2012 from http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/bio.html

cover art: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/newmoon.html