Hey, Twilight-ers

[dweck]

Our middle-button, Claire, wants DESPERATELY to read the Twilight series. She's 12 and a voracious reader who has chewed through the Harry Potter books with nary a flinch (she's now reading Little Women).

She IS, when it comes to movies, a little squeamish. And with matters romantic, she's rather naive.

So my question: I know you don't know her, but based on the above, would you see any reason for her to *not* be okayed?

I would read the book first if she weren't so desperate for an answer that she cannot wait one more SECOND!!!!

[blacklabparent]

It is very romantic, and not at all sexual. Like, not at *all*, which was a little frustrating, to tell the truth. I would let my 12 year old read them (when she turns 12, that is) and I am an uber-cautious mom. =)

[blacklabelias]

I think it would be ok for her to read the book and see the movie at 12 years old.

[kelli]

Yep.. i think it's fine for a 12-year-old

[dweck]

I'm on a site that is a parental guide to lit (www.factsonfiction.org), much in the same way as those movie ones.

The overall redeeming qualities:

While vampires are not generally included on lists of inspiring characters, the Cullens are no ordinary vampires. These are vampires with a conscience. Despite their longing for human blood, the Cullens have chosen to abstain from their instinctively sinister desires in favor of a morally acceptable diet, hunting and feeding upon animals instead. They show strong family traits of cooperation, encouragement, and love toward one another. Their talents and abilities are frequently used to save human lives rather than end them, particularly in the case of their leader, Dr. Carlisle Cullen. They demonstrate a desire to live peacefully among humans on many occasions. They often put themselves or their best interests at risk for one another, or for other people, showing sacrifice, honor, kindness, integrity, and respect. Their self-imposed dietary restrictions are the ultimate in self-control. Bella Swan, the human heroine of the story, also exhibits selflessness and concern for others on many occasions. Her willingness to move to a town she hated to live with her father, so her mother could have the freedom to be with her new husband as he traveled is but one example of her sacrificial nature.

The mushy parts:

Romance is the major theme of this novel, which chronicles the love that develops between Bella Swan, a seventeen-year-old high school student who has recently moved to Forks, Washington, and Edward Cullen, local vampire. There are numerous references regarding their attraction to one another, flirtatious behavior between the two, passionate kisses, and gentle caresses, as well as declarations of their feelings toward one another. In addition, being the “new girl” in town, Bella captured the interests of many other boys who attempted to flirt with her and invited her on dates.

The nail-biting stuff:

FRIGHTENING SCENES
With vampires as some of the main characters, this novel is full of frightening scenes.

p.56 Bella is almost hit by a van in the school parking lot.

p.158-161 Bella is walking alone through a deserted part of town when she realizes a group of men have taken an interest in her. “…I realized with a shock that two men were walking quietly twenty feet behind me. They were from the same group I’d passed at the corner…A chill that had nothing to do with the weather made me shiver again…lounging against the…building, midway down the street, were the other two men from the group, both watching with excited smiles as I froze dead on the sidewalk. I realized then that I wasn’t being followed. I was being herded.”

p.378-379 In this passage, three traditional vampires who are passing through the area, come upon Edward and Bella as Edward’s family is playing a game of baseball. One of the outsiders catches a whiff of Bella’s scent and realizes she is human. He immediately assumes a predatory position and Edward responds with one of his own, preparing to protect Bella if necessary. “A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl ripping from his throat….it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard, and chills ran from the crown of my head to the back of my heels.”

p.390-404 This entire chapter is very frightening for Bella. The Cullen family realizes that James is after Bella. The family is rushing around trying to get Bella out of town to safety to hide her until the others can hunt James down and kill him. James is close behind, a continual threat. “‘The tracker followed us. He’s running behind us now.’ My body went cold.”

p.427-430 Bella receives a phone call from the tracker. He tells her she must meet him in a specific location or he will kill her mother. Bella is terrified through the entire conversation. “My joints were frozen with terror …I had no choices now but one: to go to the mirrored room and die.”

p.443-451 “Terror seized me so strongly that I was literally trapped by it. I couldn’t make my feet move forward…. I was definitely sick now. There was pain coming, I would see it in his eyes. It wouldn’t be enough for him to win, to feed and go…Then he slumped forward, into a crouch I recognized, and his pleasant smile slowly widened, grew, till it wasn’t a smile at all but a contortion of teeth, exposed and glistening. I couldn’t help myself – I tried to run.”

I'm interested in other opinions, but in general, I'm thinking she'll be okay.....

[Retriever Mama]

As someone who was reading Stephen King at age 10...I think she'll be okay...

Unless I'm not ok...am I ok?

[jzgrlduff]

OMG I really have to finish this book!!!!!!!!!

[Charla]

The last one is the only one that you'd have a problem with, Dan. I wasn't going to let my Madi read it but her mother bought if for her before I could read it and say NO.

[Melissa]

You're OK. I caught the King bug early too.

I think she'll be fine, Dan. The passages they've picked out are as nail-biting as it gets so if you think she can handle that, then you'll be fine.

Now - depending on her ability to handle nail-bitedness, you might want to read Breaking Dawn (Book4) first before she gets to it. It's the only one that could be problematic.

[dweck]

'kay. thx