BOOK OF THE WEEK: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Isabella Swan, who goes by Bella, moves from sunny Arizona to Forks, Washington. While her mother, Renee, is travelling with her new husband, Bella lives with her father, Charlie. When Bella starts school at her new high school, she quickly begins to attract the attention of the students around her. She is intrigued by a boy named Edward Cullen. Bella's new friends tell her that the Cullens (Edward and his siblings) keep to themselves. After an unpleasant encounter with Edward, Bella and Edward quickly fall in love. With the help of a family friend named Jacob Black, Bella discovers that the Cullens are vampires. Edward's and Bella's love for each other is tested when another vampire coven comes to town to hunt Bella. Edward and his family defeat the coven and save Bella's life.

This book is very popular among tween, teen, young adults, and adults. There is something magical about reading about a love that can be described as pure and dangerous. Twilight is written in Bella's point of view, which enables the reader to feel what she is feeling. The book was an easy read, and I can see why my middle school students like it. I initially wanted to read it to see what all the fuss was about, and I now understand where "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" come from. It is very easy to get engrossed in the life of the three main characters (Bella, Edward, and Jacob). I think Twilight is a good book for my students to read, but I am concerned when they continue reading the other books of the Twilight saga because some of the content becomes PG-13. With that being said, I am glad that the students who don't usually like to pick up a book are reading!

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