I just finished reading the last of the four twilight books right before school started back up two weeks ago. I decided what better time than to write about these books that have become a teen pop culture phenomenon! The only reason I read the first book was because I saw the not so great movie this summer in the theatre, and was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
After reading the first book I was hooked! The text is simple enough to engage a younger audience of probably 5th and definitely 6th graders. In fact, one of the boys I babysat this summer was reading the twilight books at the same time I was so it was really awesome to be able to connect with this 12 year old boy who for the most part doesn't want anything to do with babysitters!
SO what are these books all about? It starts off with the average girl named Bella who moves in with her dad because her mother is re-married and is traveling with her new husband and his basketball team. So to give a re-cap quickly, we've got this 17 year old girl who is uprooted from her whole life, and placed in this eerie small and damp town where the sun rarely comes out. Bella falls madly in love with the passionate but creepy edward cullen character who is of course, a blood sucking vampire. I think what is so fascinating about it is the fact that he wants her in so many different ways including the taste of her blood. Bella feels this connection and they become inseparable. There is so much action, love, sadness, and all different kinds of emotions that kids and adults (people like me :)) can get lost in the fantasy world that mixes with real world emotions. The book challenges friendship, parenting, trials of young love, etc. These are things that young pre adolescents are about to go through and so they can connect on a personal level with Bella.
The text is simple enough for students at the 5th or 6th grade level to understand and comprehend. Also, the books are PG for the most part..... however there are some parts that elude to sexual content and violence. I would recommend this book to any mature 5th or 6th grade reader that enjoys reading (because they are very long books) and a reader that has an imagination! I don't think these books should be used for the curriculum in school, but I do think that they are great option for free choice books and are fun, imaginative, and exciting! I would also recommend the Twilight series to teachers who are teaching grades between 5th and 9th (at least!) because they have become so popular and it would be a good way to connect with some of your students! I don't think it's necessary but it is interesting to know what your kids are reading in their free time in and outside of school.
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