Fallen

This was an incredible story about a girl discovering who she truly is, learning to overcome fears and trusting others. It is full of magic and action. Fallen has an amazing twist that takes you down the road to a fallen angel and the aftermath. I could not put the book down.

This story is geared toward teenagers an the emotional conflict that comes when deciding between two boys. The author has a fantastic way of writing and explaining the emotions so the reader feels a connection - teenagers are always looking for connections. Girls will like it for the romance and boys will enjoy the action.

Kate, Lauren. (2009). Fallen. Delacorte Pr.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules

This was a humorous tale. I thought it was very believable and everything in the book could actually happen. The children are creative in the story and turn a bland day into something great. The illustrations are great!

The book has a nice format (a diary) and engages kids that are not particularly interested in reading. Illustrations are cute and comical. Boys and girls will enjoy this boy and will be able to identify with the characters. It is also now a movie.

Kinney, Jeff. (2008). Diary of a wimpy kid. Amulet.

Breaking Dawn

Bella and Edward get married and go on their honeymoon on Edward's 'mother's' island as Jacob runs away because of the pain he feels for losing Bella. The two explore their love and consummate their marriage only to discover how fragile Bella's body is and how strong Edward can be during such gentle and tender moments. Bella becomes pregnant and the family is intrigued and shocked at how a vampire baby affects a human body. During childbirth, Bella comes to near death and Edward is forced to change her into a vampire by biting her and injecting a needle of his venom into her heart. Bella then begins to discover her role as a new mother and a vampire and she is trained for battle by learning to control her shielding powers. The Volturi come to take Bella and Edward's baby (an immortal child) and a battle ensues between the Volturi, the Cullens, werewolves, and other ancient vampires. During the battle, Bella shields the family from anything the others do and no one can penetrate her shield. The Volturi leave and the Cullens are left in peace because they were able to prove the Cullens family did not turn the baby into a vampire - she was born that way.

The lovemaking is highly understated as the reader is left to infer what happens between Bella and Edward. The characters are in an amazingly well put together plot and the reader will have a hard time putting this book down!

Meyer, Stephenie. (2008). Breaking dawn. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Eclipse

Tension between Jacob, the werewolf, and Edward, the vampire, continues to rise and Bella has to choose between the two. Mysterious deaths and disappearances lead everyone to believe Victoria is making a vampire army with new, young, vampires with uncontrolled strength to destroy Bella and the Cullen family. Jacob realizes he must put his feelings of hatred towards the vampires aside so he can help save Bella. Bella is moved to to the snowy mountains to try to divert the army from Forks and there is a great battle between Victoria, the new vampires, the Cullens, and werewolves. Victoria and the new vampires are slaughtered and a new respect between werewolves and vampires begins for Bella's sake. The Volturi send Jane to check on the situation with the new army, Jane discovers Bella has not been changed into a vampire yet, and Edward proposes to Bella.

The tension between Jacob and Edward is magnified through understatement.
The point of view of each character is explained through thoughts instead of spoken dialogue and we learn more about the love for Bella and the hate for each other (between Jacob and Edward.)

Meyer, Stephenie. (2007). Eclipse. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.