New Moon

Stephenie Meyer

In Twilight, Bella met Edward, a vampire, and fell in love with him. After many weeks, he finally started accepting her as well, preventing himself from killing her (a vampire's normal reaction to someone who attracts him). By the end of their junior school year (and the end of the book) they become an item.

Now it is the beginning of their senior year in high school. Bella unhappily celebrates her 18th birthday because that makes her older than Edward will ever be. Everyone else is happy for her as she becomes an adult. Life isn't easy when you're in love with a vampire.

Jacob Black reappears in Bella's life when she desperately needs a friend. Jake has had a crush on her for a year. He knows she doesn't reciprocate - no one can replace Edward - yet he remains her friend. He even helps her when she decides to become a daredevil.

Bella is naturally accident-prone and had promised Edward she would be very careful with herself. Now, instead, she learns to ride a motorcycle. She approaches strangers in dark places. She even considers cliff diving. When Jake changes, she is able to accept his new dark moods. When she goes too far, everyone in her life is shaken. When she sneaks off to Italy, her dad is ready to ground her forever away from everyone just to keep her safe.

If your emotions were stirred up in Twilight, expect to have them wrecked in New Moon. Meyer pulls a ploy that is jolting, along with some clever early chapters. Once again the reader can empathize with Bella and follows right along in her adventures.

Jake's predicament was foreshadowed in Twilight so I saw it coming. But the reason for it surprised me. Instead of it happening to each generation as they come of age, it only happens when needed - when vampires are around and hunting. Jake blames Edward's family. There is a rift in his friendship with Bella because of that.

New Moon once again takes the reader right along. It's entertaining and (since it's for young adults) easy to read. I don't know if boys will "get" this series, but teen aged girls - and all romantics - will love it.

Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn