| Book Review | Jennifer Hairfield |
New Moon
by: Stephenie Meyer
New Moon is the sequel to the New York Times
Bestseller
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This story picks up
right where it left off in the first one. But by chapter
three the reader, along with the main character, Bella, gets
a shock when Edward leaves town with his family and doesn't
take her, his love, with him. Edward even makes Bella
believe that he doesn't love her anymore and takes all that
would remind her of him so that he doesn't exist. This move
puts Bella into a catatonic state for months and leaves the
reader in disbelief. But before Edward leaves he makes Bella
promise to not do anything foolish or dangerous.
Bella's lack of action really starts to worry her father to
the point of calling his ex-wife to come and get their
daughter. This move snaps her out of the catatonic state,
because deep down she still believes he will come back to
her. As she starts to come back around and deals with her
grief she notices what she has or hasn't done. Her friends
don't talk to her anymore and even the teachers at school
don't notice her. Her life has come full circle and
everything is just like it was when she had first move
there. To make her dad feel better Bella starts to hang out
with her friend Jacob, who helps her to heal her heart. But,
it's also through Jacob that Bella learns to live life not
to mourn it. While Jacob teaches Bella to do dangerous
things she hears Edward's voice angry with her for breaking
her promise in her head. She keeps up with the new
activities just to hear his voice.
Unfortunately, the past catches up with everyone. In
Twilight Edward kills the vampire that tried to kill Bella.
Now, Victoria, the dead vampire's mate, is trying to seek
revenge on Edward in finishing the job in killing Bella, a
mate for a mate. This pushes Bella to an unlikely group for
help and protection, the Werewolves of the Quileute tribe.
As the Werewolves start to make a spot for themselves in the
story, Alice, Edward's sister, shows back up worried from a
vision she had seen of Bella jumping off a cliff. But
miscommunication is a big thing in this novel. What Alice
doesn't know is that she can't see Werewolves in her
visions, which screws up a lot of things.
One of the things that Edward tells Bella before he leaves
is that he wouldn't want to live in a world that she doesn't
exist in. So when he hears that Bella's dead he goes to
Italy to be killed or to commit suicide. When Bella is told
this Alice takes her with her to stop Edward. Do they make
it in time to stop Edward? Does he take Bella back or is
miscommunication still at work? When Bella meets the Vampire
family in Italy to try and save Edward what is the price she
has to pay?
The story tone is continued from the first novel into this
one along with the emotions the reader feels for the
characters. This story also gives off the Romeo and Juliet
feel more than Twilight with its dark undertone.
Unfortunately, the ending leaves the reader hanging and
waiting for the next novel that will hopefully sum up the
whole story.