Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Plot Summary:

In Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, making a decision is not always easy, especially when your own life depends on it. That is was Bella Swan or should I say Bella Cullen must do in fourth and final book of the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn. This love story between a human and a vampire finally tie the knot and live happily ever after but first…. the honeymoon. After the long awaited and dreadful wedding. Bella Swan becomes Bella Cullen. The picture perfect wedding, with no expense to be spared has the wedding of the century in the little town of Forks, Washington. With reservation, I recommend the final book. The book did promote abstinence by waiting until marriage to be intimate with a partner. As with any book that deals with adult issues, young adults will have in their minds a preconceived notion of what life is all about when it comes to marriage and sex. I give credit to the author for not including the sexy details aside from the torn up pillows, the bruising, the soreness, and the breaking of the bed. It is all left to the imagination. The book consists of three parts Part One is titled “Bella”. This part of the book gives details about the long awaited wedding, the preparations, the fabulous life Bella will living as Mrs. Edward Cullen. The book proceeds with the most romantic honeymoon off the Coast of Brazil on a private Isle named after Esme. At Isle Esme, Bella and Edward consummate the marriage and after weeks of wedded bliss, Bella starts to feel sick. Pregnancy can do that to you. The end of book one leaves a cliffhanger because Edward wants to destroy the baby and Bella asks the help of an unusual allied, Rosalie. This section of the book does promote abstinence and give the sense of hope to those who wait until the wedding night. Is this promoting teenage pregnancy? After all, Bella just graduated from high school.However, how can a vampire procreate with a human? It is not explained.

In book Two, is Jacob Black’s Perspective in the novel. Jacob wants to kill the Cullen’s because he knows that Bella has been turned into a vampire. He is determine to destroy the Cullen’s as soon as he learns they broke the treaty and have killed a human, in this case Bella. To his surprise, Jacob discovers that Bella is alive; and pregnant. This section of the book is too graphic and too gory. Bella with Rosalie’s help has convinced everybody that she is going to have her mutant baby, even if it kills her. Because Jacob must protect Bella, he breaks away from his pack and he starts his new pack, one that protects Bella. The pregnancy and then the birthing process are far too unimaginable with far too many bloody details. Bella is dying and Edward, forced to transform her, finally makes her immortal. Renesmee has been worth it. She is born alive. This part of the book leaves you wondering is Bella actually survived the sacrifice so her son, no, her daughter could live. It makes you wonder if Stephanie Meyers is advocating prolife. Because of the overly graphic birthing details in this part of the book, the book is recommended with reservation.

In Book Three, the final stretch of the book. Bella survives! As a new born, Bella is not the uncontrollable newborn vampire that everyone is expecting. Stephanie Meyers depicted that newborn vampires were so uncontrollable that they must maintain their distance from human blood and that maybe within two years, Bella would be able to control her thirst for blood and come back to civilization. That did not happen. Bella caught on. She was the G.T. of the newborn Vampires. As prefect as she has become, she surpassed and controlled all cravings for human blood and is able to assume life as usual. After Bella returns from sucking up a lion on her first hunting trip, she is outraged that Jacob has imprinted on her new baby, Renesmee. That would explain why Jacob’s love towards Bella was so strong. After things somewhat go back to normal, problems arise as the final climax before the big finale. The rumble between the Volturi and the Cullen’s. Irina exposes the Cullen Clan thinking that they have an immortal child. Having an immortal child is forbidden, as explained in book one in Breaking Dawn, because the infants lack self-control. The Volturi are coming to destroy the child according to Alice. The Cullen’s seek allies to help protect Renesmee. They gather witnesses from all over the world to help protect the child. In the clearing, the Volturi arrive only to learn that Irina made a mistake and no crime was committed. The Volturi kill Irina for her mistake. After, the Volturi still want to kill the child just in case she poses a danger. Just then, Alice and Jasper comes into the scene exposing Nahuel, a half human half vampire being that is over 150 years old. He has two sisters as well. Since there was no danger, the Volturi leave sparing the child. Then they lived happily ever after.

Impression about the book:

This book portrays a false notion to young adults about real life. From getting married fresh out of high school, not furthering their education, getting pregnant while still a teenager, the pain of childbirth, wanting to die when things are too unbearable to take and protecting the child at all costs as to forging documents are all the book entails for young adults to have a false sense of reality.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

Science Fiction is not my forte. The ending was not to my liking. How could the Volturi not know about Nahuel and his sisters? They has all the powers in the world and had lived hundreds of years and not know that he existed?

Aside from the romance and the unconditional love Bella and Edward carry out, the novel does not portray love realistically. Bella always wins when she is upset, discouraged, or disappointed. Edwards caters to her at every whim. The too perfect notion of a relationship might hinder the true expectations of what a relationship might actually entail. As a teacher I forced myself to read all four novels. This book is recommended with reservation.

Suggestions for library use:

The librarian can read aloud an excerpt and be captivated by Meyer’s writing style. Also, the librarian can promote science fiction by suggesting the Twilight Series.