YA for the Wise

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The literary parallel of this book was Wuthering Heights. It is interesting how Stephanie Meyer draws out similarities while still writing her very own book. The writing style is engaging, quite clever and humorous throughout.

Having said that, there were definitely more mature themes in this book and so earns itself a Strongly Cautioned rating, bordering on Not Recommended, especially for younger audiences. (See the criteria and other items of note for reasoning.)



Eclipse, (Book Three in the Twilight Saga)
by Stephanie Meyer

629 pages

Summary: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

THEMES: vampires; werewolves; Wuthering Heights; prejudice; friendship and love; self-sacrifice; unhealthy relationships; controlling relationships

FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences

SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): 15 occurrences (5 C-words, 7 D-words, 3 H-E-double hockey sticks used as a swear word *that's spelled out for you, Richard.☺* )

VIOLENCE: A fight sequence appears in this book, in which bad vampires are ripped to chunks (as if made of marble) and burned, one of them is also beheaded in front of the main character, however since there was no blood it is not a graphic scene, but nonetheless disturbing for her to witness.

SEXUAL CONTENT: There is quite a bit more sexual content in this book. There is a parental sex-talk where Bella's dad concedes that he understands times have changed and he will try to be open-minded and begs her to be responsible. To which, the main character assures him begrudgingly that she is a "...virgin and [has] no immediate plans to change that status." She pauses before virgin as if it is shameful.

Later in the book those non-plans become plans and while "spending the night together" (as they still do every night while deceiving her father) Bella repeatedly tries to coerce Edward into having sex. He continues to push her away, wanting to get married first.

I can appreciate that, but they could use a good dose of 2 Timothy 2:22 which says, "flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Make-out sessions night after night in bed is far from fleeing from lust.

This is evident in Bella's reaction to Edward pushing her away. She said, "If we're not going to get carried away, what's the point?" (page 188) This is an honest warning. But if we remember Jesus' teaching on the sixth commandment not to commit adultery, Edward and Bella have already committed adultery in their heart and are in desperate need of the gospel. (Matthew 5:28)

Several times Jacob attempts to compel Bella into a relationship with him, and their friendship continues to be strained and, at times, inappropriate.

There is so much more, but it falls somewhere along the lines mentioned above. Just know that it is pervasive.

DRUG USE: ZERO occurrences of literal drug use, but Jacob comments that Edward is like a drug for Bella (page 599), I completely agree. She doesn't seem to think rationally with regard to him, and it is clearly unhealthy and ungodly.

BLASPHEMIES: ZERO occurrences of God's name used in vain.

REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD: Again no clear mention of God, but there is rampant misrepresentation of His creation, heaven, and hell as well as other biblical concepts.

Romans 3:12 and 23 make it clear that there is no good person-- good according to God's standards, none without sin. Yet, repeatedly the world's opinion that there are is represented in the book. Specifically, her dad says he knows she'll "do the right thing. [Because she's] a good person." And Bella attributes goodness ("truly good to the core", page 111) to the Cullen family.

In stark contrast to the teaching of Scripture that many will follow the broad road which leads to destruction and not life, Bella assumes that heaven is for all people who have a soul. Wrong. All souls are eternal-- by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ some will go to eternal life, and the rest to eternal punishment. (Matthew 25) There is no middle ground.

Bella's made up her own personal definition of hell: somewhere Edward won't be. (page 455)That sounds oddly distant from the reality that hell is a physical location separated from God's glory and goodness, forced to drink the wine of the wrath of God, in full strength, in the presence of the holy angels and the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10)