Thanks for all the responses I received! As requested, here is a hit.
Did you receive any advice on the appropriateness of the Twilight books? I thought
I would suggest a review of the book Breaking Dawn in Today's Christian Woman.
(Nov/Dec 2008, p.10) I think the sexual content increases with the progression of
the series. I have only read the first one and half of the second (New Moon) so
far. My opinion: If you have read it and question it yourself, then don't put it
on your shelf. The kids will get the book another way if they really want to read
it. Maybe use some of the suggestions that were posted on a previous LMNET Hit on
what to read after Twilight.
I had my Twilight book club meeting this afternoon. I had about 10 students attend.
We talked about the siginficance of the book cover, Bella being a 'good' role
model, Edward as a role model for boys, the biblical quote at the beginning of the
book, and we compared twilight to other classic fairy tales. It was a good meeting
with lots of discussion. I served apples with caramel dip with apple juice and
strawberry mini doughnuts. All of the snacks had some siginficance to the book.
I plan to have a New Moon book meeting in december. i want to give you a couple of
sites that might help you make a decision.
www.thetwilightsaga.com and www.funtrivia.com search for twilight. Me personally I
dont think there is anything objectionable.
twoother articles that might be of some help.
http://www.reelzchannel.com/article/754/10-things-parents-should-know-
http://www.reelzchannel.com/article/734/top-10-ways-twilights-and-true-bloods-heroines-are-alike
OK--I have chosen not to have these books in our library simply because even here
in the Philippines kids can go and buy it for themselves if they really want it.
Many of my parents do have a bit of the problem with the vampire theme, although I
have Dracula...Like many Christian schools--I don't think of it as censorship but
selection and just like many public schools would not dream of putting a Christian
novel in their collection (using the same reasoning) we do have to acknowledge the
fact that we are different and many parents send their kids to our schools because
of that.I haven't read them myself yet--I tried over the summer while I was in the
states and could get them in the public library--but just couldn't get into it.
However--I had several Christian parents tell me that they had no problem with
their kids reading them as long as the parent read them first. I think it was the
last one in the series that was causing the most concern amongst them.
Anyway--that's my 2 cents.
The only book with any kind of sexual content is the 4th book, where the couple
gets married and has a very glossed over wedding night. The first three only have a
lot of longing looks and kissing. The author is a Mormon, and therefore pretty tame
with the romantic scenes.
I am at a Catholic school and have all the books. There is some sexualcontent in
the 4th book, but it isn't graphic and the characters havewaited through the first
3 books to get married before they have sex (itis on their honeymoon and spoken
about in the most general terms-apregnancy arises from it and there is no more
after that). There is nobad language, no drugs, no premarital sex and the vampires
are "moral"and do not kill people, only wild animals. The author is a Mormon
andstays true to her religious beliefs. Middle school girls love thisseries!
It might help to remember that the author of Twilight is a pretty devout Mormon,
and there for the sexual content is very minimal. It is really nothing more than
passionate kissing and talk of desire until the very last book and at that point,
they only have sex when they are married and there are very little details
discussed. It is more of an implied tension than overtly sexual. All in all, I
think the moral issues are handled very well--waiting for marriage to have sex,
being in love, being a respectful and protective partner, etc. I encourage you to
read the first one that you feel comfortable with the content before you put it in
your library, as you know best what works for your population. I think you will
probably really enjoy the book! In my opinion, I would think that it would be
okay--maybe try using parent permission slips or phoning home first when students
ask to read them?
There really isn't too much sexual content in the first three books of theseries
(just kissing). The only sexual content appears in the fourthbook, and it is after
the two characters are married and on theirhoneymoon. Even then it is very subtle
and not explicit or untasteful atall.
I have the Twilight series in my Catholic school library. There is no explicit sex
and Meyer doesn't introduce the topic with Bella and Edward until after they marry.
Her Mormon principles keep it low key.
The sexual content is implied not explicit. I definitely would NOT put book 4 in
your library as Bella and Edward are married have a honeymoon, baby, etc.
I think I would err on the side of caution and make that a series the students
should purchase on their own, much as we have done with the Gossip Girls and Clique
books.
This is JMO, and I live in the Bible belt, so we err on the side of caution. If you
do a hit, please leave out my identifying info. Thank you.
Good morning. I am currently reading the Twilight series and am on the third book
and so far there really hasn't been much sexual contact. Mostly just some mild
kissing since the main character can't really get close to her without wanting to
drink the girl's blood. I haven't yet found anything that a Christian would really
object to but I wouldn't let anyone under high school age read it. As the books
progress I am starting to see more of an adult theme which is reasonably since the
kids are growing up and now 18 and 19 yrs old. I am also considering buy the books
for our library and I might suggest for you to do what I am doing. Find a parent
who you trust to give you an honest objective oppion and ask them to read it. I
have a mother in the school system where I am, who has a daughter the age of the
girls requesting the book so she is reading it for me and will let me know what she
thinks. So far she hasn't found anything wrong or anything that she would be
opposed to her daughter reading.
This was on the listserv the other day. It maybe helpful. Here is a link for
parents on why they should let their students readTwilight by Stephenie Meyer. I'm
excited since one of my commentswas used. A comment that I expanded on that was
mentioned here onthis list serv, so thanks!! My username listed is suelibevg,
underthe not just chick literature. Check out the article at this link
onreelzchannel.comhttp://www.reelzchannel.com/article/754/10-things-parents-should-know-about-twilight
I am the media specialist in a relatively conservative Christian school and we do
have the Twilight series. The first three are on our Scholastic Reading Counts
list. My library serves middle school and high school and we have restricted the
books to high school. One girl brought the first book back and said her mother
wouldn't let her read it due to the "vampire theme." Other than that, we haven't
had any complaints and they are wildly popular. I have read them all and they are
very sensual (lots of "making out") but the vampire Edward is determined to wait
until marriage for sex:-) They marry in the 4th book and there is a lot of talk
about how much they enjoy their married state but it isn't too descriptive,
although more so than in the other books. Two mothers have come to me and told me
the Twilight books were the first books their girls actually loved, read
voluntarily and tested well on.
Hope this helps.
After the many emails from this listserv on the Twilight series, I had to get them
for my personal collection to see what they were about. I just finished the first
book in the series and there was no sexual content. In fact, Edward and Bella only
actually kiss a few times and the description is of his lips being like stone. The
main characters in the book, Bella and Edward, are extremely smart and there are
other character traits that are very positive. I haven't read the others in the
series but I do recomend the first one especially since the movie is coming out.
Hope this helps!
I did work in a religious school (Solomon Schechter) & I have read the first 2
books of the series, so I can appreciate your hesitation. I don't think that you
need to hesitate to put the first 2 in your collection. I haven't put the 4th book
out yet because I did hear that the last one does have some "heightened"
excitement, but since I didn't read 3 & 4 yet, I don't feel qualified to answer
just yet. This series has really captured everyone's attention & there is a wait
list for each title in my MS.
I'm in a Catholic school and we have the first three. There isn't a problemwith
them. In the last one there aren't any graphic sexual descriptions butthere is some
sexual innuendo. I don't have the last one in my library yetand I am not sure that
I will but I think it should be fine for high school.I am in a middle school.
Our secondary library, which serves about 600 students in grades 6 - 12, does not
carry it in their collection. However, my own daughter and many of her friends have
read the series and attended the Barnes & Noble August party of Twilight. I have
not objected to her reading it, because she is old enough and mature enough to
decide if she wants to. As she reached the middle of the story, she became
increasingly disappointed in the storyline, and she told me she was actually
finding it hard to finish, due to some moral conflicts that she could not digest.
Our guidelines at school preclude it as a part of our curriculum, and you should
check your own policy for further input. The high school's newpaper (a state award
winner) gave a review of the book, even though it's not included in the collection,
because of the interest.
I found it interesting that you asked this group this question. Most of our
LM-NETers are diehard "Free To Read" librarians who detest any restriction. I doubt
that you'll get many negatives on this.
I’ve read all of the Twilight series, and so has my 13-year-old daughter. There
are references to having a sexual relationship, but Bella and Edward agree to wait
until they are married so it could be considered a “talking point”. The topic is
barely touched upon in the first book, but in the third they actually get married
and begin a physical relationship. Nothing graphic, but could be objectionable to
some. I would advise you to read them if you’re considering them for your library.
They are certainly well-written and exciting and kids (especially girls) love them.
It's hard to imagine anything objectionable in the "Twilight" series even in a
religious setting. But, I don't know if I'm the best judge of that because I teach
in a large urban high school and in an effort to reach many reluctant readers, I
have lots of books that would never pass muster in a religious high school. I grew
up in a small Mormon town, although I'm not Mormon myself, and could definitely see
Stephenie Meyer's upbringing in the "Twilight" books. No one ever uses profanity
or misses out on school or homework, much less smokes, drinks, takes drugs or has
premarital sex. The teenagers are respectful to their parents and actually are
useful around the house. As far as sexual content, it seems they never get beyond
"first base" as they called it in my day, and that was a long time ago!
Lots of people will probably tell you the same thing. The first 3 books are very
tame. The author is a a religious Mormon and there is no sex or swearing at all in
the first 3 books. In the last one. Bella and Edward get married and consumate the
marriage. The sex is not explicit but it is implied that they are very zealous
about it. There is some gore in the last one as well. When Bella gives birth there
is a lot blood and the baby breaks her spine. I have the first 3 in my secular
middle school but I am not adding the last one. I think it's too much for MS kids.
Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse do not have overt sexual content. Bella kisses
Edward some and describes his lips as being "cold", and I think she might touch his
bare chest and says the same thing about that. They are clothed and I don't see
anything untoward in their interactions. In the 4th book, Edward and Bella get
married and she has a baby. I haven't read it yet, but I asked a "Twilighter"
teacher at my school (who is in her 50s like me!) and she said it's a little gross
in the description of blood when Bella gives birth, but she felt like it was
appropriate even for our 6th graders. Our 6th graders love these books (actually,
so do our 7th and 8th graders) and I have had no complaints so far. Are your
students already reading the books outside of school? You might want to buy just
the first two and see how that goes over with the students and the parents. I
resisted reading Twilight for weeks when it first came out. Our girls were
hounding me and I kept telling them how I wasn't into Vampire Romance!! THEN, the
8th grade boys started coming in and raving about Twilight and telling me to read
it. I did and loved it! I have loaned it to many of my adult friends who really
liked it, too. I am now an official "Twilighter"!
The "sex" was an issue with me as well, but then one of my middle school girls
said, "But at least Bella waits until she's married to have sex... and a baby."
That's a more positive role model than many of our YA novels--and tv programs--and
movies, etc. exhibit. I was sold. The books, all four are in my collection, but
rarely on my shelves because they are in constant circulation I have 14 reserves
for the first book. Good luck with your decision :)
I am new to LMNet, but a big Twilight fan. The book is appropriate for areligious
school. The entire series underlying theme is abstinence andwaiting for marriage.
There are sex scenes in the last book (hope I didn'truin the surprise for you!), so
that book may not be appropriate for some.They are not explicit and again stress
the importance of love and being withsomeone to whom you have pledged your life. In
the first three books,there is sexual tension. The author often refers to not
throwing awayeternal life for immediate pleasure and taking the moral option
(vampiresthat are "vegetarian", sex, relationships, everything). When my parents
ask about the books (I'm in a middle school), I tell them toread them with their
children. I also tell some particularly hesitantparents that the underlying theme
is abstinence, but not to let theirchildren know that- it may ruin the allure. Hope
that helps.
Stephenie Meyer, who wrote the series, is a Moromon herself, and whilethe main
characters do have sex in the final book, it is not graphicallydepicted and they
are married at the time. We have it in our schoollibrary, however, we are not a
religious school. I think this should befine though, because although she is
writing about vampires and teenageromance, all of Ms Meyer's religious beliefs are
not compromised in herwriting. You can find out more info on her
websitewww.stepheniemeyer.com.
We have all four books; however, we are doing a permission slip for book #4 because
the main characters go on a honeymoon(even though they don't give specifics about
sex) and she has a baby that almost kills her. As long as the parents sign the
permission slip, we let them check it out.
I would say that it would be very appropriate. The lead male character wants to
wait until they are married to have sex. I think that would agree with the values
that a religious school would have. When they do get married, in the last book, it
is not graphic at all. It focuses more on the love they feel between them and how
they want to be together forever.
That's the beauty of Twilight - there is NO sex (or swearing) in the whole book. As
a matter of fact, there's hardly any kissing because when Edward (the vampire)
kisses Bella (the human) he wants to bite her so they must abstain as much as
possible. The author grew up in a strict Mormon home and there are underweavings of
her strong faith based throughout the series.
I would say there is absolutely nothing in it to prevent it from beingin a
religious high school. I work in a Christian 3-12 grade school,and I cannot have it
because I fear the parents - NOT the content ofthe book. Parents of the students
here are extremely legalistic, opinionated,would have it banned in a second for a
large variety of reasons (thevampires, werewolves, ideas of immortality, the author
is Mormon,Edward is in Bella's bed every night (this would still be looked downupon
in spite of the fact that they choose abstinence beforemarriage)...you name it. Of
course not all our parents are thisstrict, but a large enough population of them
are that keep ourcollection squeaky clean to avoid all conflict. This is
heartbreakingsince I devoured and simply loved the series and know of all the
greatbooks our collection is missing. I would base your opinion on your parents.
Good luck with your decision!
look here:
http://www.reelzchannel.com/article/754/10/10-things%20parents-should-know-
I am the media specialist at a Catholic High School. When I started, the first 2
books of the series were already in the collection. That being said, I have just
completed reading the entire series. Although the story hints to the fact that they
had/or are having sex, there are no specific details. I like the fact that they
waited until they were married before they had sex. I think there are many good
qualities in the characters that we try and teach our students everyday: Honor,
integrity, loyalty, etc. My only suggestion would be to read the series and then
decide for yourself. I truly enjoyed to series and am looking forward to the movie
premiering on Nov. 21.
I would say the first three books would be fine for a religious high school. The
sexual content in the first three books is minimal. You will probably want to read
the fourth one before you put it out. The sex is not implicit, but is strongly
implied. (After Edward and Bella marry, I might point out!) Also, the childbirth
scene is pretty strong.
There is talk of sex, but it does not actually occur until the 4th book. I did not
find it graphic. Mainly they talk of the before and after...not the during.
From birth through third grade,You learn to read.From fourth grade through the rest
of your life,You read to learn. "Books should go where they will be most
appreciated, and not sit unread, gathering dust on a forgotten shelf. . ."
Christopher Paolini, Brisingr
Basya Karp, Librarian
Shulamith High School and Shulamith School For Girls
Brooklyn, NY
basyak10@hotmail.com
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