Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by JenniferRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Series: Twilight Series
Rating Explanation – I cannot explain the ratings without giving certain parts of the book away. So if you haven’t read the book and want to be surprised, skip these explanations.
Language: 15 common swear words
Violence: A description of children who, long ago, were turned into vampires. These children were uncontrollable and bloodthirsty. Werewolves kill and eat a deer. Several descriptions of vampires hunting animals and drinking their blood. One vampire is ripped apart and burned (the only way to kill a vampire). Fairly intense birth of a baby, but not your average birth, this one involves lots of broken bones and a vampire’s teeth acting as a scalpel. I’m not sure where to put this bit of information, but Bella, as a human, drinks human blood for her baby.
Sexual Content: One make-out scene on the night before Bella and Edward’s wedding – kissing, legs entwining. Honeymoon description is not explicit, but there is also no doubt about what is going on. After their first night together they discuss the bruises Bella received from their human-vampire encounter. Edward is reluctant to have sex with her again because he is afraid he will hurt her more. Bella is persistent that they continue practicing.
Once Bella becomes a vampire, she has an insatiable sex drive. There aren’t any racy descriptions of their sexual relations, but I would say that overall the book is quite sensual.
Adult Themes: While Bella is pregnant some of the characters think aborting the baby would be best since they do not know exactly what the offspring of a vampire and a human will become. Bella is always resolute about keeping the baby.
Synopsis
In the final book of the Twilight Series, Bella Swan will finally make an eternal decision. She must choose once and for all between the immortal vampire Edward and the werewolf Jacob. Her choice will decide her fate for eternity.
After slogging through the first three books in this series I was glad that Bella’s story was finally going to be over. I am not a huge Twilight fan but I did want to see how everything turned out. The first half of the book was long, a little slow, and irritating because of Bella’s dependence on Jacob. But once Bella became a vampire I actually really enjoyed the second half of the book. As Bella said herself, she was born to be a vampire and I liked her much better as an immortal beauty than as a clumsy and indecisive human. The ending is a little too tidy with everyone getting exactly what they want, but I guess after all she’s been through Bella deserves a happy ending.
I know many young girls who have read this series, but I personally would not recommend it for anyone younger than high school age because of the sexuality and violence.
©2009 The Literate Mother
November 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Bridget,
Saw your article in the Hermosa Groves! Congrats! Great idea! It’s nice to know someone else out there thought this was a little too adult for their kids. My Rachel (11, 6th grade) has been the only 1 of 2 girls that hasn’t read it. Thanks, again.
Tanya
December 1st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I have to agree that this book is better suited for high school age readers. While the series is tame by today’s standards, I felt there were still things to address with my kids as they were reading. For example, Bella deceiving her father, marrying so young and at such a sacrifice of her own identity, the appropriateness of Edward being in her room at night, etc. These things may not bother some readers, but I felt it important to discuss them with our kids and to talk with them about their perceptions of the behavior as well.
December 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Each of Debbie’s concerns I have expressed as well, thanks, Debbie! I really enjoyed the plot of these stories, but was dissappointed it had to go as far as all that.
As librarian, I opted not to include any of these “Juvenile Fiction” series in our K-8 school, because they seem much more appropriately “Young Adult” instead.
The best thing about these books is the discussions it has initiated between my kids and us, their parents. Very needed discussions, and an easy lead in, easy to discuss the problems, concerns and opportunities that can be lost.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
While I enjoyed the Twilight series and those emotions of a first “crush”, I found it disturbing that Bella had no identity or feelings of self worth unless she was with Edward. Watching her sacrifice all for the “love of her life” was hard to read, but everything tied up neatly at the end and you could say that’s that. This book was sensual and I, like the others, also recommend for a more mature reader with discussions about early marriage, sex and if a person’s individual worth really is tied to another person.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I personally cannot imagine letting even my teen aged girls read these novels. There were a couple parts that had me blushing, and I have been married for 11 years! Your reviews are pretty good but I seem to remember parts of the “honeymoon” scenes being quite sensual. Bella, naked in the ocean, etc. There was nothing in your review about that.
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I like to check out your blog a couple times a week for new entries. I was wondering if you have any other niches you write about? You’re a very good writer!
July 6th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I agree with a lot of you women and my oldest is only 1! I did read the twilight series but, oddly, felt guilty and almost abashed the entire time though I wanted to “find out what happens”. After watching the 1st movie, I don’t even have the slightest desire to watch the rest. I completely and wholeheartedly agree with you Shelby! I’m 21 and have been married for a couple years and even adults who are married…I don’t think it makes you any more qualified to read this type of sensual book. Parts of the honeymoon I would consider to be pornographic, language content is high and the pro-abortion stance of everyone aside from Bella–I did not agree with. I don’t think a person’s age should make a difference of whether you’re old enough to read/watch/listen to something or not. If it’s inappropriate for our dear children..we as parents/older siblings/relatives/friends, etc. should set an example and opt out as well. After all, monkey-see, monkey-do! If we do it..why can’t they, right?
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Hello!
I’m a high-school junior who only discovered this site recently (and I love it it dearly).
I read Breaking Dawn the summer before freshman year, and while I agree with some of this review, I feel that the rating doesn’t properly convey how truly disturbing this book is (for example, the childbirth scene is so disgusting, it’s almost laughable, and the gratuitous sex scenes seem to encourage a certain degree of masochism).
As with the other three books (somewhat less disturbing, still rather ridiculous), Bella and Edward developed some very unrealistic expectations in some of my peers’ romantic expectations- two years later, some still expect a handsome, dangerous fellow with sparkly skin to sweep them off their feet for an effortless “happily-ever-after”. I’ll admit that it took me a good deal of time and some pain to rearrange my own priorities (and my idea of what was fine literature) but thank God I did. As a former fan, I really don’t recommend it for anyone.
(I’m not trying to sound like a schoolmarmish type in any way, but seeing how this book has affected some of my friends, I feel rather intensely on the topic. Thanks!
)
October 4th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Thanks Tori, for providing a teenager’s perspective on this book. We commend you for figuring out that no man will ever be Edward! Some women our age haven’t figured that out yet, so you are way ahead of the curve! Please keep sending us your comments.
January 26th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Hi,
I was looking up young adult books and I found this site. I am 17 years old and I’ve read all of the Twilight books. All I have to say is that those of you who have teenage daughters, they know all about everything going on in this book. Believe me. My Mom and I have both read the books and she actually said herself that she knows that I know about sex. I think that because this book doesn’t go into detail, it’s okay. If you want your daughter to read this book, I think it depends on maturity. But there are some drawbacks to the book like Bella’s dependence on Edward. It’s VERY unhealthy for a high school girl but it’s also fantasy so things like that are to be expected.