For a long time I didn’t read it just because people I respected did not care for it much. Then I didn’t read it because I was writing my own vampire novel and didn’t want Stephanie Meyer’s vision creeping into my head. Then I just got kind of stubborn.
But I finally had to read it for another project I am working on, and this is what I have to say.
IT IS NOT ROMANTIC WHEN:
…you say you want to drive yourself home and a guy grabs you by the arm and drags you to his car.
…a guy follows you on a trip to another city because it’s not safe for you to be out alone.
…a guy sneaks into your bedroom without your permission or knowledge.
…a guy showers you with compliments, praise, and rapt attention, and then insists that you are not capable of taking care of yourself, so he will have to look after you very, very closely.
…a guy refuses to let you make any decisions, so that in order to save your mother’s life you have to sneak away from him.
…you say to a guy, “I love you so much it’s all right for you to kill me.”
IT’S JUST NOT. Okay? Are we clear?
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Sarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. . . . Touching and inspiring.”
—Kirkus Reviews
I know you came up with all these objections on your own, but I have to tell you, the first time I heard about the Twilight series was through an essay by a father expressing most of the same concerns. There’s a fairly twisted idea of romance in these books, and sadly it goes hand in hand with the drivel Hollywood puts in teen movies.
Oh, I know I’m not the first–but maybe if we all keep saying it LOUDLY enough, somebody will listen. I mean, yeesh.
Love your post, Sara! As a mom of two daughters, I worry about things like this. Fortunately, one’s too young to be interested, and the older one knows a pile of crap when she sees it from a distance.
I think teaching them to know a pile of crap when they see it is the very best thing you can do! Alas, we can’t remove all the piles of crap in the world. So we’ll have to just teach them to keep their eyes open.