Meyer, Stephenie 1973-

views updated

Meyer, Stephenie 1973-

PERSONAL:

Born 1973, in CT; married; husband's name Christian "Pancho"; children: Gabe, Seth, Eli. Education: Brigham Young University, B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Phoenix, AZ.

CAREER:

Writer.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Top Ten Fantasy Books for YAs, Booklist, Editor's Choice, New York Times, Best Book of the Year list, Publishers Weekly, Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults and Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers lists, American Library Association, and Hot List pick, Teen Readers, all 2005, all for Twilight.

WRITINGS:

Twilight (novel), Little, Brown (New York, NY), 2005. New Moon (novel; sequel to Twilight), Little, Brown (New York, NY), 2006.

ADAPTATIONS:

Twilight was optioned for a feature film by MTV Films/Maverick Films.

SIDELIGHTS:

Stephenie Meyer's first novel, Twilight, propelled the author into the ranks of top-selling writers for young readers. Often compared to fellow novelist Anne Rice, Meyer created a vampire love story featuring the teen narrator Isabella "Bella" Swan and her love interest, Edward Cullen. Bella has just moved from Phoenix to a small town in Washington state and is now living with her police chief-father. The first day at her new school she is attracted to Edward, who she soon discovers is a vampire, but one who has trained himself to feed only on animal, not human, blood. However, trouble soon arises in the form of another group of vampires who have no such compunctions. Twilight won critical praise from many quarters. A Publishers Weekly contributor, for example, called it a "riveting first novel, propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts," as well as a "tantalizing debut." Similarly, Hillias J. Martin, writing in School Library Journal, called the book "realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, [a novel that] will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it." For Booklist contributor Ilene Cooper, Twilight is a "dark romance [that] seeps into the soul."

In Meyer's 2006 sequel, New Moon, Bella loses her vampire lover only to be courted by a teen who is an incipient werewolf. The Cullens move from town, fearful that they cannot control themselves and that they may do harm to Bella. Months later she comes out of her depression and strikes up a friendship with a Native American named Jacob. Meanwhile, she is also pursued by an evil vampire whose presence triggers the lycanthropy in Jacob's genes. While all this is happening, Edward is seemingly determined to die at the hands of an Italian vampire cult. While a reviewer for Publishers Weekly thought that fans "may be disappointed in this second book," other critics were more positive. Booklist contributor Cindy Dobrez predicted that "teens will relish this new adventure and hunger for more," while Kliatt reviewer Claire Rosser similarly concluded that young readers "will be eager to share [Bella's] passion and her adventures."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, November 15, 2005, Ilene Cooper, review of Twilight, p. 58; July 1, 2006, Cindy Dobrez, review of New Moon, p. 51.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2005, review of Twilight, p. 1031; May 15, 2006, review of New Moon, p. S22; July 15, 2006, review of New Moon, p. 727.

Kliatt, September, 2005, Michele Winship, review of Twilight, p. 11; September, 2006, Claire Rosser, review of New Moon, p. 15.

Publishers Weekly, December 8, 2003, John F. Baker, "LB Preempts 'Anne Rice for Teens,'" p. 12; July 18, 2005, review of Twilight, p. 207; October 31, 2005, Jennifer M. Brown, "Twilight in Translation," p. 28; July 17, 2006, review of New Moon, p. 159.

School Library Journal, October, 2005, Rick Margolis, "Love at First Bite," p. 37, Hillias J. Martin, review of Twilight, p. 166; August, 2006, Hillias J. Martin, review of New Moon, p. 125.

Voice of Youth Advocates, October, 2005, Angelica Delgado, review of New Moon.