Short scary stories by Stephenie Meyer, including the books Twilight and New Moon, and the series built around them, may be responsible for a whole new upsurge in the popularity of reading among teens. But there is one story even the most avid fans may not have read.
Take A Look Inside Prom Nights From Hell
Long before the Twilight book series cult took hold, Stephenie Meyer contributed to a great little book of sharp, sassy little short stories rather fittingly called Prom Nights From Hell. Deliciously irreverent about the whole rose-tinted romance thing with proms, the anthology also holds sparkling surrealistic contributions from other fave teen authors such as Meg Cabot, Michelle Jaffe and Lauren Myracle.
Suitable, maybe, for streetwise older teen readers, for English students with the maturity to cast an objectively critical eye on the world around them and to see through all its marketing hype and advertising promises, the short stories' display eerily dark and macabre themes. The slightly twisted angles and plots seem guaranteed to hook, delight and prompt their teen readers into critically re-evaluating the hazy bookselling world of dreamy Harry Potter fairytale land, and the unrealsitically romantic diet of 'chick lit' that fills the bookstore shelves.
Prom Nights From Hell, with its Stephenie Meyer short story 'Hell On Earth', offers bitingly uncompromising themes including vampires, weirdoes, zombies and unearthly happenings mixed with 'tongue-in-cheek' teen romance, angst, prom night longings and glamour. The blase style of their treatment, and the love-story components, make the stories more suitable for young adults/older teens than tweens and, not least because of some 'bodice-ripping' elements - stories that teachers and parents may want to check out!
Whatever teachers may think of the quality of literary finesse in such 'cult' books, there's no denying that it is at least good to see teens reading. The trick is to take them one step further, to challenge their minds and extend their learning experience beyond just the superficial enjoyment of chatty storylines.
With the Stephenie Meyer New Moon movie about to hit the giant screens in some countries, the merchandise for draping environments from bedrooms to cars with anything from Stephenie Meyer wallpaper to New Moon vampire dynasty car decals, teachers and homeschooling parents may want to 'cash in' themselves, on a golden learning opportunity in the field or creative writing, comprehension and literary criticism.
With the Stephenie Meyer New Moon movie about to hit the giant screens in some countries, the merchandise for draping environments from bedrooms to cars with anything from Stephenie Meyer wallpaper to New Moon vampire dynasty car decals, teachers and homeschooling parents may want to 'cash in' themselves, on a golden learning opportunity in the field or creative writing, comprehension and literary criticism.
Potential English Literature Lesson Plan Ideas include:
1. Favorite Story From Prom Nights From Hell.
What makes it so, and how has the author made it different from the others?
2. Gothic Horror Genre Tradition comparisons.
Discuss comparisons with Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' series,Edgar Allen Poe's short stories, Jane Austen's novel 'Northanger Abbey', Emily Bronte's portrayal of evil in 'Wuthering Heights', and the more recent 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'.
3. Goth Culture in society.
Why does it's popularity and influence persist?
4. Compare and contrast the technique, plot, message, characterization in the short stories. Which ones work best for each heading and why?
5. Discuss the ways in which author creates aura, mystique, menace or other atmospheric effects.
The Amazon review page offers insights into the differing levels of sophistication that young readers display - some rave about the captivating quality of Stephenie Meyer's book contribution for example, whereas some feel let down by the lack of a traditional good, simple ending. Mostly, the young readers opinions are glowing recommendations of stories they can't wait to get their hands on!
Take A Look Inside Prom Nights From Hell
