Defining Twilight by Brian Leaf

Defining Twilight: Vocabulary Workbook for Unlocking the SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT

Brian Leaf, M.A.

Wiley Publishing

July 14, 2009

Summary (from Amazon): Can you resist the allure of Edward’s myriad charms—his ocher eyes and tousled hair, the cadence of his speech, his chiseled alabaster skin, and his gratuitous charm? Will you hunt surreptitiously and tolerate the ceaseless deluge in Forks to evade the sun and uphold the facade? Join Edward and Bella as you learn more than 600 vocabulary words to improve your score on the *SAT, ACT^®, GED^®, and SSAT^® exams!

Review: I am not a Twilight fan (I haven't read the series, nor have I seen the movie). In fact, the Twilight craze drives me bonkers. I feel it is overexposed and, frankly, annoying. But my disapproval of Twilight fandom did not stop me from accepting the opportunity to review Defining Twilight--and it's one decision I am glad I made!

When this workbook came on the scene, many eyes rolled (mine included), but with or without the Twilight name, this book is a useful resource. I am not a student preparing for a standardized test; however, I am a person who enjoys learning new words and seeks opportunities to expand my vocabulary.

The strategies implemented in Defining Twilight are simply great vocabulary improvement strategies. In each section, eight words are chosen and readers use context clues, synonyms, analogies, and sentence completions to comprehend and apply the meanings of unfamiliar terms. Through its use of higher order thinking processes, this resource allows readers to think critically and creatively acquire new vocabulary.

I highly recommend Defining Twilight to students and anyone who wants to build his/her vocabulary. This study aid is enjoyable, practical and takes the anxiety out of vocabulary preparation.