Or how about a girl who is equally obsessed with this guy even though he continually tells her he's dangerous, could inadvertently kill her and treats her as if she were a child? This same girl becomes so depressed when her boyfriends breaks up with her that she begins to take risks, some seemingly suicidal, because such behavior summons visions of him. And then, that same girl gives up a chance to go to Dartmouth, instead marrying that boy, having sex that leaves her bruised all over, and decides to have his baby even though she knows it may well kill her. Reduce Stephenie Meyer's mega hit 'Twilight' book series to its bare-bones plot lines about the romance of Edward and Bella and many critics say it's difficult to understand exactly why it is so overwhelmingly popular and why millions of tweens and teens will be delivered -- by their parents -- this week to see the second in the series, 'New Moon,' on film. Devotees of the series (including twentysomethings and older) argue that reducing the sprawling novels to plot lines loses the all-important context of the story, which of course is that this is fantasy. Edward is, after all, a vampire; part of the series' attractiveness is to depart this land for an exotic one. Gina Barreca, an author and English professor at the University of Connecticut, is a vehement critic: 'The big thing that really makes `Twilight' a really bad book is that fear should never be an aphrodisiac. The idea that you fear your lover should not make him sexier, and that is a big part of these books. ... It distresses me to see that in any form, whether or not it's supernatural. 'It's a damaging fantasy. ... It's the idea that she feels as if she is in a dangerous relationship and she doesn't know how to get out of it, and that, finally, however much in danger you feel, love has to conquer. ... No, when you feel yourself in danger, you have to go away, put yourself in another novel.' Dina Anselmi, a psychology professor at Trinity College, said books with the kinds of messages found in the 'Twilight' series are 'ubiquitous in our culture, so I'm not sure that this is any better or worse than anything else.' But, she said, 'It's kind of surprising that parents of young girls might not see this as something bad for them. ... There is a lot of sexualization. ... I'm not surprised that girls find this interesting and tantalizing in a way.' The themes are 'definitely non-progressive messages for young girls.' Of course, not everyone is so critical, most especially many of the girls and young women who are devotees. Isabel Bart, a sophomore at Quinnipiac University, said, 'I really liked the series. I got obsessed like everyone else.' But, Bart said, 'I think when I was first reading the book, it didn't jump out at me that the relationship wasn't a great role model, because it was so romantic. All the girls got into it because it was forbidden love.' It wasn't until the second book, when Bella virtually collapses after Edward breaks up with her -- Meyer indicates this with entire chapters that consist of a blank page with the name of the month at the top -- that she began to see the relationship as 'probably not the healthiest thing in the world.' 'But people have to remember it's a fictional thing,' Bart said. 'It's obviously not real. ... Everyone falls in love with the bad boys. Edward has both sides to him. The appeal is, he's safe because he does want to protect her and spend his life with her, but there is this underlying element of danger.' Bart said she could understand why 'people think it's probably not the best thing to be giving young girls.' Lisa Burns, an associate professor of media studies at Quinnipiac, pointed out that while much in the books offends feminist sensibilities, Bella gets what she wants. 'You can argue that if feminism is all about choices, that she is given the ability to make the choice. ... It might not be one that most feminists would agree with. ... It might be putting us back to the 1950s standard, but it is her choice.' Still, there are moments in the books that are troubling even to those who enjoyed the series. One was about a character named Sam who, when he was turning into a werewolf, loses control and hurts Emily, the young woman he desires. Later, he apologizes profusely. She forgives him because he was out of control and didn't mean to hurt her. The two get together, but Emily is left scarred forever by the event. If you subtract the werewolf element, such scenarios sound all too familiar to experts such as Mitru Ciarlante, the youth initiative director for the National Center for Victims of Crimes in Washington, D.C. 'This pattern of `the werewolf' losing control sounds like a dynamic we've heard in abusive relationships,' Ciarlante said. Stalking is also 'very much an element in teen relationship abuse and a pre-cursor to sexual violence.' Stalking and obsessive love are 'age-old' themes, Ciarlante said, and young people are often unclear what the boundaries should be. (Begin optional trim) Ciarlante doesn't advocate not letting kids read the books or see the movies, but rather using them as 'opening points for really getting young people engaged in talking about the issues: power and violence.' Suzanna Narducci, a co-founder of TweenParent.com, a Web site for parents of 9- to 13-year-olds, said she wouldn't forbid kids from reading the books or seeing movies, although she admits that when Bella gives up Dartmouth, 'that killed me,' and the relationship between Sam and Emily 'reeked of domestic violence.' But she concurred that it is important for parents to read the books and see the movies if their young children are doing so and to discuss the issues with them. 'It's a matter of using it as a teachable moment,' Narducci said. 'Romance means something so different for them. ... It's important for parents to use it as an opportunity to have an open dialogue about what romance is like' and about the difference between fantasy and reality. (End optional trim) 