Book 9

Title: Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Book 1

Author: L.J. Smith

Pages: 253

Publication: 1991

Date finished: April 19, 2010

Grade: 10/10

Plot:
The first volume of the series introduces the reader to Elena Gilbert, a popular high school student in Fell's Church, Virginia, and her best friends Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt. A former friend, Caroline, is also introduced and revealed to be Elena's antagonist. As her senior year at Robert E. Lee High School begins, Elena meets and becomes involved with a mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore. At the Homecoming Dance, Elena is upset to see that Caroline has shown up with Stefan, and later leaves with Dick, Tyler, and Vickie to go to the cemetery. After getting Elena alone with him in the graveyard, an intoxicated Tyler begins to assault her, but she is rescued and brought home by Stefan. As Elena and Stefan fall in love, strange attacks begin to happen in the town, and Elena encounters another mysterious man - Damon, who turns out to be Stefan's older brother. During a Halloween fundraiser at the high school, Bonnie finds their history teacher, Mr. Tanner, dead. When Elena leaves to go to the boarding house where Stefan is staying, she finds him on the roof, feeding on a dove. She starts to back away in fear and falls from the roof, but he catches her and then they both go back up to his room. Stefan reveals his past, and explains that he wasn't avoiding her, but protecting her. Stefan tells of his love for a young vampire named Katherine, and his fight against his brother to get her. He says that Elena reminds him of Katherine, and that Katherine was unable to choose between him and his brother. Katherine killed herself, claiming it was an attempt to bring the two brothers together. However, her death just fueled their feud, and Stefan and Damon fight, resulting in both of their deaths, and re-awakenings as Vampires. After Stefan takes Elena home, Damon shows up to taunt Stefan with his own desire for Elena. This leads to a vicious fight. In the morning, Elena becomes extremely upset with Stefan's disappearance.