I am not a reader of the book series, so I cannot offer much insight as far as the movie following the book. However, as a watcher of the first (My wife and daughter made me), the second installment was tremendously better than the first. I know there are steps to a series, but this one starts to get into a love story torn with anguish, friendship, and mortality. Summit Entertainment definitely upped the budget with this one considering the financial success with "Twilight" sales in the theater and on DVD. Angles are much more crisp and digital effects are dramatically improved. The cast is just about right for a rite-of-passage tween/teen adventure.