To be thinking about Stephen King for my 11 yo

[talksensetome]

So DS is an avid reader with a reading age far above his actual age.

I am thinking back to what I was reading in high school and I know I read Stephen King (along with Mills and Boon) so would I be unreasonable to get DS one or two for Christmas and what would you recommend? It has been so long since I read them that I can't remember too well what is in each one.

He likes quite dark books with a supernatural theme.

I was thinking Pet Cemetery or IT as a first read?

[user1477282676]

My DD is now 12 and like me, she began reading SK at age 11. She loves dark themes and her fave is The Shining. It's fine. You know him...but I'd let him "discover' them himself.

I just buy books I think she will like and leave them around.

[StStrattersOfMN]

I think that would be irresponsible, what's wrong with something like Goosebumps, or Celia Rees' Silver trilogy?

[Mari50]

Not sure I'd start with IT, I recall being utterly terrified by it when I read it at 14. That said it is an amazing book.
The talisman is really good and has a good adventure tale behind it too, that'd be my choice. Or the stand.
I wasn't reading SK quite as early as 11, but I do remember reading Philip caputo's a rumor of war when I was about 12 and it definitely wasn't any lighter than SK (worse probably because it's nonfiction)

[Sammysquiz]

I read Pet Semetary when I was about 14 and it really upset me, and was disturbed by it for a long time.

I think SK books are much too dark for children - am sure you wouldn't let him watch an 18-rated horror film which his books equate to really.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

I have a "Children's Classics Collection" book. Edgar Allen Poe.

Steven King is probably quite tame.

[birdsdestiny]

I was reading SK at 11, I think I am ok. Good suggestions to try one of the fantasy ones like the talisman, or eye of the dragon is about a boy king , also girl who loved Tom Gordon . I think the early ones like IT, Christine are scary I think some of his later books are less spooky.

[NerrSnerr]

I read Stephen King from that age, I don't agree that it's irresponsible at all. I was too old for goosebumps by the time I was 11. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a good one to start with. Also maybe Hearts in Atlantis and or Cell. I haven't read the Dark Tower series but have seen those recommended for teens too. I read Gerald's Game when I was about 12, I wouldn't recommend that for a few years!!!

[clairethewitch70]

11.22.63 by SK is a good choice, its time travel and not scary at all. I also liked the Talisman, the main character is a teen boy crossing two worlds. Avoid Big Driver.

[NerrSnerr]

Sammys Pet Semetary is one of King's most disturbing books in my opinion (and I have read many), there are many of his books that don't equate at all to an 18 movie.

[Clawdy]

Pet Semetary is a very disturbing read, I was a huge Stephen King fan and read everything he wrote, but after reading that, I decided I had had enough.

[givemushypeasachance]

I think if you hit that advanced reading age early, Goosebumps can seem a bit baby-ish. I used to like reading them when I was 8-10, but by late primary school and early secondary school I was quite resolutely heading for the adult section. I don't think you'd be unreasonable to let him read them, especially if he enjoys darker/spooky themes. It's not like you'd be sat there forcing him to turn pages against his will - if he tries them and doesn't like them, then that's up to him!

[moreslackthanslick]

I think "The stand" would be good for an 11 year old.

I was reading "Lace" by then

[talksensetome]

He has read goosebumps, he has read Skullduggery, The Hunger Games, The maze runner, Divergent etc

I might start with the fantasy ones first. I know my first one was the stand but that was hard going.

The green mile was a good book too actually.

[givemushypeasachance]

For what it's worth - I've only really dabbled in SK but one of my favourites of his is "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" which is a collection of short stories. Might be a good taster intro to his work!

[ShowMePotatoSalad]

I find IT very, very disturbing as an adult so I'm not sure I would recommend you giving him that to read. The Shining isn't as bad as IT, but it's still quite disturbing.

He may have a more advanced reading age but are you sure he can handle the adult themes in these books?

[1happyhippie]

I love Stephen king books.
My ds started reading them when he was a teen. I know he read salems lot and the stand.
He also had one that had a few short stories in ( can't think of the name now),

I didn't finish IT or pet cemetery.

[TrionicLettuce]

Another vote for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It's not too long and is a bloody brilliant book.

[wigglesrock]

I read Stephen King from about 12/13 ish. Although I will say Pet Semetary scared the shite out of me. I think I read It early - I don't get the clown fear.

[Mrsemcgregor]

Has he read any Terry Pratchet yet? I seem to remember those when I was about that age.

[talksensetome]

He hasn'tread Terry Prachet, It is something I never read and so I have never thought to buy them for DS.

[viques]

The Shining terrified me, I had to skim read the last few pages to see who survived so I could stop worrying about them. Long time since I read it but what about Cujo?

If he likes slightly scarey dystopia stuff can I suggest John Wyndham? They are old, he was writing in the fifties, so some of the science is a bit out of modern comprehension (phone boxes for goodness sake!) but he writes very well and they haven't really dated. The Chrysalids is a good starter and the central characters are teen/late teens.

[RatherBeRiding]

11.22.63 is brilliant and not scary - for a mature avid reader it would be a good introduction to SK. Just read Duma Key which was a rattling good read but a little dark in places possibly for an 11 year old. Depends on how much of the dark side stuff he's already read and whether he finds it fascinating or disturbing.

[rubberducker]

I loved Stephen king as a teenager. Maybe something like eye of the dragon would be good for a first read? Or firestarter? I'd probably let him get the feel for SK's style by reading some of the shorter books before diving into It or the stand.

[ToastyFingers]

Hmm, this is difficult.
I love SK and think everybody should read at least one of his books but IT wouldn't be suitable.

Aside from the obvious horror themes, it covers death, abuse, rape and all sorts of adult themes in an unapologetic, 'warts and all' way. Whilst I really enjoyed it, it did stick with me a little while, and I'm quite hard to that sort of thing really.

Perhaps the dark tower series would be a good starting point.