Talk

I've not read Fire starter, but I recently re-read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and that would probably be suitable for a younger reader.

Thank you, I'll have a look at that one.

Oh it's pretty horrible when they describe the scenes of people in the drugs trial gouging their eyes out and so on.

Why does she want to read Stephen King specifically? If she wants YA horror, Michael Grant's Gone series is very good.

Is she just 13, or on the way to 14?

Agree that, 'Tom Gordon' might be a better start.

The Grant series is good, but it's as gruesome as King in places tbh. Charlie Higson's zombie books might appeal too.

If she has read, 'Of Mice and Men' King's, 'Blaze' might be worth a look.

Thanks, noble. Well, she's heard of Stephen King and I think she just wants to read something a bit grown up and really scary! I'll have a look at the Gone series.

I can't remember exactly how old I was when I read Firestarter but I think it was maybe 14/15? I used to love Stephen King - it might be time to dust down Salem's Lot!

Remus, she's just turned 13. I'll check out your suggestions, thank you.

The long walk was one I liked at that age, although he does get a hard on at some point lol. Give her the stand, don't recall too much sex in that, might put her off though

'The Long Walk' is just devastating.

What is she used to reading already, OP? I'm all in favour of letting kids read pretty much what they want to read, especially once they hit 13 or so, but I wouldn't want her to be put off one of my v favourite writers by starting with one that might freak her out!

Definitely don't give her It!

The Gone series is a bit gory but it doesn't linger over it in the way King does, and the characters are all teenagers so the themes aren't as adult.

I think she wants to be freaked out! I've just offered her the Higson and Grant options and she declared them 'boring and not scary enough'. The thing is, Remus, she doesn't read much of anything at all and I want her to get excited about books, so the fact she actually came to me with a request makes me determined to find her something.

I think the Gone series would be fine. There's sex in it later on, but pretty subtle.

Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy?

Of course!

Cujo?

Cujo is heartbreaking, I was a big Stephen king fan at her age, I think I read most of them from around 12-14. Pet semetary and It were the first I read........in at the deep end eek.

Cujo is super-sad, but no sex and the blood and guts count is low.

I think 'Firestarter' might have been my first, tbh, at 12 or 13.

How about one of the short story collections? Or I'd agree on tom Gordon, read that in one sitting, amazing, not scary though if that is what she is after.

I read most SK books that were in print several decades ago as a teenager. Firestarter is fine. The Stand would be good, too.

If she's not a big reader, 'The Stand' might be a bit much as a starting point. It's pretty vast (bloody good though!).

I think Tom G is scary, but in a more psychological way, rather than body count. It's like a grown up red Riding Hood-esque story.

I think Firestarter is a fine start to Stephen King, Carrie is fairly tame too.

Dean Koontz has some good spooky ones, I read most of his in my teens. The Odd Thomas series is great!

i love stephen king and got into him about that age, the shining, pet semetary and graveyard shift are a good place to start

avoid imo misery, geralds game (good but talks about sex and handcufffing), IT, and dolores clairborne just cos of the themes that are in them imo

but hey i was watching poltergeist at 8 years old ( my mum let me watch whatever i wanted horror wise at a early age) so my judgement may be slightly out

oh in terms of firestarter, the book is better than the film imo and readable at that age

someone mentioned dean koontz, hes good but some of his books are a lot more spookier than stephen king imo

Oh yes - The Shining. That was definitely one of my earliest too.

I hate 'Pet Sematary' - it's ridiculous and the protagonist is a berk (sorry, Stephen!).

Thanks all. I think I'll get her Tom Gordon then try Firestarter. I really hope she gets into reading and off her blinking phone!

What about Shawshank Redemption or The Green Mile? Not classic horror but well known and well written "grown up" books.

I really want to re-read them all now - Carrie, Pet Semetary, Salem's Lot - I haven't read horror for years and I used to love it as a teenager, especially my nan's pulp fiction horror short story collection, some of which was terrifying!