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?

[talksensetome]

Thanks again for all if the comments, I have got hold of a couple of SK books to read again myself but have decided to shelve the idea of giving them to DS for awhile yet. I have got lots of more suitable suggestions on the thread and I know Kathy Reichs did a young adult series which might suit.

[Believeitornot]

I read a lot of Stephen king books as a child of a similar age to the OP.

This was a mistake as I have a very active imagination. I couldn't stop reading them and now as an adult I won't watch horrors etc.

They really played on my mind.

[CinderellaRockefeller]

Is IT not the one with the scene where over a hundred mainly black people are burned to death in a club by white supremacists? I think it was pretty graphic about the smell they made when they burned.

Dean Koontz had one about mind control where the bad guy used it to rape women as pretty much the central plot theme.

I read a lot of horror young, including IT, and I enjoyed then. I don't think I understood a lot of it though. But my parents wouldn't have had a clue what was in them, if my DC aged 11 asked me, and I did know, I would steer her towards the tonnes of YA fiction around.

[pointythings]

I think 11 is a bit young for IT and definitely far too young for Pet Sematary. My DD2 is almost 14 and is reading IT - she is mature enough to get the themes of homophobia and abuse and discuss them now. She's also read the Chaos Walking trilogy and most of Diana Wynne Jones, including Hexwood, which has some pretty dark themes. She's going for Duma Key next.

If you're going to go with SK at 11, I would go with The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, The Eyes of the Dragon (though there is some dark stuff in there too) and The Talisman which, though scary in places is more suitable.

[Colby43443]

I started off with the shining at 11 which was a big mistake. I think IT might have been better.

[JellyBelli]

If your DS is an avid reader start him with the books of short stories and see how he gets on.
I got into trouble at school at that age for reading I Claudius. Its still one of my favourite books.

[happilyahousewife]

I started on SK at about 9/10 yrs old, LOVED THEM! Dean Koontz is another good one, the Odd Thomas collection are pretty good.

[Thefishewife]

op try this she is a awsome author my son loves reading and these books are edge of your seat thrilling I borrowed it off ds and actually I was really good

www.amazon.co.uk/Pig-Heart-Boy-Malorie-Blackman/dp/055255166X?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[theothersideoftheworld]

I read misery at 15. Scared the shit out of me.

[Darmody]

I first started getting into Stephen King at about 11/12 - first one was Cujo, then Firestarter, then It, then The Dead Zone, then on it went. Just finished End of Watch last week (not up there with his best, but OK).

There is no getting around the fact that Stephen King books are for adults, despite sometimes hokey subject matter - they are dark, violent and sometimes thematically challenging (his best stories have obsession and addiction as driving forces). That said, his writing is also wonderfully warm, engaging and human, and that's what is at the root of his success, as well as his obvious enthusiasm for the written word.

All children are different, but I wouldn't have too much bother with one of my DCs picking up one of his books - I'd know they would be hooked and then in for a lifelong treat.

Also, on the issue of Pet Sematary - get that book read BEFORE you have children. I read it once as a teenager and again a couple of years ago when my youngest was a baby - it is far too upsetting to read when you have DCs.

[Summer888]

I personally think 11 is a little too young for SK. My 11 year old who is also very advanced, is reading the Time Riders series, which I would recommend. If you are going down the SK route, then I would start him on Fire Starter and The Dead Zone as they are more supernatural than horror (but even they have totally unsuitable bits in them - self-mutilation and a serial killer). Pet Cemetary and It gave me really bad nightmares, but I did read all of Stephen King's books during my early teenage years and loved them, but with hindsight I wish I hadn't started them quite as early, as they are not really suitable for kids in terms of content, despite the great writing and interesting story lines. I agree with others that 22.11.63 is good too.

[StStrattersOfMN]

If a kid would understand, then why not

Because that's what being a parent is all about. Kids understand a LOT, that has nothing to do with whether or not it's appropriate to expose them to something potentially damaging. Comprehending something is not the same as being emotionally mature enough to cope with what it means.

[messystressy]

I read Pet Sematary at 11. I then went on to read all his books for the next six years, but PS stayed with me for a long, long time, especially the scene describing Gage's death (let alone what happens next!). It was also where I learned a lot about sex (and Dean Koontz). I wouldn't want my own children reading these books at such an age.

[Nataleejah]

If a kid would understand, then why not

[Outbackshack]

I was happily devouring Stephen king at his age. I agree nightmare and dreamscapes good introductory book. If he likes the fantasy style then Terry Pratchett also worth a try, I started these at age 11 and hooked for life.

[Farmmummy]

Been a huge so fan since 11 started with the stand then did the tommy knockers and some of the short stories. Would also recommend the shining and dr sleep. The dark tower is fantastic I get something out of rereading the saga about once every 2 years although wind through the keyhole while a good yarn isn't the proper Ka tet. The girl who loves tom Gordon, from a Buick 8 and Duma key also

[Jonsnowsghost]

Another you could try for Stephen King is The Long Walk...not really a horror and main characters are teenagers, there is a lot of death though (including shootings) I really like this book though as it is different from the real 'horror' type books without straying into the dull category (his most recent books are pretty dull...)

[Leonas]

I loved Steven King as a young teen! I would second the suggestion of short stories: novellas - the collection with 'The Body' and 'Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption' is superb. I only read 'It' relatively recently, mainly because it was such a scary film, and the ending is (pants!) quite sexual iir? He/ you might not mind that but I was quite surprised because it's different to the film. I loved 'Cujo' - not supernatural at all though, just a rabid dog and a very hot summer!

[DrDreReturns]

I wouldn't recommend Pet Cemetery to a child - I gave up as I had a sense that something horrendous was going to happen and it was freaking me out! tbf I can't think of a single book of his that I've read that hasn't got adult themes. I'd say they would be appropriate for a mid teen - 14 or 15 perhaps.

[doistayordoigo]

Definitely not IT or Pet Cemetary for an 11 year old! I love Stephen King but the themes in those two are too adult, in fact I haven't read Pet Cemetary because the film upset me too much. Needful Things was slightly less adult, however there is a scene if I recall where a dog is killed in a very gruesome manner, and even I had to put the book down for a couple of days before I could forgive King enough to carry on.

I've just this year introduced my DS who is 16 to Dean Koontz, which I think is a milder introduction to the genre. To the PP who suggested Richard Laymon ...he is utterly gruesome and goes even further than Stephen King IMO. James Herbert can go either way I think.

What about the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham? They would probably be suitable. I also agree that John Wyndham would be worth a go...Chocky, Day of the Triffids, The Kraken Wakes etc

[NannyR]

How about some of Roald Dahl's short stories, tales of the unexpected and he did one aimed at young adults - the amazing tale of Henry sugar and other stories. It's a while since I've read them but I don't remember any sex or horror (apart from one bizarre one about a vegan visiting an abbatoir).

[Jonsnowsghost]

On the Dean Koontz vein...try Watchers, it's not scary, and it's got a very clever dog! It's one of my favourites

[KermitTheFudd]

I used to read my parents' SK books at that age. I tried to take a couple out from the library but the librarian wouldn't let me!

TBH she was scarier than any of the books anyway...

[BaldricksWife]

Timeline by Crichton, fascinating.