Intro to horror for 10 year old boy?

[Toponeniceone]

10 year old ds is desperate to get stuck into Stephen King books. What can he read that'sa good starting point? I don't mind if it's a little bit older than his years. I looked at a few in a book shop the other day but they were quite sexual. For example, I used to love the Point Horror series but I think I was a teenager then.

My children loved Goosebumps and there are loads of those!

@PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn

Used to read Point Horror, do they still write those?

I was going to suggest the same.

I read the goosebumps series, then moved onto the point horror series.

I think I read them around early secondary school age.

Get on eBay/Amazon and find some point horror books, I was reading them from age 10 and absolutely loved them. Then when he's a bit older (12 ish) Christopher pike ( eBay again) was my favourite and then Stephen King from 13 1/2 .

Christopher Pike (pen name of author Kevin McFadden). Not sure how many books are still in print but those were fantastic for YA horror. All of my friends in school read Pike before moving onto Stephen King & Dean Koontz.

Oh yes I used to like Christopher pike! I didn't know he wrote under another name, I shall look up his other books!

Does he have a Kindle? There are loads of Point Horror books available on Kindle from Amazon.

Thanks, but you're all costing me a fortune!! Is Point Horror ok? I'm sure I was older reading those, but I've ordered some second hand ones anyway. Also the Jennifer one and the graveyard book!

@Toponeniceone

Thanks, but you're all costing me a fortune!! Is Point Horror ok? I'm sure I was older reading those, but I've ordered some second hand ones anyway. Also the Jennifer one and the graveyard book!

The common sense media website is normally very good at giving age recommendations. I couldn't see Point Horror, but did see this list which might be helpful

www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/horror-books-for-kids-and-teens

I would have been reading Point Horror at the very start of secondary school, so 11 or 12. I re-read a few recently when I spotted them on Amazon and there's nothing too worrying in there, I think the characters are around 15-16 but there was no sexual content.

Robert Westall. The Watch House, in particular and The Haunting Of Chas McGill short stories.
The Devil On The Road isn’t really horror, but spooky time travel. Some references to witches having extra nipples, but nothing too sexual.

I read Point Horror at 12 and I bought some on eBay for my 10yo who had already gone through the Goosebumps and Aveline Jones stories. She loved them!

She did note that there were a few containing incidences of older teenagers/college students drink driving but not much else.

My DS loved Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak series, which also comes in a manga version which he loved even more. Watch out with Darren Shan though as he used to write children's books with the name Darren Shan and adult books with the name Darren O'Shaughnessy but his adult books have been republished under the Shan name and they are very much not for children.

Is he too old for Goosebumps already? Neither of my DC were interested in them but I can't remember what age I let them try one.

Clive Barket Abbarat series is for children. About a girl who gets swept away in the sea to another realm. Very strange and magical.

Antony Horowitz - power of 5 series when he's a little bit older (11+ maybe) as quite dark www.booktrust.org.uk/book/t/the-power-of-five-1-ravens-gate/

Ditto Michael Grants Gone [https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book/g/gone/] series - I would say 12+

I personally think your DS might find the Goosebumps series a bit too young - my DS (age 8) has read them all. About to read Doll Bones which looks scary

Another good bet is the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz . Starts with Ravensgate.

He wants to read "It", is that definitely a no-no? They love watching Goosebumps and they've acquired a book from somewhere but they've not really talked about it. I picked up a YA horror in W H Smiths at the weekend, I read a random page and it was a steamy scene about their lips on each other! He can be as scared as he likes but his sex questions are already a bit much

@Toponeniceone

He wants to read "It", is that definitely a no-no? They love watching Goosebumps and they've acquired a book from somewhere but they've not really talked about it. I picked up a YA horror in W H Smiths at the weekend, I read a random page and it was a steamy scene about their lips on each other! He can be as scared as he likes but his sex questions are already a bit much

I'd say all Stephen King is out for a few years! Upper end of secondary for those

Ha ha! I've a degree in English Literature and remember just reading everything there was. I can't remember what is appropriate.

How about The Eyes of The Dragon? (Is Stephen King) I think I was 11 or 12 when I read it. I've just had a quick Google about its age rating and it might be a goer.
I also read The Institute recently and I don't recall any sex scenes

I read IT when I was about that age and it is Definitely Not Suitable. There's a prolonged scene where several prepubescent boys and one girl do the act required for them to be immune to a monster that attacks virgins.

Yes, not IT

Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (King) is actually suitable for a 10yo, I would say. It's written from the POV of a young girl lost in the woods, so no sex scenes or graphic horror/violence, and very relatable for a younger reader.

@ClumpingBambooIsALie

I read IT when I was about that age and it is Definitely Not Suitable. There's a prolonged scene where several prepubescent boys and one girl do the act required for them to be immune to a monster that attacks virgins.

I don't even think it's justified that thoroughly in the book - it's just to give them a more powerful bond or something like that?

In any event it's WAY out for OP's DS.

I wouldn't recommend the Institute to be honest. no sex scenes but a lot of abuse of children - electric shocks, immersion in tanks until near death, taking temperatures rectally plus lots of violence

@2022HereWeCome

I wouldn't recommend the Institute to be honest. no sex scenes but a lot of abuse of children - electric shocks, immersion in tanks until near death, taking temperatures rectally plus lots of violence

Oh God sorry, you're right!

Countess you could be right there — I was young when I read it (definitely primary age, probably 9 or 10) and fairly sure I read that part through metaphorically covered eyes

The book as a whole is very, very scary for a child, and that scene only adds to the inappropriateness for children. I wouldn't give it to any child that I wanted to continue being able to sleep.