Is Stephen King's Firestarter suitable for my 13yo DD?

[Fionajaneblushes]

Hi,
DD wants to read a Stephen King novel, but I don't want her to read sex scenes or anything too disturbing. I remember reading Firestarter fairly young, and googling around, that seems to be the most suitable. Can anyone confirm that there's no real nasties in this book and if it would be suitable for a 13 year old?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

'Cell' is a v good suggestion, actually. It is quite 'YA' in feel and one of the central characters is a teenage girl.

[CoteDAzur]

I just thought of another SK book I loved at that age:

The Dead Zone.

It's brilliant and has no horror (that I recall) or sex.

[LuckyCornish13]

Cell by Stephen King might be a good starting book. (Think zombie like plague caused by people using cell phones) there's no graphic/hardcore sex scenes that I remember and is a very modern book

[FatWalda]

I just couldn't get into it. There's a few of his I've given up on, and a few I wished I hadn't bothered finishing. But plenty that I have enjoyed too.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Fat - I really like, 'It' apart from the last couple of pages. It's got some of King's best characters ever in it, imho.

[FatWalda]

Remus Oh, does it? I never read that far. I wasn't enjoying the book, so I didn't finish IT

[roseteapot101]

i loved the same books as your daughter when i was her age though i read the alchemist cat,the hobbit i love stephen king but maybe a bit scary.She may also like terry pratchet wish i could remember some more

my favourite stephen king the stand then again i watched some horror movies at that age i am fine.

[crapfatbanana]

Misery was the first Stephen King I read at age 14 and then Four Past Midnight (The Langoliers is still one of the best stories I've read.)

[Fionajaneblushes]

Right, I think she may find Tom Gordon a bit dull, so I've ordered Firestarter and will skim/read it through first and cross out anything vaguely unsuitable with a black marker pen. Thanks everyone, really hope it 'ignites' (excuse the pun) a love of reading!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Oh and 'It' has sex scenes as an integral part of the plot, of course.

So I Googled 'Sex in Stephen King' as you do! :)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

His worst one for sex stuff is, 'Needful Things' but it's a steaming pile of nonsense anyway.

[FatWalda]

SK doesn't go in for graphic sex scenes, not that I can think of anyway. As a young reader, that sort of thing tended to go right over my head.

[Amummyatlast]

I read The Talisman at her age, and found it brilliant, moderately scary and a little sad. It's been a long time since I read it, and while I remember some sex references, I don't think there was any actual sex. It's more fantasy though, than some of his others.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

'Rita Heyworth and the Shawshank Redemption' has male rape scenes, which, if she's only just turned 13, might be a bit much.

Some of the short stories are great, especially the older ones. 'Survivor Type' is brilliant, and I'm v fond of 'The Langoliers.'

[AwayAndRunUpMaHumf]

I used to pinch all my mum's Stephen King's from when I was 13 onwards. Yes, they're graphic and scary but I'd let her read it. FWIW, I found The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon rubbish, frankly, compared to most of his other books. How about Pet Cemetery, The Dead Zone or The Langoliers?

[FatWalda]

Short stories and novellas are a good way into King, I think, as his novels are patchy - I love some, gave up on others early on, and have been disappointed with some that started off well and then went bad. Unlike most people, I hated IT. It was the first one I read and it very nearly put me off SK for ever. It wasn't too scary, I just didn't like it.

So - with the short stories she's bound to hit on a few she likes, then go from there. I think at 13 she's old enough to read anything she fancies. I did at that age.

[chipsandpeas]

the green mile is great but the short story rita hayworth and the shawshank redemptoin is completley differnt from the shawshank redemption book but a good read on its own same with reading the body (Stand by Me film was based on that) it was a short story in memory in four past midnight (could be and will prob be wrong)


i wasnt a big fan of tom gordon and later books as i felt it moved away from a bit of the horror side and more in to pyschological thinking


if it were me - id let her watching the shining film (jack nicolson version) then let her read the book as it goes a bit more indepth with the psychic side, reading then watching can be a slight let down
but like i said earlier i arent the best judge cos my mum let me watch shit like this from about 8yrs old (didnt do me any harm, dont get freaked out and still love horror (real horror))

[Fionajaneblushes]

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!

[Spydra]

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

[Fionajaneblushes]

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!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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!).

[chipsandpeas]

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

[chipsandpeas]

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

[Allstoppedup]

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!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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.