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?

[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.

[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?

[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.'

[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.

[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.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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

[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! :)

[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!

[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.)

[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.

[FatWalda]

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

[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]

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.

[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

[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.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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