What age for Stephen King?

[ILiveInSalemsLot]

13 yr old ds wants to read Stephen king. Dh thinks it’s fine but I think 14 might be better.
What do others think and what might be a good book to start off with?
I’ve read lots of Stephen king and loved His books since I was a teenager but I don’t remember a lot of the details of the books that I read all those years ago. I just remember being scared!
I’d appreciate any opinions.

I don't think there's much difference between 13 and 14 in terms of suitability to be honest.

Try either Green Mile or The tower books. Not super scary, but,in my opinion, good reads

I think it's fine!

I think The Girl who loved Tom Gordon is a good starter.

I read Gerald's Game as a young teen and would certainly not recommend that so young!!

But to answer your question I think 13 is fine- if it gets too gory/ scary he can stop reading.

I don't know. I wouldn't want my 13yo to read stephen king as there some pretty adult themes and she would be terrified anyway.

But then i remembered that i bloody loved Stephen king as a teenager and read anything by him i could get my hands on. I find his work too disturbing now.

So not really much help.

What about the dark tower series? Ive not read them but maybe they are tamer?

I read IT when I was around 12/13 shat me right up, but spawned a love affair with horror and gothic so not all bad.

Thanks for the responses. He really wants to read IT and has had a sneaky read of it. I told him that it’s quite scary but couldn’t think of any others that might be a better choice.
I remember Cujo not being so terrifying but still an excellent read. Christine too.
Most of the others I read were scary enough that I dreaded having to go to the bathroom at night.

IT is about sexual abuse isnt it?

I'm sure I was reading Stephen King at 13. There is the dodgy as fuck orgy scene which might raise some questions in IT but don't think it's too scary.

I think 13 would be fine - i think if kids can physically read a book then they can always put it down if it's too scary.

Hmm, I'm a big SK fan and I probably started reading them when I was about 12/13 but I would suggest you be a little careful about which ones he reads (if you can, my mum had no idea what I was reading!). His latest book had some very upsetting parts - even as a massive fan, who has read all of his books I wouldn't have even started that one if I'd known.

I would recommend Christine, The Dark Half or Needful Things to start him off. The Talisman and Black House are also more suitable than some of his books.

If he wants to be scared go for The Shining, frightening but not disturbing in the same way as some of his books.

I agree with the above advice he could try joy land it's not scary at all more of a mystery book, and nice and short to start off with. Dolores Claiborne is also very good glad to see another generation of SK readers being born