# Best Stephen King book to start my kid on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862 "2015-07-11T16:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/1 "2015-07-11T16:13:07Z")
When I was 12, my uncle gave me a copy of _'Salem’s Lot_. I quickly became addicted to Stephen King, and I’ve greatly enjoyed reading him over the years. Yesterday, my daughter turned 12. She’s seen \*Alien \*and emerged unfazed. She recently asked if she could see _The Gallows_. I feel like it’s time to buy her her first Stephen King. Even if she doesn’t take to it, it’s a rite of passage. So, where do I start? I feel like I can do a bit better than\* 'Salem’s Lot\*. Maybe \*Carrie \*- short, simple, plugs into the teen angst Chloe is on the cusp of. Or _The Shining_ - I think this is one of his best books, without being too long. But, there’s always the short stories - that might be more engaging for her, since they’re quick hits, and they’re his scariest stuff. I’m happy to say that “The Moving Finger” embodies for me the tagline, “This won’t just scare you - it’ll fuck you up for life.” And isn’t that what we all want for our children? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/2 "2015-07-11T16:20:14Z")
The Shining is inappropriate imo because Jack Torrance is an alcoholic violent abuser in a real non-horror way. Just reread it and its Kings deepest psychological work. It could cause nightmares. Obviously not It because of the kiddie sex. I second Salems Lot or one of his short story collections…especially the one with Stand By Me. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/3 "2015-07-11T16:20:31Z")
Carrie might be a good start. It was my first King book (when I was 14, ahh), and since it was about teenagers, I think it was easy for me to relate. Plus, the “unusual” format (of letters, newspaper articles, etc.) made me feel like I very grown up! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/4 "2015-07-11T16:21:49Z")
I think _The Eyes of the Dragon_ and _The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon_ are the closest King has come to writing specifically for younger readers, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best choice for what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/5 "2015-07-11T16:41:06Z")
Who reads Stephen King while having sex? ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/6 "2015-07-11T17:14:26Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > . . . Obviously not It because of the kiddie sex. . . . Quoted for goddamn truth. WTF, Steve? I take your point about the horror being a little too real in _The Shining_. I decided against \*The Eyes of the Dragon \*because she is vehemently anti-fantasy (😕:() so I think she would be prejudiced against it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/7 "2015-07-11T17:15:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > The Shining is inappropriate imo because Jack Torrance is an alcoholic violent abuser in a real non-horror way. Just reread it and its Kings deepest psychological work. It could cause nightmares. Obviously not It because of the kiddie sex. I second Salems Lot or one of his short story collections…especially the one with Stand By Me. The novella that _Stand By Me_ (movie) came from was actually called _The Body_. And I would absolutely recommend it, not as horror, but just as really good writing and entertainment. I’d go with _'Salem’s Lot_, as it’s suitably creepy and ties in with the current vampire fad. It would also familiarize her with King’s writing quirks, (_like putting things in italicized parentheses_) for emphasis. _Misery_ might be another good choice, but perhaps more drama than horror. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/8 "2015-07-11T17:20:25Z")
_Firestarter_ would be a good choice, it has a strong girl hero. I can’t remember if there are any naughty bits, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/9 "2015-07-11T17:52:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The novella that _Stand By Me_ (movie) came from was actually called _The Body_. However the collection it comes in contains _Apt Pupil_. Which in addition to not being all that awesome as a story IMHO, if the OP wants to avoid disturbing sexual imagery it is not optimal. Of course virtually all of King’s “classic” stuff has a little sex in it ( including _'Salem’s Lot_ ), but _Apt Pupil_’s is of the budding Nazi sociopath fantasy variety. A little less wholesome than normal ;). _The Shining_ is where I started at about 12 and I think it remains his most consistent work. But, yes - it gave me nightmares. Probably near the last of my life. Well worth it IMHO, but not everyone agrees :). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/10 "2015-07-11T17:58:58Z")
_Pet Sematary_ was my first King book, and my first book in the ‘horror’ genre. I was 15. I was instantly hooked and went on a tear through the rest of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/11 "2015-07-11T18:08:19Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > _Pet Sematary_ was my first King book… And my last. 🙂 I think \*Cujo \*might be teen-accessible, and if not that, either of the earlier short story collections - _Night Shift_ and the larger one that came a little later. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/12 "2015-07-11T19:15:10Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > The Shining is inappropriate imo because Jack Torrance is an alcoholic violent abuser in a real non-horror way **Little Cinnamon** isn’t much younger than I was when The Shining was assigned reading for Freshman English. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/13 "2015-07-11T20:09:45Z")
**IT** Might as well get her coulrophobia started at an early age. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/14 "2015-07-11T20:12:03Z")
I liked The Dead Zone. It’s film adaptation was one of the ones closest to the book/story. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/15 "2015-07-11T21:11:49Z")
First one of his I ever read was _The Stand_. Have you thought about starting there? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/16 "2015-07-11T21:13:18Z")
The Stand might not be a great read for an early teen female. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/17 "2015-07-11T21:14:01Z")
Fair enough ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/18 "2015-07-11T21:20:11Z")
_The Talisman_, maybe? It’s been a long time since I read it, but it had a young protagonist. It could be too far into ‘fantasy’ though. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/19 "2015-07-11T21:20:53Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Fair enough Although I do presume that she is a typical young female 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862/20 "2015-07-11T22:02:29Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > _Firestarter_ would be a good choice, it has a strong girl hero. I can’t remember if there are any naughty bits, though. It has a transvestite or transexual character (I don’t remember the details well enough to use the correct term) who has a memory of mutual masturbation with a frat brother in college and who fantasizes about a garbage disposal opening being a vagina. It’s fairly brief and not overly explicit (the masturbation is literally “…it ended in mutual masturbation…” with no additional details) but it’s not pre-teen lit either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-stephen-king-book-to-start-my-kid-on/724862.md?page=2)