Stephen King books for 14yo

[Bearvet]

DS13 (almost 14) loves the Stephen King movies and ALL horror movies! He said that he'd like to read some of Stephen King's books and I need some recommendations. He's a very strong reader yet hasn't read much lately so I'm thinking this might get him started again.

So, what books do you recommend?

 

[Desiree]

Not so much on the horror side but I love his short stories! Apt Pupil and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption come to mind!

 

[Desiree]

Oh and how could I forget... The Body!

 

[Aimee K]

I would recommend Different Seasons to start... it's a collection of four 'novellas', and spawned 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Stand by Me' as movies.

It's not really 'horror' but they are good reads, all of them, and if he's getting back into reading, it might be good to have this 'shorter' story approach. Some of King's books are very long.

 

[Aimee K]

Not so much on the horror side but I love his short stories! Apt Pupil and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption come to mind!

Great minds think alike

 

[JimB.]

"The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon" is a suspenseful story involving a teenage girl, but it avoids the "steotypical" Stephen King blood/gore/etc., etc.

 

[noodleknitter]

I was reading his horror novels at about that age. Read Salem's Lot, and slept with my light on for a week!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'd read most of Stephen King's stuff by the time I was 14! I must have read Carrie about 5 times...I'd read Christine and The Shining and Different Seasons and Pet Sematary and Salem's Lot and Firestarter...

 

[nowellsl]

I really liked Needful Things!

 

[Heidict]

The Dark Tower series is great. Not horror, like some of his other books.

Some others that aren't to scary, IMO:
Cujo
Different Seasons ( a collection of short stories and novella's)
Dolores Clairborne
Misery
Hearts in Atlantis
The Tailisman
Thinner

 

[Crankyshank]

How patient of a reader is he? The problem with a lot of Stephen King books is that he tends to drone on a bit.

Different Seasons is a good start but not really scary. 4 Past Midnight is another collection of short stories (Secret Window, the Langoliers) that he might enjoy. There's a story about the Library Police that scared the beejeezus out of me

As far as books, I was his age when I read Salems Lot, The Stand, and IT.

 

[KimR]

My DD is 14 and has bought 'The Stand' and 'The Shining' although she hasn't read them yet. She is currently reading 'Swan Song' by Robert McCammon, which has a similar theme to 'The Stand'.

 

[schnerk]

Personally, I think his short stories are the best. Check out Night Shift and Skeleton Crew. You can always find them at half price books or the library.

 

[ckay87]

How patient of a reader is he? The problem with a lot of Stephen King books is that he tends to drone on a bit.

Excellent point. For every SK book I've finished, there are 3 more that I quit on halfway through. Somewhere midway, he does tend to ramble.

But at 14 I was devouring SK books, so maybe it's an age thing. A good young reader will stick to books a little more faithfully, I think.

You know who my 14 y.o. reader has discovered? Dean Koontz. Really good suspenseful stuff, but with heart - beautiful relationships and likeable characters, but plenty of violence and suspense for these young guys! DS's favorite book is Odd Thomas.

 

[Magickndm]

Eyes of the Dragon is a good, short, fantasty type novel I think a 14 year old boy would love.

 

[SandraVB79]

When I was 14, I had read about every book by Stephen King, Dean R Koontz and John Saul that the library had.

 

[nuke]

I started reading them in 7th grade. I agree that the novellas might be a good start.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

I started reading Stephen King at about 14 and haven't stopped since. My personal favorite is The Stand, which is long but short on the horror stuff. Several people have suggested his short stories, which is a good place to start, but don't forget Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Everythings Eventual and The Bachman Books. Cycle of the Werewolf and The Colorado Kid are easy reads, pretty short.

 

[Heidict]

My DD is 14 and has bought 'The Stand' and 'The Shining' although she hasn't read them yet. She is currently reading 'Swan Song' by Robert McCammon, which has a similar theme to 'The Stand'.

Oh, I will have to pick that book up. The Stand has been my favorite SK book!!

As far as books, I was his age when I read Salems Lot, The Stand, and IT.

I was 22 when I read IT and it scared the bejeebers out of me. I worked second shift at the front desk at a small hotel and had to take the office garbage out to the dumpster at night. I was terrified that I was going to see a ballon floating down the hall or next the dumpster or something.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I vote for The Stand and Misery.

It is great that your son is a strong reader, but Stephen King isn't James Joyce, you know? The books aren't difficult to read! Any 14 year old should have no problem.