How old should you be to read Misery by Stephen King?
The only factor that would keep tweens and teens from reading this book is the language and its overall disturbing plot. I think a 12-year-old could wait to read it, but mature 13 year-olds and older could handle this book.
Overall, the suspense and psychological tension driving the movie to psychotic outbursts and violent altercations is way too much for kids, but older teens and adults should enjoy one of the better adaptations of Stephen King's novels.
The only story I would allow my 12-year old to read is “The Body,” a novella that is one of four included in Different Seasons. “The Shawshank Redemption” is one of the four, and that might be suitable. Otherwise, King's themes are adult and complex, too much so for twelve years old to appreciate.
ATOS Book Level: | 6.2 |
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Interest Level: | Upper Grades (UG 9-12) |
AR Points: | 18.0 |
Word Count: | 110565 |
Fiction/Nonfiction | Fiction |
Readers of horror fiction range in age from six up until death, You need to remember that the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were very dark, often bloody, and were written for young children. Today we have Goosebumps, and other such horror tales for very young children.
The only factor that would keep tweens and teens from reading this book is the language and its overall disturbing plot. I think a 12-year-old could wait to read it, but mature 13 year-olds and older could handle this book.
Quality(opinionated): (My rating) Rated R For strong violence, some bloody images and brief language including a slur.
Violence & Scariness. Very scary stuff; children are in constant peril, with a flat-out terrifying clown who threatens the main characters. Lots of bullying, including a scene in which a teenager carves a child's stomach with a knife, and another stabs a man in a very bloody scene.
Obviously, being a horror novel, there's a lot of grotesque descriptions of the supernatural menace, but also real world evil including child abuse and murder. I know plenty of tweens who would be fine with most of the list but it's not a simple "small town vs. vampire" fight.
- The Best Stephen King Books For Beginners. 1 of 10. Carrie. ...
- 2 of 10. The Shining. ...
- 3 of 10. It. ...
- 4 of 10. Pet Sematary. ...
- 5 of 10. Misery. ...
- 6 of 10. Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger. ...
- 7 of 10. Different Seasons. ...
- 8 of 10. The Stand.
Is Misery a slow book?
It's necessary for the plot, but it also makes it a slog at times. So it's definitely among King's best, but it's also one I haven't read it nearly as many times as some of his others because it's simply too damn tough to get through at times.
The average reader will spend 5 hours and 20 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).
The Horror
While it isn't a plot-specific difference, something overarching that separates the film from the book is its use of horror. Stephen King is typically known for his supernatural style and setting, but Misery is so much more real, making it just that bit scarier.
Again, it depends on the child and the child's interests. King has sci-fi, horror, non-fiction, novels and short stories. My two daughters have always been horror fans, so they began reading King's novels at around 10 years of age.
Scary stories aid child development
Of course, what is scary differs for every child — no one wants to encourage nightmares or trigger fears and anxiety. But readers with a penchant for just-the-right-amount of scary are developing important skills according to some experts.
Also, without getting into Lexile scores, I think King generally writes at about the level of middle school kids, i.e. tweens. "It" is basically the perfect horror novel for that age range, since it is basically childhood fears writ large upon adult lives.
- 1. “ The Shining” (1977) ...
- 2. “ It” (1986) ...
- 3. “ Carrie” (1974) ...
- 4. “ Misery” (1987) ...
- 5. “ The Stand” (1978) ...
- 6. “ Pet Sematary” (1983) ...
- 7. “ Salem's Lot” (1975) ...
- 8. “ The Green Mile” (1996)
With excellent characters, an intense story, and a truly terrifying ending, this is a must-read for teens and up--beware, though, of its disturbing themes and depiction of violence, sometimes intertwined with sexuality. Beautiful, upsetting, and utterly astounding, but not for young kids.
ISBN-13: | 9781501143106 |
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Publication date: | 01/05/2016 |
Edition description: | Reissue |
Pages: | 368 |
Sales rank: | 4,541 |
This movie doesn't contain jumpscares like a lot of other horror films but is very suspenseful and psychologically frightening. One character has some scenes where she is very violent and temperamental, and some scenes that include her in such a state.
Can 11 year olds watch 10 Things I Hate About You?
Crude or Profane Language: This PG-13 release doesn't use the f-word, but there's significant profanity and sexual innuendo throughout. Drug and Alcohol Content: Teens throw a keg party. Kat drinks to excess, which leads her to climb on a table and dance seductively.
Nevertheless, I think “The Green Mile” is a +17 appropriate book due to its several scenes of sexual and violent language, and its cold blooded descriptions, specific to Stephen King's writings.
Parents need to know that It Chapter Two is the follow-up to the hugely successful It (2017); both films are based on Stephen King's novel. This one -- which is more centered on adults than kids -- is very long and less scary than the first, but it's definitely entertaining, with great characters and true teamwork.
If your kid is in their early teens or even just shy of being a teenager, there is nothing in this movie that they cannot handle. Just some violence and language is about the worst of it.
Madalyn It's more of a book for an older audience, like upper high school or college age. Lisa There is definitely a lot of cursing and sex talk in the book. If you're fine with that, then yes. Parent A NO.