Gordon and his friends, Chris, Vern, and Teddy, are 12 years old in the 1950s. Summer is almost over and they're hanging out in their tree house. Earlier, Vern accidently overheard his older brother talking with a friend. They were joyriding the previous day and found the body of a missing kid next to the train tracks. The older kids decided not to report it because they didn't want to get in trouble for their own mischief. When Vern tells Gordon, Chris, and Teddy about what he heard, they decide to find the body themselves, so they can report it and get their names in the paper.

This novella has the combination of eloquence and coarseness that I associate with Stephen King. A lot of it is sad (the missing kid who died, the descriptions of the kids' home lives, Gordon's thoughts about death). There is some rough language, which should probably be expected from 12 year olds at any time in history. ( )

A dark novel exploring the adventures of one ragtag team of middle school boys. I found the book to be dark and emotional, but it described the lives of young boys in that period in rural America perfectly. ( )

Shhhhhh I read a Stephen King book again and I don't need to be in a padded room. Growing up in Northern Maine he's scared the ever-living shit out of me more than once. This story was around 4 kids and their adventures. non of them had an easy upbringing and overall the story telling was on point. Some of the flashbacks I wasn't too fond of, but overall was great storytelling. ( )

"Do you guys want to see a dead body?"

This single statement starts a weekend that will forever change the lives of four young childhood friends.

Ray Brower has gone missing and four young boys from Castle Rock, Maine know where to find him. Gordie LaChance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio set out to find Brower's body along the train tracks. As they set out, the boys realize that their adventure is more than it seems. Through their hike, the boys combat the heat, hunger, leeches, and the juvenile delinquents who also want credit for finding Brower's body. At the end of their trip, they have seen a dead body and learned who they were as men.

I listened to this on audio and found the narrator fantastic at portraying older Gordie as he retold the story of finding a dead body with his three best friends. He brought genuine emotion and understanding to each character and displayed them in a way where the reader truly cares for them and wants them to succeed.

Originally part of a book of short stories entitled Different Seasons, this story was the basis for the classic 1980s movie Stand By Me. King does a magnificent job of telling the perfect coming of age story while incorporating details to invest the reader in the outcome ( )

4.5*
I loved this coming of age story (novella) told through the eyes of an author in his middle age about a summer during his 12th year. Some of the lines will really stick with me, which is saying a lot since I listened the audio book versus reading it to myself. Things seem to stick with me more and having a larger impact overall when I read them myself. I thought the narrator was quite good though and while there were a few parts that I lost focus on the plot, I thought this was beautifully written. I felt like I was there with Chris, Vern, Teddy, and Gordy. I have never seen the movie before, but I really want to now. ( )