It

Title- It

Author- Stephen King

ISBN-0670813028

Publication Information- Viking, New York, 1986

Plot Summary- This novels follows the childhood and later adult story of seven kids, the "Loser's Club" as they battle Pennywise the Clown, a monster who terrorizes the city of Derry, Maine in the sewers. The novel alternates between the late 1950s and the 1980s. In the 50s, each of the children have an encounter with It and come together to fight it off. Their bond is based in their status as outcasts for various reasons. After facing It in multiple forms, they realize they must attack it on It's turf- in the sewers. They succeed and drive it into hibernation and swear a blood oath to return if It ever arises again during their lifetimes. As adults, the monster reawakens and they are called back. All but one of them returns; Stan chooses to commit suicide rather than face the beast again. The rest, whose memories of the event have faded, return and slowly regain their memories of that summer. They finally kill It in the sewers and eventually return to their adult lives, the memories of the second event fading as quickly has the first time.

Critical Evaluation- This behemoth novel (800 pages in hardcover) moves back and forth in typical King form between the two storylines. The characters are and setting are all incredibly detailed as are the secondary characters that only play during a few pages or chapters. This is the novel that draws many kids into the Stephen King world to begin with because of his use of children in the story. It is clearly an adult read- there is language, suicide, sex, and a lot of violence in the novel, but most of it is not gratuitous. Furthermore, the novel fits nicely into the rest of his Derry stories. One of the antagonists from a previous novel makes an appearance- the intelligent car Christine, and this story connects the world of the rest of his stories together. Many readers come to this and find themselves reading all of the Derry stories then the Gunslinger novels- a total of 15 or so other books. That is the power of this novel. The characters, the plot, the setting are all so well written that it delivers readers into a world that many can't easily leave behind.

Reader's Annotation- How does a group of misfit kids defeat a monster that has decimated a town for centuries? They must find a way or more innocent blood will be shed.

Author Information- It's Stephen King- what's there to say? He is one of the most prolific writers of this generation. He has published 65 novels or short story collections and has won a host of award listed below. Although primarily a horror writer, he has crossed into science fiction and fantasy on occasion. Many of his novels have been adapted to film and he is known for having a cameo appearance in all of them.

Awards

• Alex Awards 2009: "Just After Sunset"
  
• American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
  
  • 1978: "'Salem's Lot"
    
  • 1981: "Firestarter"
    
• Balrog Awards 1980: "Night Shift"
  
• Black Quill Awards 2009: "Duma Key"
  
• Bram Stoker Award
  
  • 1987: Misery
    
  • 1990: Four Past Midnight
    
  • 1995: Lunch at the Gotham Café
    
  • 1996: The Green Mile
    
  • 1998: Bag of Bones
    
  • 2002: "Lifetime Achievement Award"
    
  • 2006: Lisey's Story
    
  • 2009: Duma Key
    
  • 2009: "Just After Sunset"
    
• British Fantasy Award
  
  • 1981: For Outstanding Contribution to the Genre
    
  • 1987: "It"
    
  • 1992: "Cujo"
    
  • 1999: "Bag of Bones"
    
  • 2005: "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower"
    
• Deutscher Phantastik Preis
  
  • 2000: "Hearts in Atlantis"
    
  • 2001: "The Green Mile"
    
  • 2003: "Black House"
    
  • 2004: International Author of the Year
    
  • 2005: "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower"
    
• Horror Guild
  
  • 1997: "Desperation"
    
  • 2001: "Riding the Bullet"
    
  • 2001: "On Writing"
    
  • 2002: "Black House"
    
  • 2003: "From a Buick 8"
    
  • 2003: "Everything's Eventual"
    
• Hugo Award 1982: Danse Macabre
  
• International Horror Guild Award 1999: "Storm of the Century"
  
• Locus Awards
  
  • 1982: "Danse Macabre"
    
  • 1986: "Skeleton Crew"
    
  • 1997: "Desperation"
    
  • 1999: "Bag of Bones"
    
  • 2001: "On Writing"
    
• Mystery Writers of America 2007: "Grand Master Award"
  
• National Book Award 2003: "Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters"
  
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 1982: "Firestarter"
  
• O. Henry Award 1996: The Man in the Black Suit
  
• Quill Award 2005: "Faithful"
  
• Spokane Public Library Golden Pen Award 1986: Golden Pen Award
  
• University of Maine 1980: Alumni Career Award
  
• Us Magazine 1982: Best Fiction Writer of the Year
  
• World Fantasy Award
  
  • 1980: "Convention Award"
    
  • 1982: "The Reach"
    
  • 1995: The Man in the Black Suit
    
  • 2004: "Lifetime Achievement"
    
• World Horror Convention 1992: World Horror Grandmaster
  

 

Curricular Ties none

Genre- horror

Book talking ideas- Are children more able to defeat evil than adults? Does the persona of the monster, a clown, speak to you?

Challenge issues

1. Re-read the text to familiarize myself with the story
   
2. Ask parents for their specific objections (they are required to file that with our school district)
   
3. Review approved books list from California Department of Education for similar materials
   
4. Review approaches from ALA
   

Interest Age- 15-adult. This is a cross-over piece though and is really targeted for adult readers.

Why I selected this piece- This is the first novel I read by King when I was in high school, and the first I recommend to my students. The childhood element speaks to kids.