52 pages • 1 hour read
The Body
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
192
Novella • Fiction
Maine • 1960s
1982
YA
16+ years
Super Short Summary
In "The Body" by Stephen King, four boys in the summer of 1960 set out on a 20-mile journey from their hometown, Castle Rock, to find the body of a dead boy, Ray Brower, by a river. Narrated by Gordon Lachance from an undetermined point in the future, it explores their traumatic backgrounds, confrontations with mortality, and how this adventure shapes his perspective on life and storytelling. This novella includes graphic depictions of violence and death of a child.
Mysterious
Nostalgic
Gritty
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
44,015 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Stephen King's The Body impresses with its rich storytelling and well-drawn characters, capturing the essence of youth and friendship. While some readers find the narrative occasionally slow and the language coarse, the masterful blend of nostalgia and poignant themes overwhelmingly captivates. Overall, it’s a compelling and memorable read.
Who Should Read The Body?
Fans of coming-of-age tales and gripping character studies will relish Stephen King’s The Body. This novella, akin to S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, suits readers who appreciate rich storytelling that delves deeply into friendship, adventure, and personal growth against the backdrop of small-town America.
44,015 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
192
Novella • Fiction
Maine • 1960s
1982
YA
16+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.