Cujo by Stephen KIng

Shane | Allentown High School, Grade 11

Rating: *****

In a slow decline into depression, Vic Trenton finds himself struggling to uphold his job position as a result of his slobish boss. His family, a little boy named Tad and his wife Donna, are forced to travel with Vic to hopefully save the company, which is failing, by advertising it elsewhere to help bring people in. Things go from bad to worse as the family car breaks down in Castle Rock (A very popular location in Stephen King’s other titles). Victor locates the nearest mechanic to help them out, but at a steep cost. Thus, making a return home prolong further. Joe Camber, the mechanic, allows them to stay with him and his Saint Bernard named Cujo, who is a giant dog with a big heart. But when young Tad decides to play some fetch with Cujo out in the woods, the dog picks up a bat infested with rabies, causing it to go mad and infect the Saint Bernard. The horror soon starts once Cujo runs away, beginning his massacre in the town.

Although I really loved this novel, there were some things that raised red flags for me. It's definitely a mature read, besides the violence, there is a fair amount of adult material being that it is a Stephen King book. I also was a bit disappointed by the ending of the novel, which has since been changed in movies, television, and later publications. This is the perfect place to start for someone who wants to get into Stephen King and doesn’t know where to start. It's a rather light-scare that highlights the best of the King of horror.