It’s from Stephen King

Another gripping page-turner from the horror master, Stephen King’s It is a story told in two parts. The first part takes place during the summer of 1958 in Derry, Maine. A group of seven children, all of whom have their own struggles and are tormented by bullies, come together as a group through various difficult circumstances.

Something terrible is happening in the city. It is feeding on children. It is to hunt them down and kill them. He can shapeshift as needed, whatever suits his intended victims. However, it has a trademark appearance. He appears as a clown, sometimes referred to as Pennywise The Dancing Clown. All seven children have one lucky thing in common. They were lucky to escape It with their lives.

In the process, they form a strong friendship and bond with each other. They are somewhat united, considering their own individual struggles, as well as the fact that they have to fight off sadistic attacks from thugs and It. The seven friends form a club, which they call The Losers Club, and their motto is a plan to go down into the sewers where he lives and kill him. Once the deed is done, they make a pact to return to the city and kill him once and for all if he ever comes back.

The next part of the story takes place 27 years later. A homosexual boy named Adrian Mellon appears to have been thrown off a bridge and killed for his sexuality. However, the two assassins would say that there was something in the water below. They say he was a clown with a bunch of balloons. It is at this point that The Losers’ Club is asked to return to town, for he has returned. They fulfill their vows to return for a meeting at a Chinese restaurant, but will they stay and destroy it once and for all?

At its core, this story is about the camaraderie and friendship of these seven people. Bill Denbrough is their leader and he has a grudge to settle with It, as well as a stutter problem. Richie Tozier is a kid with a big ego and a smart mouth. Eddie Kaspbrak is weak and asthmatic, but he has the courage within him to be there for his comrades. Stan Uris is a sympathetic and sensitive friend, who helps his friends to understand. Ben Hanscom is a loving but overweight boy who uses his ingenuity to help his friends. Beverly Marsh is a sweet but tough girl whose own difficulties at home prepare her for the things she has to face with her friends.

There’s also Mike Hanlon, who was hunted down by thugs because of his skin color. He joins the Losers’ Club to help them, and this leads to an emotional passage in the story, the rock fight. The unity of these seven friends keeps them united through difficult circumstances in their battle with It. As you read on, these friends become familiar to you, as if you’ve known them all your life.

Stephen King’s It takes you through his childhood, the first time they meet him, his fight with the local thugs, the effect he has on them, their individual struggles, and It’s final defeat. Plus, there’s his eventual return to Derry, the research that went into finding out what it was, the memories that urged them to return, and the events that followed. I will not reveal the details. You have to read the book and find out for yourself.

Admittedly, it takes a bit of patience to get past the first part of the story after the opening hook, but then, it becomes a real page turner. The story is constantly unfolding, while inspiring feelings of love, emotion, and the horror that fills the pages. Stephen King’s It is one of his best books to date. As with many of King’s other books, this one was made into a movie and will reportedly be made again. However, as anyone will tell you, read the book first, then watch the movie. You’ll be glad you did.