It wouldn’t be Halloween without reading at least one book by Stephen King. This is one of the few books of his that I hadn’t read before (his new one “Under the Dome” is preordered.). I’m glad I waited. It was a very nice Halloween treat.

 The story is simple. A young girl wanders away from her mother and brother and in a very few steps is completely lost in the Main woods. I usually do not like books were the victim is a young child. But Trisha is anything but the helpless victim of circumstances. She is smart, tenacious, strong willed, and determined. This is a great story.

            Short for a King novel having only a couple hundred pages or so, this book shows how an experienced writer can craft a compelling story. Every step Trisha takes rings true. Everything feels real from the description of the terrain to the choices this young girl is forced to make.

            As a middle school teacher I was very pleased with the positive way Mr. King portrayed Trisha. She has heart and meets challenges in a way that allows her to change and grow. We should look more often at the positive qualities of our children and the future might not look so bleak.

            This is a fast compelling read for any time of the year.