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Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. See less
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The Institute: A Novel Paperback – September 1, 2020

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 60,217 ratings

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King, the most riveting and unforgettable story of kids confronting evil since It. “This is King at his best” (The St. Louis Post-Dispatch).

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute.

As psychically terrifying as
Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute “is another winner: creepy and touching and horrifyingly believable, all at once” (The Boston Globe).
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A big shank of a book that reminded me instantly of many of the reasons I loved (love?) [King]. His characters are the kind of people who hear the trains in the night. The music is always good. He swings low to the ground. He gets closer to the realities and attitudes of working-class life in America than any living writer I can think of.”
—Dwight Garner,
The New York Times

"Throughout his long career, King has been committed to the bedrock notion that stories matter, that they help us understand both ourselves and the world we inhabit.
The Institute, filled as it is with anger, sorrow, empathy and, yes, hope, reiterates that commitment with undiminished power. It is a first-rate entertainment that has something important to say. We all need to listen.”
—William Sheehan,
The Washington Post

“As consummately honed and enthralling as the very best of [King’s] work...How do you maintain your dignity and humanity in an environment designed to strip you of both? That theme, such an urgent one in literature from the 20th century onward, falls well within King’s usual purview...Of all the cosmic menaces that King’s heroes have battled, [the] slow creep into inhumanity may be the most terrifying yet, because it is all too real.”
—Laura Miller,
The New York Times Book Review

“The Institute is another winner: creepy and touching and horrifyingly believable, all at once.”
The Boston Globe

“This is King at his best.”
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Gripping… This is a thriller — and a good one, at that. There’s little in the way of King’s usual emphasis on the occult beyond the topic of psychic powers, which, according to surveys, as many as 40% of Americans believe are real. But there’s no shortage of monsters, that’s for sure. They just come in the coldblooded, end-justifies-the-means, laws-don’t-apply-to-us human variety. We have no trouble believing that those types of people are real. And they are plenty scary.”
The Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Fans will draw parallels between Luke’s tight band of friends and the kids at the center of
It, in which the Losers Club faces off against a murderous clown, but this is an entirely original story that can only come from the mind of a master teller like King.”
The Florida Times Union

“King wows with the most gut-wrenching tale of kids triumphing over evil since
It….Tapping into the minds of the young characters, King creates a sense of menace and intimacy that will have readers spellbound…Not a word is wasted in this meticulously crafted novel, which once again proves why King is the king of horror.”
Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"You don’t need to be a horror fan to read
The Institute — or to have The Institute take over your life, since this is generally what happens with King’s novels...His storytelling transcends genre."
—Marion Winnick,
Newsday

“Shocking suspense and hallmark thrills…
The Institute offers a thrilling reading experience and rousing tribute to the resilience of children and the unending fight against evil.”
—G. Robert Frazier, BookPage

About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch (May 2025), the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner (September 1, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982110589
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982110581
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL770L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.4 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 60,217 ratings

About the author

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Stephen King
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Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection YOU LIKE IT DARKER, HOLLY (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), FAIRY TALE, BILLY SUMMERS, IF IT BLEEDS, THE INSTITUTE, ELEVATION, THE OUTSIDER, SLEEPING BEAUTIES (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: END OF WATCH, FINDERS KEEPERS, and MR. MERCEDES (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works THE DARK TOWER, IT, PET SEMATARY, DOCTOR SLEEP, and FIRESTARTER are the basis for major motion pictures, with IT now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
60,217 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and clever storytelling. Readers praise the author's talent and creative genius. The writing style is described as clear and easy to understand. Many appreciate the spooky content and find it a good scare.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,695 customers mention "Readability"1,611 positive84 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They say it's a good, thrilling read in typical Stephen King style. Readers find it easy to devour from start to finish, with a fun story that keeps them engaged. The book is described as a thrilling and enjoyable read.

"...It is a book easily devoured from the first to the last page...." Read more

"...horrors hidden within our society, then The Institute will be a good read for you...." Read more

"...his novels and anthologies still were tremendous critical and commercial successes, every once in a while he released one or two that were less than..." Read more

"...But it's good. A good story, good writing, and yeah, sure, it's relevant in the America of today and about our choices." Read more

1,374 customers mention "Story quality"1,180 positive194 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging plot and storytelling. They find the book fast-paced and suspenseful, with well-developed characters. The story keeps readers guessing with unexpected twists.

"...The never-ending and fascinating plot, along with the remarkably real characters places the reader in a new yet familiar world created by King. “..." Read more

"...ideas that King’s other novels have, The Institute tells a different story in a chilling way that will keep you up at night...." Read more

"...But it's good. A good story, good writing, and yeah, sure, it's relevant in the America of today and about our choices." Read more

"...Kept me engaged, great character development and lots of mystery. I recommend it." Read more

479 customers mention "Character development"434 positive45 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find the plot engaging and the young protagonists exceptional. Readers appreciate the author's deft characterization of children, especially the lead character. The attention to detail makes them feel like real people.

"...The never-ending and fascinating plot, along with the remarkably real characters places the reader in a new yet familiar world created by King. “..." Read more

"...In that regard, THE INSTITUTE is no exception. He also writes interesting characters, with special skill for creating childred, especially ones..." Read more

"...If you like King, you will like this one. Kept me engaged, great character development and lots of mystery. I recommend it." Read more

"...evil force that seems insurmountable, includes a wide ranging cast of characters who are each completely memorable, down to the bit players, has a..." Read more

347 customers mention "King's legacy"342 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They praise King's talent and creativity, describing it as a masterwork. The Institute is described as a great example of creative genius in action. Readers praise it as typical Stephen King work with kids in danger and new heroes.

"...of Horror, has written what will likely become one of his greatest works of all time...." Read more

"...Luke is also however, off-the-charts brilliant, a veritable polymath genius...." Read more

"...He meets a variety of colorful and diverse characters, which King expertly brings to life...." Read more

"...I’m so very glad I did! This is a masterwork in what Mr. Kings does so well, kids with psychic abilities fighting the establishment and coming..." Read more

339 customers mention "Writing quality"278 positive61 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find the story imaginative, well-written, and easy to read. The author's way of structuring sentences and creating ambiguity around events is appreciated. The characters are well-developed and the characterizations are on-target. There are no King-style lulls of exposition, making the book modern and engaging for young readers.

"...But it's good. A good story, good writing, and yeah, sure, it's relevant in the America of today and about our choices." Read more

"...They are crafted with such care and attention to detail that you feel like these are real people - and the most fantastical elements of the plot do..." Read more

"...When it comes to plain English writing, especially the sort where the writer stays outside the story and lets his characters get through to us so we..." Read more

"...There are no King-type lulls of exposition...." Read more

281 customers mention "Horror content"209 positive72 negative

Customers enjoy the horror content. They find the story disturbing, intense, and thought-provoking. The book contains plenty of spooky and exciting action, with some creepy moments and cringe-worthy moments. Readers appreciate the balance between old-school King horror mixed with a new, fresh sheen of mystery. There are surprises, sad times, and close enough to reality to be a bitter pill.

"...For me it's the perfect balance of old school King flavor supernatural horror mixed with a new, fresh sheen of mystery, action, intrigue and WTF..." Read more

"...romance here, just intense appreciation for a well-told tale and a good scare. I waited for the release of “The Institute” with barely..." Read more

"...As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is Stephen King’s gut-wrenchingly dramatic story..." Read more

"...return to the character again until the climax of the story -- it feels weird, it's a weird choice to make...." Read more

272 customers mention "Interest"256 positive16 negative

Customers find the book engaging and intriguing. They say the plot is fascinating, hooking them right in on the first page with excitement and suspense. The characters have personalities and character traits worth exploring.

"...The Institute tells a different story in a chilling way that will keep you up at night. Plot..." Read more

"...If you like King, you will like this one. Kept me engaged, great character development and lots of mystery. I recommend it." Read more

"...It’s engaging and thought provoking, with several references throughout to some of his older works...." Read more

"...This book is intriguing, suspenseful, thought provoking, and (as usual) keeps you on the edge of your seat!..." Read more

252 customers mention "Thought provoking"239 positive13 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and relatable. They appreciate the author's ability to bring different views of life into his writing. The stories tug at their heartstrings and convey an important message. While some reviewers felt the execution had some weak points, they found the general concept compelling and engrossing.

"...Luke soon realizes that not only is he telekinetic, but he is able to read minds as well. More children enter the story...." Read more

"...The kids are the heart and soul of this story. Their stories will tug at your heartstrings. Summary..." Read more

"...A good story, good writing, and yeah, sure, it's relevant in the America of today and about our choices." Read more

"...old school King flavor supernatural horror mixed with a new, fresh sheen of mystery, action, intrigue and WTF just happened?..." Read more

The Institute Depicts Monsters that Aren’t Supernatural
5 out of 5 stars
The Institute Depicts Monsters that Aren’t Supernatural
IntroductionThe Institute depicts monsters that aren’t supernatural, but instead, look just like you and me. In this review, I’ll give an overview of this novel without spoilers while expressing my opinion about his latest thriller.I have read most of Mr. King’s book, and this can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them. The kids are the heart and soul of this story. Their stories will tug at your heartstrings.SummaryMysterious individuals sneak into a home at night and kill the parents of a genius child prodigy named Luke Ellis. These individuals then kidnapped Luke and put him in The Institute in the backwoods of Maine with other kids that also have abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. Now Avery, Iris, Luke, and multiple other children must find a way out of this sinister institute that seeks to exploit their abilities, even though no one has ever successfully escaped before.NarrationThe narration is in the third person by an outside, unknown perspective. It gives great detail on how each character focused on sees the world. For example, the parents of Luke are both proud of and scared for their child. Tim Jamieson, a drifter with a law enforcement background, who takes on the job of “night knocker,” has a pessimistic outlook on the world that gradually brightens the longer he stays in DuPray, South Carolina.SettingThe book is set in modern-day, as it mentions and takes a few jabs at Donald Trump as the president. This drives the underlying plot about the horror of abducting children and treating them as a means to an end. Stephen King has criticized the Trump administration for inhumane acts for “the greater good,” a similar theme expressed in The Institute. The book, according to The Washington Post Review, calls out “the inhumane treatment of children and the loss of a moral compass for those who inflict it.”ThemeJust as It and some of his other works, The Institute has a side theme that emphasizes working together can be more powerful than we realize. The Institute also talks about how even the tiniest choices can lead to marvelous possibilities and circumstances.GenreThe Institute’s genre is “horror.” In fact, The Institute won the Goodreads Choice Award in the Horror category, garnering nearly 40,000 more votes than its closest competitor, even beating out King’s son Joe Hill’s Full Throttle.King’s other works that fall into this genre have shown to have compelling, edge-of-your-seat plots, but this is considered one of his scariest. The horror of the underlying message of this latest work and the possible posers of our government, give readers more chills than killer clowns, vampires, rabid dogs, and ghosts.AuthorStephen King has shaped a generation with the over fifty books he has sold all over the world. Some of his most famous novels like It, The Shining, 11/22/63, and The Stand, have moved on to other forms of media like movies and television series. Though it has many of the same foundational themes and ideas that King’s other novels have, The Institute tells a different story in a chilling way that will keep you up at night.PlotThe longer Luke stays in the institute, the more he learns about the sinister system and how it’s structured. Obedient kids are treated with tokens for various treats at a vending machine, while those who aren’t compliant get punished, often severely.The agents in the institute conduct sordid experiments on the inhabitants to strengthen their abilities, or so it would seem. However, some of the children believe it is just sadistic torture.My OpinionSome of the main characters include Luke Ellis, Kalisha, Avery Dixon, Iris, George, Nick, Tim Jamieson, Mrs. Sigsby, and Trevor Stackhouse.The director, Mrs. Sigsby, is tasked with running cruel experiments on these extraordinary children. If I were casting a movie or TV series for this book, I would choose Linda Hunt “Hetty Lange” from NCIS: Los Angeles to star in her role. Just put her in a red pantsuit and stand back!I would probably cast Dean Norris, the Town Councilman from Under the Dome as Trevor Stackhouse, the Security Supervisor. You might also remember him playing the drug enforcement agent in Breaking Bad. Likewise, I believe Ryan Gosling would fit the part of Tim Jamieson very well. Just my opinion, of course.My favorite would have to be Luke Ellis, as he was an enthusiastic and bright young kid who slowly changes. Luke might be played best by an unknown, but I believe Finn Wolfhard, Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things could also pull off the part.The main characters interact similarly to two people in a chess match: each has to make a move and be able to predict what the other will do. Any of the cast of child actors from Stranger Things would fit right into this story.If you’re someone who likes to read about the horrors hidden within our society, then The Institute will be a good read for you. I encourage others to read this book, as it makes you think about the world around us as well as what it’s becoming. The initiation of change can’t come without awareness, first.I’ll happily read more from Stephen King because he tells what seems like regular stories in such a unique perspective that it makes those stories intriguing. I’m one of the “constant readers” who would buy if he published a new book every week.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2020
    Stephen King, the Master of Horror, has written what will likely become one of his greatest works of all time. Reminiscent of “It,” “Firestarter,” and “Carrie,” “The Institute” is non-stop page-turning fascination that borders on addiction. It is a book easily devoured from the first to the last page.

    The story begins as former cop, Tim Jamieson, accepts a generous refund to ditch a flight bound for New York City. Later hitching a ride to South Carolina, Tim settles in the small town of DuPray, where he lands a job as the town’s Night Knocker. A past incident precludes him from becoming a police officer again. As Tim makes DuPray his new home, his story is then put on hold, as the real story begins.

    Somewhere in Minnesota, Herb and Eileen Ellis learn that their twelve-year-old son, a brilliant prodigy enrolled at the Broderick School for Exceptional Children, is too smart for the so-called, “special school.” They are perplexed at having to make other arrangements for Luke, who’s also endowed with a touch of telekinesis. He’s able to move objects and flip pizza pans when he gets excited, but it’s nothing extraordinary, not enough for his parents to realize that their child genius is the cause of the strange activity.

    Late one night, a team of ex-military soldiers breaks into the Ellis home, where they murder Herb and Eileen and kidnap their son from the safety of his bed. Luke awakens in a room identical to his own, yet different; his bedroom window is gone. Leaving the room, Luke discovers other children, children who reveal to him his whereabouts. Like them, he has been abducted and brought here to the Institute.

    Here, King unveils a cast of extraordinary and expertly-crafted characters. Among them are Kalisha, a telepathic girl who reads minds and becomes Luke first and most trusted friend. Nicky is the handsome telekinetic who sports bruises obtained by defending himself from the adults. The adults are those in charge of the Institute, those who torture and punish the children for not conforming to the tests they perform on them. The rigorous and mind-altering tests are meant to enhance the children’s psychic abilities for a greater cause, one that will save the world.

    King’s adult characters are as much contemptible despots as the children are loveable heroes, creating a well-balanced cast of antagonists and protagonists. Mrs. Sigsby is the ruthless head of the Institute, greatly feared and hell bent on destroying the children’s minds and bodies to get the desired results. She is the boss of despicable underlings, technicians and doctors well-paid to torment the children by torturous means if needed. Among their goals of enhancement is to produce telepathy in telekinetic children and vice verse. Luke soon realizes that not only is he telekinetic, but he is able to read minds as well.

    More children enter the story. Among them is Avery, a ten-year-old super-telepath, who along with the help of Maureen, the one caring adult in the Institute, helps Luke escape. Back in the real world once again, Luke embarks on a journey of survival, one that erupts in mayhem when he tells his story to a Night Knocker in DuPray, South Carolina.

    Back at the Institute, fear spreads at the thought of being exposed, imprisoned, or worse. Mrs. Sigsby dares not call her unseen boss on the special phone. In a scene akin to “Carrie” and “Firestarter,” the remaining psychic children gather together and turn their abilities in rage toward the Institute, the result of which is classic Stephen King.

    The never-ending and fascinating plot, along with the remarkably real characters places the reader in a new yet familiar world created by King. “The Institute” will fit well on anyone’s list of all-time King favorites.
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
    Introduction

    The Institute depicts monsters that aren’t supernatural, but instead, look just like you and me. In this review, I’ll give an overview of this novel without spoilers while expressing my opinion about his latest thriller.

    I have read most of Mr. King’s book, and this can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them. The kids are the heart and soul of this story. Their stories will tug at your heartstrings.

    Summary

    Mysterious individuals sneak into a home at night and kill the parents of a genius child prodigy named Luke Ellis. These individuals then kidnapped Luke and put him in The Institute in the backwoods of Maine with other kids that also have abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. Now Avery, Iris, Luke, and multiple other children must find a way out of this sinister institute that seeks to exploit their abilities, even though no one has ever successfully escaped before.

    Narration

    The narration is in the third person by an outside, unknown perspective. It gives great detail on how each character focused on sees the world. For example, the parents of Luke are both proud of and scared for their child. Tim Jamieson, a drifter with a law enforcement background, who takes on the job of “night knocker,” has a pessimistic outlook on the world that gradually brightens the longer he stays in DuPray, South Carolina.

    Setting

    The book is set in modern-day, as it mentions and takes a few jabs at Donald Trump as the president. This drives the underlying plot about the horror of abducting children and treating them as a means to an end. Stephen King has criticized the Trump administration for inhumane acts for “the greater good,” a similar theme expressed in The Institute. The book, according to The Washington Post Review, calls out “the inhumane treatment of children and the loss of a moral compass for those who inflict it.”

    Theme

    Just as It and some of his other works, The Institute has a side theme that emphasizes working together can be more powerful than we realize. The Institute also talks about how even the tiniest choices can lead to marvelous possibilities and circumstances.

    Genre

    The Institute’s genre is “horror.” In fact, The Institute won the Goodreads Choice Award in the Horror category, garnering nearly 40,000 more votes than its closest competitor, even beating out King’s son Joe Hill’s Full Throttle.
    King’s other works that fall into this genre have shown to have compelling, edge-of-your-seat plots, but this is considered one of his scariest. The horror of the underlying message of this latest work and the possible posers of our government, give readers more chills than killer clowns, vampires, rabid dogs, and ghosts.

    Author

    Stephen King has shaped a generation with the over fifty books he has sold all over the world. Some of his most famous novels like It, The Shining, 11/22/63, and The Stand, have moved on to other forms of media like movies and television series. Though it has many of the same foundational themes and ideas that King’s other novels have, The Institute tells a different story in a chilling way that will keep you up at night.

    Plot

    The longer Luke stays in the institute, the more he learns about the sinister system and how it’s structured. Obedient kids are treated with tokens for various treats at a vending machine, while those who aren’t compliant get punished, often severely.

    The agents in the institute conduct sordid experiments on the inhabitants to strengthen their abilities, or so it would seem. However, some of the children believe it is just sadistic torture.

    My Opinion

    Some of the main characters include Luke Ellis, Kalisha, Avery Dixon, Iris, George, Nick, Tim Jamieson, Mrs. Sigsby, and Trevor Stackhouse.

    The director, Mrs. Sigsby, is tasked with running cruel experiments on these extraordinary children. If I were casting a movie or TV series for this book, I would choose Linda Hunt “Hetty Lange” from NCIS: Los Angeles to star in her role. Just put her in a red pantsuit and stand back!

    I would probably cast Dean Norris, the Town Councilman from Under the Dome as Trevor Stackhouse, the Security Supervisor. You might also remember him playing the drug enforcement agent in Breaking Bad. Likewise, I believe Ryan Gosling would fit the part of Tim Jamieson very well. Just my opinion, of course.

    My favorite would have to be Luke Ellis, as he was an enthusiastic and bright young kid who slowly changes. Luke might be played best by an unknown, but I believe Finn Wolfhard, Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things could also pull off the part.

    The main characters interact similarly to two people in a chess match: each has to make a move and be able to predict what the other will do. Any of the cast of child actors from Stranger Things would fit right into this story.

    If you’re someone who likes to read about the horrors hidden within our society, then The Institute will be a good read for you. I encourage others to read this book, as it makes you think about the world around us as well as what it’s becoming. The initiation of change can’t come without awareness, first.

    I’ll happily read more from Stephen King because he tells what seems like regular stories in such a unique perspective that it makes those stories intriguing. I’m one of the “constant readers” who would buy if he published a new book every week.
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    5.0 out of 5 stars The Institute Depicts Monsters that Aren’t Supernatural
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
    Introduction

    The Institute depicts monsters that aren’t supernatural, but instead, look just like you and me. In this review, I’ll give an overview of this novel without spoilers while expressing my opinion about his latest thriller.

    I have read most of Mr. King’s book, and this can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them. The kids are the heart and soul of this story. Their stories will tug at your heartstrings.

    Summary

    Mysterious individuals sneak into a home at night and kill the parents of a genius child prodigy named Luke Ellis. These individuals then kidnapped Luke and put him in The Institute in the backwoods of Maine with other kids that also have abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. Now Avery, Iris, Luke, and multiple other children must find a way out of this sinister institute that seeks to exploit their abilities, even though no one has ever successfully escaped before.

    Narration

    The narration is in the third person by an outside, unknown perspective. It gives great detail on how each character focused on sees the world. For example, the parents of Luke are both proud of and scared for their child. Tim Jamieson, a drifter with a law enforcement background, who takes on the job of “night knocker,” has a pessimistic outlook on the world that gradually brightens the longer he stays in DuPray, South Carolina.

    Setting

    The book is set in modern-day, as it mentions and takes a few jabs at Donald Trump as the president. This drives the underlying plot about the horror of abducting children and treating them as a means to an end. Stephen King has criticized the Trump administration for inhumane acts for “the greater good,” a similar theme expressed in The Institute. The book, according to The Washington Post Review, calls out “the inhumane treatment of children and the loss of a moral compass for those who inflict it.”

    Theme

    Just as It and some of his other works, The Institute has a side theme that emphasizes working together can be more powerful than we realize. The Institute also talks about how even the tiniest choices can lead to marvelous possibilities and circumstances.

    Genre

    The Institute’s genre is “horror.” In fact, The Institute won the Goodreads Choice Award in the Horror category, garnering nearly 40,000 more votes than its closest competitor, even beating out King’s son Joe Hill’s Full Throttle.
    King’s other works that fall into this genre have shown to have compelling, edge-of-your-seat plots, but this is considered one of his scariest. The horror of the underlying message of this latest work and the possible posers of our government, give readers more chills than killer clowns, vampires, rabid dogs, and ghosts.

    Author

    Stephen King has shaped a generation with the over fifty books he has sold all over the world. Some of his most famous novels like It, The Shining, 11/22/63, and The Stand, have moved on to other forms of media like movies and television series. Though it has many of the same foundational themes and ideas that King’s other novels have, The Institute tells a different story in a chilling way that will keep you up at night.

    Plot

    The longer Luke stays in the institute, the more he learns about the sinister system and how it’s structured. Obedient kids are treated with tokens for various treats at a vending machine, while those who aren’t compliant get punished, often severely.

    The agents in the institute conduct sordid experiments on the inhabitants to strengthen their abilities, or so it would seem. However, some of the children believe it is just sadistic torture.

    My Opinion

    Some of the main characters include Luke Ellis, Kalisha, Avery Dixon, Iris, George, Nick, Tim Jamieson, Mrs. Sigsby, and Trevor Stackhouse.

    The director, Mrs. Sigsby, is tasked with running cruel experiments on these extraordinary children. If I were casting a movie or TV series for this book, I would choose Linda Hunt “Hetty Lange” from NCIS: Los Angeles to star in her role. Just put her in a red pantsuit and stand back!

    I would probably cast Dean Norris, the Town Councilman from Under the Dome as Trevor Stackhouse, the Security Supervisor. You might also remember him playing the drug enforcement agent in Breaking Bad. Likewise, I believe Ryan Gosling would fit the part of Tim Jamieson very well. Just my opinion, of course.

    My favorite would have to be Luke Ellis, as he was an enthusiastic and bright young kid who slowly changes. Luke might be played best by an unknown, but I believe Finn Wolfhard, Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things could also pull off the part.

    The main characters interact similarly to two people in a chess match: each has to make a move and be able to predict what the other will do. Any of the cast of child actors from Stranger Things would fit right into this story.

    If you’re someone who likes to read about the horrors hidden within our society, then The Institute will be a good read for you. I encourage others to read this book, as it makes you think about the world around us as well as what it’s becoming. The initiation of change can’t come without awareness, first.

    I’ll happily read more from Stephen King because he tells what seems like regular stories in such a unique perspective that it makes those stories intriguing. I’m one of the “constant readers” who would buy if he published a new book every week.
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  • Robert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Stephen King book
    Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2024
    An interesting book, I enjoyed reading it, book was in perfect condition upon arrival.
  • Lasne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Produit conforme
    Reviewed in France on July 24, 2023
    Produit conforme à la description
  • G. Hannan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Boundless Imagination!
    Reviewed in Spain on July 4, 2023
    Am a big fan of 'On Writing, A Memoir Of The Craft'. Only recently started reading King's novels as I didn't think I would enjoy them - but how wrong I was! The guy is a modern-day genius!
  • olaxqt
    1.0 out of 5 stars missing pages?
    Reviewed in Poland on October 8, 2022
    havent read the book yet but the description says that there should be over 550 pages, mine has 485🤠 idk if they just squeezed the story in less than 500 pages bc of the small print or am i just missing the ending of the book💀?
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    olaxqt
    1.0 out of 5 stars missing pages?
    Reviewed in Poland on October 8, 2022
    havent read the book yet but the description says that there should be over 550 pages, mine has 485🤠 idk if they just squeezed the story in less than 500 pages bc of the small print or am i just missing the ending of the book💀?
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    Customer image
  • MauPoLom
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s been a long time..thank you…
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on July 31, 2022
    I’ve been a reader of mr King since my early teens…going early 50’s now.
    It has been a long time since I wasn’t able to lay a book away longer then 8 hours…and this is one of them.

    Terrific story, great characters and a nice supernatural plot.

    Thank you Stephen, greetings from Belgium