The Body (penguin Readers: Level 5 - Series)

The story is set in the summer of 1960 in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. Twelve-year-old Gordie Lachance and his three best friends—Chris, Teddy, and Vern—overhear a secret about the location of a missing boy’s body near the railroad tracks.

: The group’s natural leader and peacemaker who comes from a family with a reputation for trouble and struggles to believe he can escape it. The Body (Penguin Readers: Level 5 Series)

: The narrator and a talented storyteller who feels "invisible" to his parents after the death of his older brother. The story is set in the summer of

Growing Up is the Hardest Journey: A Look at "The Body" Stephen King is often called the "King of Horror," but some of his most powerful work has nothing to do with ghosts or monsters. is a classic example. Originally published in the collection Different Seasons and later adapted into the iconic film Stand by Me , this novella explores the bittersweet transition from childhood to adulthood. The Quest for Ray Brower : The narrator and a talented storyteller who

The heart of the story lies in the bond between the boys, each of whom carries his own "monsters" from home:

: An eccentric boy with thick glasses and scarred ears, a result of his father’s past trauma-induced violence.