A review by bookbelle5_17
Firestarter by Stephen King

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review of Firestarter 
By: Stephen King
            College students Andy McGee and Vicky Tomlinson, just wanted to make some extra cash by participating in an experiment, but little did know was it would result in them having psychic powers. Getting married their daughter Charlie is born with powers, she’s a Firestarter.  The government agency, The Shop, who experimented on them, want Charlie and they’re hunting Charlie and her father down.
            Another exciting thriller from King with his signature supernatural flavor.   King always finds a way to nail down a kid character and how they would feel, as well as act.  In the afterward, he discusses what inspired this novel and that his daughter Naomi helped him give an accurate portrayal of Charlie.  She’s scared but also enjoys having this power.  She constantly fears losing control and burning an innocent or someone she loves, but she desires to be able to punishment those who deserve it.  She’s vulnerable and naïve, because she’s only a little girl, but she also has a strong will.  This is another one of those stories that shows people’s worse fear about the government; that they are taking humans and experimenting on them and making them weapons.  That’s how The Shop sees Charlie, a weapon.  One of the antagonists who I find a compelling and scary character is John Rainbird.  He understands people and knows how to gain Charlie’s trust.  There’s a dream sequence where Andy compares him to Long John Silver of Treasure Island.  It’s a perfect comparison, because Long John Silver plays someone nice and innocent like John Rainbird does, and they gain the trust of a naïve child. He’s also a Vietnam Vet. King has a way of writing characters that you hate or love.  Even though oftentimes King’s novels tend to be long it still goes by fast.  His plots are always moving, but they have moments of character development, but something is always happening.  Of course, there are always those aspects of his novels that can make the reader uncomfortable like foul language and characters who are sexist or racist.  This is a thrilling and at times heartbreaking read.
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