Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Based on your knowledge of the works of Stephen King, what do you expect from a coming-of-age tale written by him? As a reader, what are your expectations for how you will feel at the beginning of your read versus after you complete the story?

Teaching Suggestion: Before students discuss the questions, you might ask them to define “coming-of-age tale” and think of other examples of this genre. Consider asking guiding questions such as these: What are the criteria for a coming-of-age story? What happens to the protagonist in such a story? What is the reader’s relationship with a protagonist who comes of age?

• This article from MasterClass defines the coming-of-age genre.
• Stephen King’s website lists his works.

2. At what age do you consider someone to be “grown up”? Is this something that can be defined by age, or can the quality be achieved through life experience? Defend your reasoning.

Teaching Suggestion: To extend the discussion, you might ask students to compare their experiences of growing up with those of previous generations.