Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar was first published in a hardcover version by Cemetery Dance Publications in 2017.

This is an odd novella of magical realism with a Gothic vibe running through it. The story begins in 1974, when Gwendy Peterson is twelve. Having been teased at school for being chubby, she has taken to running up a series of steps, known as the Suicide Steps, to the top of a hill. One day she meets a strange man in a black hat at the top, who introduces himself as Richard Farris. Farris offers Gwendy a strange button box and although she has been taught not to accept gifts from strangers, she believes the box was meant for her. The box has eight coloured buttons and two levers. The levers dispense chocolate treats and valuable silver dollars, but Gwendy is warned pressing the buttons will cause chaos. She takes the box and becomes its custodian.
Gwendy's life improves dramatically. She can effortlessly achieve good grades, is good at sports and is physically attractive. Her parents also feel the effects of the box. However, the temptation of the box is always present and Gwendy can't resist testing it. When something catastrophic happens, she blames her use of the box, rather than assuming mere coincidence. Gwendy finds not everyone is happy with her new found popularity, and she drifts away from her best friend, Olive, with devastating consequences. Her main demon is the school bully, who develops into the local rapist. Will she use the box against him?
The story looks at issues such as tragedies, world power and responsibilities, parceled up in a coming-of-age story, with the message that sometimes it is what we restrain from doing that makes the difference.

Gothic rating:

Isolated setting:                                                    🕱

Brooding atmosphere:                                          🕱

Mental illness:                                                      🕱

Religious reference:

Supernatural elements:                                         ðŸ•±

Murder:                                                                🕱

Family secret:                                                       ðŸ•±

Genius/madness:

Doomed love:                                                      🕱


Gwendy's Button Box has a Gothic rating of  🕱🕱🕱🕱🕱🕱🕱


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