A review by emily_m_green
Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King, Richard Chizmar

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Gwendy’s Button Box , written with Richard Chizmar, is not Stephen King’s finest—in part because it is so short. For a work by Stephen King it feels truncated. Not like a short story—his short stories are generally full and do not feel lacking—but as though someone had said keep this one short, and perhaps they did. 

During the summer before middle school, Gwendy is approached by a strange man in a bowler hat who wants to talk. He has no designs on Gwendy, but he does have a proposition for her—take the button box, enjoy its power, but don’t abuse it. Gwendy appreciates what the levers do—one produces silver coins and one produces magical chocolate animals that act like a drug to soothe the body and elevate the mind. The different colored buttons across the top represent areas of the world, and to push one would bring disaster to that place. The black button, the cancer button, as Gwendy thinks of it, will bring a particular kind of violence. 

As Gwendy grows older, she finds that the box has a curious affect on her: she becomes a natural winner, seemingly good at everything. Though she tries not to call attention to her new gifts, sometimes they call attention to themselves--and not always in a positive way. 

Would I teach this book? Being that it is not my favorite, I doubt it. However, it is an entertaining book and would probably be enjoyable for many high schoolers. I might recommend it as a pleasure read. It is not, however, the substantial read that is the typical Stephen King book. In fact, I might call it King Light. 

It is a quick read which is enjoyable.  So while I probably wouldn’t teach it, I would recommend it.