The Institute by Stephen King Book Review

From the time I saw the cover reveal for Stephen King’s The Institute, I knew that it wouldn’t be a book that I borrowed but bought to own. Something about that boy sitting in a train car resembling a bedroom called to me. I love adult stories with child protagonists. And I knew that, whether this was a straightforward horror tale or a psychological thriller, it was going to capture my interest. Here is my review of The Institute.

The Institute plot summary

Luke Ellis is a 12-year-old Minnesotan with a genius-level IQ and his sights set on starting college. He’s an easygoing kid who, on occasion, can make small objects move with his mind. But his abilities are so weak that he thinks nothing of it.

Then, one night, Luke is kidnapped from his home. He wakes up in a place called The Institute. There, he meets other extraordinary kids who have been abducted from their homes. Almost daily, they’re made to undergo painful, embarrassing, and cryptic physical tests which draw out their supernatural abilities. What The Institute plans to use them for is even more of a mystery. Once the tests bring about the vision of colorful dots, the “patients” are transferred to a building called the Back Half and are never seen again. Using his intelligence, the group’s combined abilities, and his allegiance with one of the Institute’s Staff, Luke comes up with a plan to escape his prison, expose the Institute to the authorities, and save his friends.

A return to King’s roots

The Institute reminds me of the classic Stephen King stories from the past. A cross between Firestarter and The Shawshank Redemption (at least the film adaptation of his short story), King blends the supernatural with very basic themes of human determination and survival. This story explores good versus evil, the will to survive, and the power of friendship.

His voice maintains the same wisecracking tone of King’s early work. However, this is where he shows his age. Even when referencing modern pop culture in his characters’ quips and omniscient narrator’s descriptions, he sometimes misses the mark. It’s fun, though. It keeps things light and grounded, even when the more horrific moments kick in.

What keeps you reading

It’s hard not to review a Stephen King story without referencing and comparing it to others written by the author. But when you have accumulated as much fame and content as he has, you have to judge his novels differently. His work operates on a scale of its own.

In saying that, this book was a page-turner. Clocking in at 561 pages, this hardback edition takes its toll on your wrists when reading for hours on end. But it’s nothing compared to the torture that these kids undergo (along with those who had to hold up the hardcover version of It). It’s disturbingly detailed but never crosses over into Nazi experimenting or rapist’s basement territory.

The characters

Our heroes are likable as well. The kids are distinct, loyal, and admirable, written as people but never forgetting that they are scared children. Their innocence is what gives them the will to fight back against The Institute, whether it’s something as small as giving lip when they don’t want to receive the latest line of shots or as large as planning to bust out of the place knowing full well that they can never return to their former lives. They are prisoners who have their whole lives ahead of them, and they are fighting for control of what life is left.

You also can’t help but think that this story was inspired by a Stranger Things binge-watch. It’s funny considering how much of that show is inspired by King’s early work. So, if that is the case, the two are now influencing each other. It’s a familiar but welcomed imaginary space to get lost in.

It’s also surprisingly sentimental. The kids’ loyalty is refreshing, reminding us of a time when we ourselves weren’t so cynical. King chooses to focus on hope, not despair. The darkest parts of many stories are used as a vehicle to stick in readers’ minds. This one leans on suspense instead of horror to stay captivating. And when it’s all over, you’re left with a sense of catharsis instead of dread.

Simple storytelling

The Institute jumps from multiple perspectives throughout the course of the book, but most of it follows Luke’s point of view. However, you’ll find that the first 40 pages have nothing to do with Luke’s story but instead reveals a seemingly-arbitrary sequence of events revolving around a Tim Jamieson. This information does pay off in a small way but not enough to take up the entire first section of the book.

The plot also bounces around to other characters at The Institute and their reasons for doing what they do, not so much as justification as motivation for their actions. However, you’ll find these motivations to be pretty simplistic when all is said and done. Maybe I was hoping for more of a connection to the larger King universe or a more detailed, supernatural explanation for the events that take place.

King plays it safe in this one. Ultimately, it’s a better call to land solidly than to shoot for the moon and miss completely. This is something he has been criticized for in the past, and while his popularity is at an all time high, you can tell that he’s still writing for himself yet keeping his audience in mind.

He also ties it up neatly, despite its expansive premise. In this age where every story leaves unanswered questions and endings with cliffhangers in hopes of building a franchise or series, our brains have been rewired to look for these universe-expanding tropes. So, it was a little jarring but ultimately comfortable to return to that simplistic storytelling where the contents of the book tell the full story. It’s not the happiest of endings but still a satisfying one.

My recommendation

Like I said, it’s hard not to rank a Stephen King book by its predecessors. So, on my Stephen King rating scale, The Institute ranks up there as better than average. Not necessarily in my top 5 but definitely in the top 5 of the last 10 years. As a whole, it is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It was a real page turner, especially after that initial first section. My stomach was in knots during certain sequences. As the suspense built, I was in full-on panic mode, skimming the lines as fast I could to find out what happens next. The story ends with a bang but lingers a little long in the final pages. Ultimately, though, it’s a definite must for the shelf of any King fan or any reader looking for a suspenseful, thematic, and even sentimental novel to add to their list.

Have you read The Institute? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments below!

Buy it!

Buy a copy of The Institute here, and help support local bookstores. This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

Pin it!