The InstituteThe Institute
Score Modern
What it's about
In the middle of the night, intruders murder twelve-year-old Luke Ellis's parents and take him to the Institute, a facility hidden in the Maine woods where children with mild telepathic and telekinetic powers are tested, abused and used. Luke is a genius, and with the other kids he starts to plan an escape. Meanwhile, in a small South Carolina town, a former cop takes a job as a night knocker.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and is one of King's best recent novels. It's a gripping story about kids standing together against cruel adults.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
There is cruelty to children, though not sexual. The two storylines take a while to meet.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #4 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #29 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #159 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #310 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is The Institute worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and is one of King's best recent novels. It ranks #310 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Institute about?
In the middle of the night, intruders murder twelve-year-old Luke Ellis's parents and take him to the Institute, a facility hidden in the Maine woods where children with mild telepathic and telekinetic powers are tested, abused and used. Luke is a genius, and with the other kids he starts to plan an escape. Meanwhile, in a small South Carolina town, a former cop takes a job as a night knocker.
How long does it take to read The Institute?
About 12 hours (496 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Institute?
If you liked it, try It by Stephen King, The Stand by Stephen King or Firestarter by Stephen King.