Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Reviewed by Lori


Title: Doctor Sleep

Author: Stephen King

Series: Sequel to The Shining

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 94803

Description: After decades as an itinerant alcoholic, middle-aged Dan Torrance uses his remnant powers to assist the dying before coming to the aid of a twelve-year-old girl being tortured by a tribe of murderous paranormals. Contains Mature Material

Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It

Why I Read It: I loved the Shining and I'm a fan of Stephen King.

Notes:  Danny Torrance has all grown up and he’s more like his father than he would like to admit.  Alcohol has a good way of dimming the shine but it leads him down paths he can’t ever return from, along with the ghosts from the overlook hotel he’s now haunted by memories.  Events from his past that he cannot change but somehow needs to learn to live with.  But with the help of some new friends, one in particular that has a hint of the shine as well, he gets himself straightened up and finds home and a job working and living at the community hospice.  One morning he awakens to a greeting on his blackboard.  It is his friend Abra.  A girl (he senses) that has the same gift.  Abra and Dan are destined to collide but how deeply their story is intertwined could not have been realized by either of them.  While Danny has been hunted by ghosts of the overlook Abra, and other kids like her with the shining, are being hunted by the “true knot”. A group of beings that use the shine to exist longer than mortal years would allow.  And Abra has the most shine any of them have felt in a long long time.  Her life is at risk and Danny knows he must become her mentor to teach her ways to protect herself like Dick Hallorann taught him.  But even he isn’t prepared for Abra's abilities, ones that surpass even his own.  This was a good read. But I have to agree with the author's note at the end that it won’t ever measure up to the Shining.  But it was a good telling of what happened to Danny and what his life led him too.  I like Abra’s character and the men that surround Danny.  They gave me a country feel, the kind of guys that stand up and look out for one another.  I was less enamoured with the true knot.  Rose the hat being the most easily discernible of the bunch.   She underestimates her adversary as most adults do of children.  There was a moment at the end that touched me and I got a very different perspective of Danny and his father.  One that helps to understand that even when frightened and hurt by someone we can love them as well.   A very enjoyable weekend read.  

 Recommended Readers: Grade 9 and Up.  Horror story and Stephen King admirers definitely. 

 Themes:  Special Powers, Adult/Child relationships, Friendship, Family,  Alcoholism, Good and Evil, Father and Son,  Awareness, Choices, Regrets, Anger, Redemption

 Cross-Genre Links: 
Science: Telekinesis, ESP, Special Powers 
Art: Toy Trains and Miniature Villages
Social Studies: Hospice Care and End of Life
Social Studies: Alcoholism and it's effects
History: The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Geography: The Rocky Mountains

 Inquiries and Activities: 

  • How does Danny's youth influence the person he becomes?
  • Discuss Alcoholism and Addiction.  What are some of the affects of this disease that we see in the book?  
  • Danny tries to bury his biggest regret and yet it comes back to haunt him.  When he finally confesses his secret to his AA group he discovers that it's not as terrible as he believes.  Why do you think saying it out loud changes his perspective?
  • Who is Tony and why is he important to both Dan and Abra?
  • Abra has a lot of "shine".  What would you do if you had her powers? Why does she hide her abilities from her parents?
  • Who are the "True Knot" and what do you think of their "family"?
  • Why do they go after Abra and not Dan?   Why is it children that they target?
  • Anger can be a powerful force as well.  How can anger make you do things you wouldn't normally do?  Can anger be addictive? 


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