Gwendy's Button Box: Includes bonus story "The Music Room"

Written by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

Narrated by Maggie Siff

Stephen King teams up with long-time friend and award-winning author Richard Chizmar for the first time in this original, chilling novella that revisits the mysterious town of Castle Rock.

There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974, twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong—if time-rusted—iron bolts and zig-zag up the precarious cliffside.

Then one day when Gwendy gets to the top of Castle View, after catching her breath and hearing the shouts of kids on the playground below, a stranger calls to her. There on a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small, neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat…

The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told—until now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781508242055

Stephen King

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. 

[Tina Marie Messiti · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pure King! King tackles morality in a way only King can.

[Nicole Hildenberger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another amazing King novella. This story seemed soft at times yet was captivating.
In the end, it was sinister yet humanistic.
A phenomenal collaboration and a truly enjoyable quick read.

[Tameka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the book not scary but makes you think about life choices

[Scott Heward · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It felt rushed, despite so much untapped potential and intrigue, having hundreds of pages left unwritten.

[seabee6982 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was King at his best. I’m moving on to the second book the one that wasn’t written by King to see how these two blockbusters cola berate. They are short books so attention to detail is very important because you don’t get the usual character development like in a massive novel. But I’m super excited for the next book.

[Repoman2112 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fantastic little story! One day after a run (she's trying to lose weight and doing a bang up job of it) 12 year-old Gwendy meets a mysterious man named Richard Ferris who hands her an equally mysterious box to hold on to. Constant readers of King's other works know that mystery men with the initials "R" and "F" are usually one character that pops up using different names - Randall Flagg, Richard Fannin, etc,. The box is covered with colored buttons, along with two levers on the sides. But this is no ordinary button box; it has a power that Gwendy can feel, and is instantly drawn to. A great coming of age tale with a delicious side of the supernatural. The narration by Sons Of Anarchy actress Maggie Siff is spot on!

[Lyn - home Lynn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful collaboration. Can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy.

[Amanda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ⓐⓤⓓⓘⓞⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

"??????'? ?????? ???" + "??? ????? ????"
??: Stephen King & @richard_chizmar
????????: Maggie Siff
?????: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction
?????????: @simonschusteraudio
????????? ??: May 16th 2017
@????????? ?????: 3.91
?? ?????: ???? / 5 Buttons

Ⓢⓨⓝⓞⓟⓢⓘⓢ

There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside.

One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: "Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me."
On a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat like for a suit, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat...

Ⓜⓨ Ⓣⓗⓞⓤⓖⓗⓣⓢ

We've taken a journey back to Castle Rock again in this chilling novella by the King of horror and award-winning author Richard Chizmar.

What would you do if you had a button box? One that called you to use it? One that could do good and horrible evil things? One button for every continent, one button for the world, and a red button for your imagination to use. Give you what you wanted, needed or longed for. Would you be careful how you used the power? Or would it be everyone for themselves?

I really enjoyed this clever novella by these two authors and I'm excited that a 3rd final book will be out this month! I still have to read the 2nd one but I just have a good feeling about the whole thing in general that it'll be great because it's very rare do I not love anything Stephen King writes.

I also thought the short story of "??? ????? ????" by just Stephen King was very eerie and clever as well. I also felt a little humor with it too.

[Frank 001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

pretty good audiobook. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Steven King

[Jeni Wolford · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the intrigue of the “button box”, however left me feeling a bit empty over its purpose - other than speculation. Red button? Not a problem, loud and clear on that one! Story moves very fast and even though the box is a bit vague (ramifications of buttons) how much can really be fit into a appetizer novella? I’ll be reading the next in the trilogy.

[Milo33 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After climbing the suicide stairs every summer, 12-year-old Wendy Peterson encounters a man, well-dressed in black with a small hat, who after a conversation hands her a box of chocolate candies, sadly the 12-year-old girl regrets having received such a product. Stephen King returns with this short novel, but it doesn’t excite; it feels like a fairy tale between the good princess and the witch who gives her an apple. Although we will continue to read his books, I believe the title "Master of Horror" is very underestimated. (Translated from Spanish)

[MH · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is not what I'm used to reading from Stephen King (horror and graphic descriptions), but in my opinion, it is an entertaining book that reads quite quickly and has illustrations from time to time that are also nice.

I will read the other 2 books in this trilogy to see how they are, but I prefer horror over this type of book.

Gwendy is a preadolescent who one day encounters a mysterious man who leaves her in charge of a box of buttons. On one side are the buttons that represent each continent, a red button to ask for everything you desire, a black button that can lead to disaster, and finally, there is a lever that gives you a chocolate shaped like an animal but is very small.

What will happen to Gwendy taking charge of this box? Read it and you'll find out. (Translated from Spanish)

[JorgeLopez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good exchange of history between the authors. Short and simple. Chilling with a touch of King. Opens the door to a mythical character of the King. (Translated from Spanish)

[Cesar61 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A 12-year-old girl, a man completely dressed in black including his hat, a box of buttons that he offers to our protagonist Gwendy, which allows her to have anything within her reach, but is dangerous at the same time; a dangerous game, a great responsibility to keep it in her custody.

King, this time co-writing with another author, does not lose his magic, and in a novel that is easy to read, takes you to those territories that all of us who love his works find soul-stirring.

It is the first novel of a trilogy, which I will undoubtedly continue to devour!! (Translated from Spanish)

[Jheos36hotmailcom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a good book that captivates you with the theme and keeps you in suspense about what will happen with the box of buttons, but I believe the authors had the opportunity to develop a good book filled with emotion, suspense, and intrigue, yet they handled it very lightly. Nevertheless, it's still a good book. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lorenza80 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like Stephen's stories; this one in particular is very light, suitable for young readers starting with suspense. (Translated from Spanish)

[Mario 1971 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Stephen King is a great storyteller, but he is... old. Exhausted, no. He still has great ideas, and the narration of "The Button Box" proves it. I know a sequel to this book has come out. I'm not sure I want to read it. The work is fine. It's short and quick to read, but it leaves a feeling of incompleteness. It doesn't terrify, it scares us, it doesn't excite... quite bland. (Translated from Spanish)

[MaiteGil · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gwendy Peterson is a cheerful and plump twelve-year-old girl. To control her weight, she decides to use the steep stairs that connect Castle View to Castle Rock. At the top waits a strange man whom she has seen several times but who has never addressed her, although this time he does. He tells her that she is the chosen one to keep a strange box with eight buttons, two levers, and a slot in the center.

Richard Farris explains to her, more or less, what each thing is for and that the box carries a great responsibility. But the girl doesn’t need explanations; she feels that she knows what will happen if she presses the buttons, and also that she needs to possess the box.

From that moment on, Gwendy's life will change, partly for the better, but not everything will be beautiful while the girl guards the box of buttons; the enormous responsibility resting on her shoulders will complicate her life a lot.

I liked the book, although not as much as I expected. The story is engaging and well told, but apart from a couple of shocking passages, it left me a bit cold. It may also be influenced by the fact that I’m feeling somewhat scattered and lethargic, and it’s possible that if I read it again at another time, I might like it more. I enjoyed Gwendy’s adventures and misadventures, although I don’t think I’ll read the next two for now; the reading didn’t generate enough interest for me.

I encourage you to give the novel a chance because what it tells is interesting and well written. And it’s very possible that it will resonate more with you than with me. (Translated from Spanish)

[MagalyProcopio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gwendy was just a girl when a box of buttons came to change her life completely. In her hands, she held a great responsibility, with very good benefits but also great sorrows.

I really enjoyed this book; it's short, light, but very entertaining. The development of Gwendy's character and the descriptions are just right, I loved it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lit8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reading all of Stephen King's books is a timeless challenge I set for myself a while ago, and I’m going slower than I would like, but let's face it, most of his books have slow and tedious starts and the author tends to go off on tangents quite often. I love his stories, but I find it impossible to read his books in quick succession; I always have to let some time pass between each one. For various reasons, it's been a few months since I read the last one, so when I saw this little gem among the publisher's new releases, I couldn't resist. Take note, because it's being published next month and it's highly recommended. Gwendy is about to start at a new school and has spent the entire summer exercising on the Suicide Stairs with the idea of getting rid of the nickname “Goodyear” given to her by a classmate. One day, when she reaches the top of the stairs, she sees the man sitting on the bench again, the one with the black hat who’s been there all week, but this time he will ask her to come closer and will give her something that he says belongs to her. The object in question is a box of buttons and levers. When she operates one of the levers, Gwendy receives a small chocolate of the purest chocolate that leaves her satisfied; she will eat one serving of each dish at every meal, but will never feel the desire to go for seconds. The second lever gives her a brand new Morgan silver dollar. The most interesting part, without a doubt, are the buttons, each color associated with a continent, and then there are the red and black ones. The first is for what she desires most, and the second ends everything. These are the only explanations the girl receives to face the worst nightmare of her life. Although the book is relatively short, it’s very easy to follow Gwendy's evolution from the moment she receives the box and everything starts to go smoothly: she begins to lose weight, her parents stop drinking, Gwendy significantly improves her grades and sports performance, etc. As the years go by, Gwendy realizes that her constant luck is not a coincidence; the box must have something to do with it, and although she eventually deduces what the buttons are for (nothing good, as you can imagine), we see her curiosity growing until she decides to experiment. I don’t blame her; when you watch the news on TV, with all those wars, conflicts, etc., tell me, what would you do if you could end it all just by pressing a button? But not only does her curiosity grow, but also the paranoia and the desire to keep the box safe and in her possession become stronger over the years, and no matter how much she tries to avoid it, her life will always revolve around that cursed box. I don’t want to say more, as everything from here on out could be considered a spoiler. It’s the shortest story I’ve read from the author so far, and although I was a bit apprehensive about diving into his tales, I ended up quite pleased with this story, especially because of the dilemma the author poses. You still haven’t answered… what would you do? Would you press the button? Gwendy’s Button Box is a short novel, essential for every fan of the author and an ideal book for those who have never read him. It gathers many key points present in many of the stories of the king of horror, making it a perfect story for a first encounter. (Translated from Spanish)

[AlberTobyZero85 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I expected a lot more! (Translated from Spanish)

[Peter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was interesting, I found it super light and short to read. I was left wanting more. I would have liked it to be a little longer... but still, it was very good. It's a well-told story and the illustrations add something extra that's nice. Even though it's not a horror story, the King atmosphere is very much present in the events that happen to Gwendy, you can feel his touch of mystery. I think it's a good work for those who want to start reading King. From what I understand, there is a continuation written only by Richard Chizmar. I'm really looking forward to reading it!! (Translated from Spanish)

[Oniria · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't even know it was a King book. But it was one of the best reads. You know a book is good when you don't forget it. And somehow this story left a mark on me. (Translated from Spanish)

[noabiah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn't realize how immersed I was in this reading. Each page led me to another, and that happened with every chapter. A magnificent work and highly recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[JannyLuJatzon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stephen King and Richard Chizmar deliver this short novel, but that doesn't make it any less impressive; where one day, Gwendy, a 12-year-old girl, encounters a man dressed in black at the end of the suicide stairs; this man will give her a box of buttons, without really explaining what it is for, but the girl senses that this box could end entire continents or even the whole world. But... why has Gwendy been given the responsibility to guard this box? One thing we can be sure of is that this box will change the girl's life, but is it for better or for worse? Well, that’s what we will have to find out.

As I said, this book is a short novel of just over 100 pages, very easy to read and highly addictive (I read it in a single afternoon). I don’t know if I can say it is horror, but what I can assure is that the essence of King is felt, and with a story that may seem so simple, it ends up generating some anxiety, especially for Gwendy, of course without lacking a good dose of suspense. Excellent for reading on a rainy afternoon. (Translated from Spanish)

[JorgeGLopez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great exchange of history between the authors. Short and simple. Haunting with a touch of King. It opens the door to a mythical character from the King. (Translated from Spanish)

[LucasBerruezo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Gwendy Peterson, a twelve-year-old girl with a few extra pounds, climbs the Suicide Stairs leading to Castle View. Her intention, more than spatial, is physical: she wants to exercise enough to lose weight and thus avoid being called "Goodyear." Once at the top of the rocky slope, still catching her breath, Gwendy sees a mysterious man, wearing a black jacket and a small black hat, sitting on a bench. This man, named Richard Farris, asks her to come closer and, after a brief dialogue, hands her a wooden box that has a particular feature: it is covered with six buttons of different colors on the top and one on each side, totaling eight buttons. Additionally, there is a lever at each end, next to a slot. The box, which seems harmless, hides, according to the man in the hat, unimaginable power, capable of destroying the world. Everything will depend on how the owner uses it. And from that moment on, the owner will be Gwendy…

Throughout the story, we can follow Gwendy Peterson through various stages of her life, from twelve years old to her college graduation. During that time, her life will undergo a series of changes that will turn her into a very different person from that girl who only wanted to lose weight. The box of buttons, with all the power it radiates, will be the beacon that lights her way, for better or for worse.

GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX is the latest novel by Stephen King published in Argentina. It was written in collaboration with Richard Chizmar and features illustrations by Keith Minnion. It is a short novel, not reaching two hundred pages (with generous spacing and illustrations that cover entire pages). At first glance, it seems a good option for those who want to read something by Stephen King but are hesitant to dive into novels that exceed six hundred, eight hundred, or a thousand pages.

However…

Although it is an easy and pleasant read, GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX does not fulfill the expectations of a reader accustomed to what King can deliver. In my opinion, it falls halfway between a short story and a novel. Its story, perhaps more fitting for the former, does not measure up for the latter, at least not taking into account the treatment it received. Without a doubt, it could have been more complex, especially regarding the moral implications of someone who has the power and means to destroy others, but the plot does not go further than that. It also does not provide many explanations about the nature of events, leaving numerous gaps. Ultimately, it remains a simple (quite innocent, moreover) following of Gwendy’s life.

Honestly, I would only recommend GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX to those avid readers who have nothing else left to read by the master. To others, I say to look for another book. There is much to read by King. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lectora Nocturna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very easy to read with an aura of mystery that grabs you. I liked it; the plot is very engaging and at times dark. As a first contact with Mr. King, it is correct. I have to say that at first, I wasn't too enthusiastic about it, but once the protagonist starts to grow and mature, it becomes more interesting. (Translated from Spanish)

[EpsilonN · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's my most recent reading, and the truth is I liked the story and everything, but I feel like it had more potential. I can't help but feel that everything was very rushed, even the ending, and honestly, it's a tale that reminded me a lot of "Revival," only without all the subplot of the protagonist and compressed into less than 200 pages. (Translated from Spanish)

[March Delgado · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Point 11 of the Folklore challenge, proposed by @QueenElizabeth09, read your favorite author, done. I have read a lot of King, and what I like the most is that he continues to surprise me. And today he did it again. In less than 150 pages, he took me by the hand of Gwendy through a whole life, the life of a wonderful girl with a responsibility I wouldn’t want for myself. Perfectly clear characters, a thrilling plot that hooks you from the very first pages, and an unexpected ending, all in a short book that can be finished in less than a day, another genius move from one of my favorite writers. Totally recommendable. (Translated from Spanish)