Growing up is hard in Stephen King’s world. King’s young protagonists frequently find themselves beset by everything from human bullies (It) and cruel parents (Carrie, The Shining), to shifty institutions (Firestarter, The Institute) and deadly social rules (The Long Walk), or even predatory supernatural entities (It, The Outsider). In his 1977 short story Children of the Corn, children finally get the last laugh as a murderous cult of kids terrorize an unfortunate traveling couple.
