The Institute | Stephen King

The Institute: A Novel

Extended Synopsis

In the middle of the night, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and transport him to The Institute. Luke wakes in a room identical to his own, but without windows, in a facility housing other children who possess extranormal talents like telekinesis and telepathy. While Luke and his peers—Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon—are kept in the "Front Half," they soon learn of the ominous "Back Half," from which children check in, but never check out.

Under the ruthless direction of Mrs. Sigsby, the staff is dedicated to extracting the children’s gifts through brutal, uncompromising methods. No one has ever escaped The Institute, but as more of his friends disappear, Luke becomes increasingly desperate to break free and find help. Combining the psychic tension of Firestarter with the character-driven power of It, Stephen King’s The Institute is a horrifyingly believable, suspenseful, and "first-rate entertainment that has something important to say."

Reader Targeting

• Fans of Stephen King’s supernatural horror and suspense thrillers.
• Readers who enjoy character-driven stories about groups of kids confronting insurmountable evil.
• Enthusiasts of dark institutional thrillers and paranormal psychological fiction.

About the Author

Stephen King is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a cultural icon known globally as "The King of Horror." With over 350 million copies of his work sold, his storytelling has redefined the horror and suspense genres, leading to countless landmark adaptations in film and television, from The Shawshank Redemption to Misery.

Accolades & Awards

Hailed as "another winner: creepy and touching and horrifyingly believable" by The Boston Globe, The Institute is widely praised as a return to the gripping, character-focused storytelling that defines King's best work.

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