Hi all!

Welcome back! In December, we read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordonby Stephen Kingfor The You’ll Read Too Bookclub! Spoilers ahead!

Today I’m going to give a quick plot summary, plus my overall star/scare-factor ratings. Then I will share the discussion topics and trivia questions. Please include all of your answers and opinions down below. I want to know exactly what you thought. I’ll also leave the answers to the trivia questions at the very bottom of the post. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON BY STEPHEN KING – DECEMBER 2024

 PLOT SUMMARY

On a six-mile hike on the Maine-New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail, nine-year-old Trisha McFarland quickly tires of the constant bickering between her older brother and her recently divorced mother. But when she wanders off by herself, she becomes lost in a wilderness maze full of peril and terror. As night falls, Trisha has only her ingenuity as a defence against the elements, and only her courage and faith to withstand her mounting fears. For solace, she tunes her Walkman to broadcasts of Boston Red Sox baseball games; following the gritty performances of her hero, relief pitcher: Tom Gordon. When her radio’s reception begins to fade, Trisha imagines Tom Gordon is with her – protecting her from an all-too-real enemy, who has left a trail of slaughtered animals and mangled trees in the dense, dark woods.

OVERALL STAR RATING 

I gave it 4/5 stars. For such a short novel, the story is filled to the brim with resilience. I admired Trisha’s intelligence and strength. I must admit, as mother to a young girl, it was a bit triggering to read. The thought of my daughter being lost in the woods is absolutely horrifying. As someone who has been comforted by fandoms in the darkest times of my life (more on that below), I could relate to the protagonist’s love for Tom Gordon. I truly enjoyed this book, especially the ending. 

OVERALL SCARE-FACTOR RATING

The horror in this story is purely survival based. It is further amplified when viewed through the lens of a child. I was scared for little Trisha, therefore I gave it a 4/5 scare-factor rating. I didn’t know if she would make it. As mentioned above, it’s so much worse when you’re already a parent. I don’t know what I would do if that was my daughter. There are so many things that can kill you in the forest. 

DISCUSSION TOPICS 

1.)  What do you believe was stalking Trisha through the woods before the big reveal?

Before it was revealed to be a bear, I actually thought it was just her imagination. Being sleep deprived, sick and hungry will do things to the mind. The fact that it was actually a living thing, surprised me. 

2.) This book addresses how being part of a fandom can save your life. Have you ever experienced a situation like that? 

In the darkest of times, fandoms have truly saved my life. For example, when I drove by myself for three days from Melbourne to Queensland, I was going through something truly traumatic. Just to stay afloat and focused on the road, I recited the entire plot of Lost – my all time favourite television show. It helped me reach my final destination in one piece. 

3.) In relation to Stephen King’s works, where does The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon land? 

This one is mid-to-high in my rankings. He rarely disappoints and this novel was no exception. 

TRIVIA QUESTIONS 

Easy: Finish the quote: “The world had teeth and it could…”

Medium: How many days was Trisha lost? 

Hard: What number was Tom Gordon? 

I hope you enjoyed the book club discussion. As mentioned above, share all of your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any feedback/suggestions to improve the book club, please let me know. Thanks for reading!

Peace & Love xoxo

TRIVIA ANSWERS: Easy: “bite you with them anytime it wanted.” Medium: 9. Hard: 36.