Twelve-year-old Gwendy is on a mission to lose weight. That's why she takes the Suicide Stairs up to Castle View every single summer day of 1974. One day while she's at the top catching her breath, a stranger calls out to her. This is how she meets Richard Farris, a man in black jeans, a black suit coat, a black hat, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Farris has been watching Gwendy, and he has an offer for her that she can't refuse.

Readers quickly see that although Gwendy is young, she's not stupid, and for the next ten years of her life, we are able to observe how this young woman deals with being in possession of something that bestows great gifts, great temptations, and great responsibilities.

The collaboration between Stephen King and Richard Chizmar is seamless. Not only do we get another chapter in the saga of Castle Rock, Maine, we're given another unforgettable character in Gwendy. This cautionary tale never loses its momentum and was a pleasure to read from first page to last. If only it were longer!

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Be prepared to spend 1-2 hours and become lovingly immersed with the incredible life of Gwendy Peterson and her Button Box! When, How and Why she should use it was always in her thoughts.

This book grabbed me immediately, so sorry it was only a novella; I just loved this little book!

It was happy, sad and meaningful.
Stephen King is a genius!
Read this book.

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Gwendy Peterson has taken to running up Suicide Stairs to Castle View in Castle Rock, ME in order to lose some weight. She does this daily and on one day, there is a man sitting on the bench with a small black hat, black jeans, a long black coat, and white shirt.
He speaks to her and she is at first unsure, but then becomes comfortable with talking to him. He has called her by her name. He says that he has something for her. He gives her a box with buttons on it. They are all different colors and is told that they represent the seven continents. There are two latches on the side which when released one side produces jelly-bean sized chocolates of very detailed chocolates. The other latch produces Morgan Silver Dollars in absolute mint condition.
Gwendy is told by Mr. Farris that it is her responsibility to take care of the box. Pressing buttons can make things happen that could affect the continent represented.

This was a good story. Ponderous.

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Wow!! Great story. Short read but a wonderful character in Gwendy. Exactly what you would expect from Stephen King. Great collaboration with Richard Chizmar

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Everything in this world has a touch of magic, be it good or bad, what you take away from it is up to you. That is the lesson that this book gave me.

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