Ryan Bauermeister

Dear Mr. King,

It was definitely a book I wanted to read from the moment I saw it in the book store. I saw the creepy looking clown on the cover, and thought to myself, "I need this to read this book." So I did. How can a book about a clown who tears children limb from limb teach me anything?

It taught me that anything can happen at any time, so be aware of your surroundings, as well as when I try my absolute best, I can achieve the world. Bill, Stan, Ben, Eddie, Richie, and Beverly knew exactly what they had to do, worked hard and together, and eventually got the job done.

I never realized that everyday kids can be terrorized as children and still remember and have that rage as adults. You brought up to me, the fact that if you really have a passion, and really want something to happen, you'll find a way to make it happen. And these kids weren't amazingly athletically gifted or social butterflies. They are the kids that you would see sitting by themselves at the lunch table. There's no reason that just because, for an example, Bill (who had a stutter) should be treated any different from a star athlete. I wasn't a "popular kid" throughout elementary and I know what it feels like to feel alone at recess. I remember one time, when everyone else played football; I sat in a swing, alone, even though most of the reasoning behind that was because I hated football. But that is beside the point. I knew what Ben, Bill, and Stan felt like.

I've seen first hand, the effects of bullying in my class. There was a kid who wasn't the most athletic kid, and had different interests. He brought diversity to our class with his musical and acting interests. But some of my friends saw it much differently. They saw him as a "band geek" and a "nerd." They once made fun of him for a very, very well written paper. Although I didn't take part in it, I should have been the one to stop them. Now I realize when you know something is wrong, be the one to step in and make it stop.

I don't understand, or see the "bullies" view. I guess they must have some inner problems that lead them to make fun of and physically hurt people. I just can't come to believe that those people can do that kind of thing, and have absolutely no conscience about it. They may, but personally, I don't think it shows toughness or any other trait they're obviously trying to achieve.

On the positive side, your characters endured the terror and were determined to eliminate it. I had the honor to be the state cross country champion this year and really realized how much hard work and how much want it takes. These kids, like me, were not perfect, they knew that, and it never stopped them from achieving their goal, like I did mine on the season.

Yes, your book scared me to no end, but after I thought about it. There are so many life lessons to be learned in It. I think I got the full essence of most of those. It changed my life, forever.

Sincerely,
Ryan Bauermeister