45 pages • 1 hour read
Stephen KingCujo
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1981A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Cujo by Stephen King, the small town of Castle Rock, Maine, faces terror during the summer of 1980 when a friendly St. Bernard named Cujo contracts rabies and becomes a menacing threat. As Vic Trenton leaves town for a business trip and a marital crisis looms, his wife, Donna, and their son, Tad, find themselves trapped in their broken-down car at Cujo’s owner’s yard, fighting for survival against the rabid dog. The novel contains explicit acts of violence and refers to death by suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Reviews for Stephen King's Cujo are mixed. Readers praise its intense suspense and deep character development, particularly the realistic portrayal of fear. However, criticisms include a slow start and occasionally meandering narrative. Overall, it's recognized for its ability to evoke terror but may not appeal to those seeking a more consistently fast-paced thriller.
Who Should Read Cujo?
Readers who revel in suspenseful horror novels with psychological depth will enjoy Stephen King's Cujo. Fans of Pet Sematary or William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist will appreciate the intense atmosphere and character-driven tension. Ideal for those intrigued by how ordinary settings become arenas for extraordinary fear.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
830LBook Details
Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Psychological Fiction
Animals
Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Values/Ideas: Fate