The Body (penguin Readers: Level 5 Series) May 2026

The story is set in the summer of 1960 in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. Twelve-year-old Gordie Lachance and his three best friends—Chris, Teddy, and Vern—overhear a secret about the location of a missing boy’s body near the railroad tracks.

: The group’s natural leader and peacemaker who comes from a family with a reputation for trouble and struggles to believe he can escape it. The Body (Penguin Readers: Level 5 Series)

: The most timid and immature of the group, who is often the target of his friends' jokes. Key Themes The story is set in the summer of

Driven by a mix of macabre curiosity and a desire to be "heroes" in their small town, the four boys embark on a 20-mile trek into the woods. Along the way, they face physical dangers—like a speeding train on a narrow bridge and a local gang of older bullies—but the real challenges are internal. The Four Friends : The most timid and immature of the