Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

62%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Terry Ives volunteers for a 1969 government experiment—LSD, electro-shock, and the birth of Eleven's nightmare.

Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

book

2019

62%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Terry Ives volunteers for a 1969 government experiment—LSD, electro-shock, and the birth of Eleven's nightmare.

4.6

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid tie-in novel for Stranger Things fans who want to understand Eleven's tragic origin story. Gwenda Bond does a good job weaving Cold War paranoia, real MK-Ultra history, and supernatural horror into a prequel that feels both grounded and eerie.

That said, it's not a standalone masterpiece. If your kid hasn't watched the show, this will feel like homework. And even for fans, the multi-POV structure can be clunky—some reviewers called it a 'hot mess' before it clicks. The subject matter is heavy: LSD, electro-shock, government abuse. It's a 12+ book that earns that rating.

If your tween or teen is a Stranger Things superfan and can handle mature themes, this is a worthwhile read. If they're on the younger or more sensitive side, wait a year or two. It's not going to traumatize anyone, but it's not exactly cozy bedtime reading either.

Age Fit

Best for 12+ readers who've already watched (and handled) Stranger Things seasons 1-2. If your kid can process the show's horror and government conspiracy elements, they can handle this. Younger or more sensitive readers should wait—the drug use and clinical cruelty are front and center.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The book depicts government-run experiments involving high-dose LSD, electro-shock therapy, and morally compromised testing on human subjects. While it centers on Terry Ives—a strong female protagonist fighting against institutional cruelty—the subject matter is dark and unsettling. The tone is age-appropriate for older teens who've watched the show, but the content is heavy: mind-altering drugs, scientific abuse, and the looming horror of the Upside Down. It models resilience and resistance to authority, but the emotional landscape is bleak.

Imaginative

As a prequel exploring the MK-Ultra experiments that birthed Eleven's powers, the book rewards fans who want to piece together the conspiracy behind the show. The multi-perspective structure requires readers to actively connect dots across timelines. It expands the Stranger Things universe in a way that feels both grounded (1969 counterculture, Cold War paranoia) and supernatural (the Upside Down origins). However, it's more of a 'fill-in-the-blanks' exercise than a wildly original story—you're learning backstory, not exploring radically new ideas.

Safe

This is a 12+ YA novel with mature themes that mirror the show's intensity. Graphic descriptions of drug use (LSD administered in clinical settings), electro-shock procedures, and psychological manipulation are central to the plot. The horror elements—government conspiracies, the Upside Down—are unsettling but not gratuitously violent. For kids who've already watched Stranger Things seasons 1-2, this won't be shocking. For younger or more sensitive readers, the clinical cruelty and drug content could be disturbing. It's not 'unsafe' in a traumatizing way, but it requires the same caution you'd apply to the show itself.

Enriching

The book offers a window into Cold War-era paranoia, government overreach, and the real-world MK-Ultra program—topics that can spark meaningful conversations about ethics, consent, and institutional power. Terry Ives is a compelling lens for exploring how women were often dismissed or exploited in scientific settings. For fans of the show, it deepens their understanding of Eleven's origins and the generational trauma at the heart of the series. That said, it's primarily a tie-in novel—entertaining and informative for existing fans, but not a standalone work of literary merit. The Amazon 4.6 rating suggests it delivers what fans want, but it's not going to change anyone's life.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Fills in the tragic backstory of Eleven's mother, giving emotional weight to the show's mythology
Explores real-world MK-Ultra experiments and Cold War paranoia—history that's both fascinating and horrifying
Strong female protagonist fighting institutional cruelty and government overreach
Multi-perspective structure rewards fans who like piecing together conspiracies
Solid 4.6 Amazon rating suggests it delivers what Stranger Things fans are looking for

⚠

What to Watch For

Graphic depictions of LSD administration, electro-shock therapy, and psychological manipulation—this is not light reading
Requires familiarity with Stranger Things seasons 1-2; won't make much sense otherwise
The multi-POV structure can be confusing at first—some readers found it a 'hot mess' initially
Dark, unsettling tone throughout—if your kid is sensitive to horror or government conspiracy themes, wait

Conversation Starters

"Terry volunteers for an experiment that destroys her life. When is it okay to say no to authority, even if they promise it's 'for science'?"
"The government lied to test subjects about what they were doing. Why do you think people trusted them in the first place?"
"How does knowing Terry's story change the way you think about Eleven in the show?"
"If you could go back and warn Terry not to volunteer, would you? Or does her sacrifice matter because it led to Eleven?"

Deep Dive

The 1969 vibe shift

If your kid is chasing the neon-soaked, synth-heavy 80s nostalgia of the show, they won't find it here. Suspicious Minds drops the "kids on bikes" energy for a 1969 setting that feels more like a paranoid Cold War thriller. It’s a smart move by author Gwenda Bond. Instead of retreading the same ground, we get the Vietnam War, the moon landing, and a much grittier look at the MK-Ultra experiments that birthed the Hawkins Lab mess.

It’s worth noting that while the show uses horror as a spectacle, this book uses it as a psychological weight. The "monsters" here are men in lab coats and the slow erosion of Terry Ives's sanity. If your teen is used to the jump-scares of the Upside Down, they might find the first half a bit slow, but the payoff for Eleven’s lore is massive.

Why the lore matters

We all know Eleven as the powerhouse who loves Eggos, but her mother, Terry, was always a tragic footnote in the series. This book turns her into a proactive, sharp protagonist. It fills the gaps for Eleven’s iconic character history in a way that makes her eventual appearance in the show feel much more earned.

You’re getting the "how" and "why" behind Dr. Brenner’s obsession. Brenner is written with a clinical, detached cruelty that is arguably more unsettling on the page than he is on screen. For fans who want to understand the systemic rot of the lab, this is the essential text.

Where it sits in the franchise

This was the first official tie-in, and it set a high bar for the books that followed. Compared to the other Stranger Things prequel novels, Suspicious Minds is arguably the most "adult" in its themes. While Runaway Max or Lucas on the Line deal with middle-school social dynamics and personal growth, this book deals with government-sanctioned drug use and institutional gaslighting.

"The story follows Terry Ives—Eleven’s mother—in the summer of 1969 as she volunteers for a secret government experiment."

The 4.6 Amazon rating is well-deserved, but the "hot mess" critique some readers have mentioned usually refers to the jumping perspectives. It can be a lot to track. If your kid prefers a linear, single-hero journey, they might find the ensemble cast of test subjects distracting. However, for the reader who loves a "assembling the team" trope, seeing these psychic outcasts band together is the highlight of the book.

The "History Class" angle

One of the coolest ways to use this book is as a springboard into real-world history. MK-Ultra wasn't just a plot device for Netflix; it was a real, horrifying CIA program. If your kid walks away from this asking if the government actually gave people LSD in the 60s, you’ve got a wide-open door to talk about ethics in science and government accountability. It’s one of those rare tie-ins that actually feels substantive rather than just a quick cash-in on a popular brand.

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