What do you think?
Rate this book
Styrofoam Throne
Coastal California, 1984...with school season just ending, sixteen-year-old Donovan wants nothing more than to work inside Castle Dunes, the seaside haunted attraction that his mom wishes him nowhere near. When Donovan finally lands his dream job, he unknowingly finds himself in a web of love and mischief amid the house of comedic horrors-creating a summer he will never forget. Bursting with a cast of unusual characters, David Bone's debut novel takes the reader back in time to the long lost days of misspent youth in this epic coming-of-age. Styrofoam Throne is a growing-up-monster tale unlike any other. David Bone is an Author, Emmy Nominated Writer/Producer, and Songwriter/Musician. He graduated with honors from NYU with a major in English.
- GenresYoung AdultEbooksFiction
198 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2013
5 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
David Bone
1 book2 followersDavid Bone is an Author, Emmy Nominated Writer/Producer, and Songwriter/Musician.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 14, 2014
It is rumored that some customers enter the Castle Dunes and never, ever leave. That's exactly what sixteen-year-old Donovan has been longing for...a chance to escape his sad, unhappy life. And, he could do it, too, if he could just spend his summer working at the Castle, a haunted-house attraction and hottest spot on the pier.
In reality, the Castle has seen better days. It's more rat-infested-crap-shack than palace-of-horrors. Paint is peeling and sets are made of crumbling Styrofoam. Most of the employees are drunk or stoned. Groping the female customers is all in a day's (or evening's) work. Dracula, the King of the Castle, turns out to be a sleazy, dinner theater actor who's a real jerk.
But, dreams sometimes do come true, and Donovan gets hired. Though his "dream job" is actually more in the line of cleaning up puke than scaring the bejeezus out of the customers, he doesn't mind.
"I took in the view and thought about my new position. I was somebody. I never got a gold star in school, but now I had a pentagram to my name. I thought there was nothing cooler than walking around the empty Castle and helping it work."
As the summer flies by, Donovan makes both friends and enemies and even manages to LEARN SOMETHING! Gasp!
I really enjoyed this book. There was just the right amount of humor mingling with all the teenage angst. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the films 'Adventureland', 'The Way, Way Back', or any other movies that feature teens getting jobs, hanging out with lovable "bad influences," experimenting with sex, alcohol and/or drugs, finding themselves and maybe even growing up a little bit.
Everyone needs a summer like this one...
In reality, the Castle has seen better days. It's more rat-infested-crap-shack than palace-of-horrors. Paint is peeling and sets are made of crumbling Styrofoam. Most of the employees are drunk or stoned. Groping the female customers is all in a day's (or evening's) work. Dracula, the King of the Castle, turns out to be a sleazy, dinner theater actor who's a real jerk.
But, dreams sometimes do come true, and Donovan gets hired. Though his "dream job" is actually more in the line of cleaning up puke than scaring the bejeezus out of the customers, he doesn't mind.
"I took in the view and thought about my new position. I was somebody. I never got a gold star in school, but now I had a pentagram to my name. I thought there was nothing cooler than walking around the empty Castle and helping it work."
As the summer flies by, Donovan makes both friends and enemies and even manages to LEARN SOMETHING! Gasp!
I really enjoyed this book. There was just the right amount of humor mingling with all the teenage angst. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the films 'Adventureland', 'The Way, Way Back', or any other movies that feature teens getting jobs, hanging out with lovable "bad influences," experimenting with sex, alcohol and/or drugs, finding themselves and maybe even growing up a little bit.
Everyone needs a summer like this one...
April 25, 2025
This started out looking like a fun and funny book… but the plot… if there even was one 🤷♂️ just didn’t go anywhere. There was excessive drug use and unnecessary vulgarity. DNF @ 61%.
January 21, 2014
What a fun book! And a great read on a snowy day. I finished it in just a few hours, and I didn't want to put it down!
The main character is a geeky and awkward 16 year old boy who doesn't have high aspirations for himself. The story of his fist summer of working is hilarious. There were many laugh out loud moments. I have definitely known kids like this one - they don't fit in anywhere, and when they finally find a place where they fit in, it's still awkward.
The only part I didn't enjoy was the last paragraph - it seems like it would be better as it's own mini chapter, or epilogue. I think I would have liked a little more reaction to what happens in the end, especially his reaction to some of his new friends and their outcomes. But it doesn't ruin the book for me.
I've passed the book on to my high school aged daughter for her take…curious what she will think!
Give this book a try!
David: please write more books! I very much enjoyed your way with words. The story kept moving forward, there weren't any continuity gaps, the characters were believable, and it was great story telling.
The main character is a geeky and awkward 16 year old boy who doesn't have high aspirations for himself. The story of his fist summer of working is hilarious. There were many laugh out loud moments. I have definitely known kids like this one - they don't fit in anywhere, and when they finally find a place where they fit in, it's still awkward.
The only part I didn't enjoy was the last paragraph - it seems like it would be better as it's own mini chapter, or epilogue. I think I would have liked a little more reaction to what happens in the end, especially his reaction to some of his new friends and their outcomes. But it doesn't ruin the book for me.
I've passed the book on to my high school aged daughter for her take…curious what she will think!
Give this book a try!
David: please write more books! I very much enjoyed your way with words. The story kept moving forward, there weren't any continuity gaps, the characters were believable, and it was great story telling.
February 22, 2014
This was a really fun read! Even though it was set in the 80s, this story could have been taken place recently. It's a really funny coming of age story about a 16 year old "weird" boy who wants to be accepted within this "cult" of Castle Dunes summer horror house.The story only takes place in the summer, but a lot is packed into these 3 months. A lot of the characters are crass and self indulgent, but that makes for some good dialogue.
One major problem I have with the book is the relationship between Donovan and his mother Janice. In the beginning, there's a lot of mention of Janice and how she feels/acts towards Donovan. She is completely forgotten in the middle of the story, until the end. I would have loved to learn more about her and their relationship through out the story rather than just the beginning and end.
But overall, a good quick, funny read. There are a lot of swear words, sex, and drugs in this books. So if you're ok with that, then definitely pick this up!
One major problem I have with the book is the relationship between Donovan and his mother Janice. In the beginning, there's a lot of mention of Janice and how she feels/acts towards Donovan. She is completely forgotten in the middle of the story, until the end. I would have loved to learn more about her and their relationship through out the story rather than just the beginning and end.
But overall, a good quick, funny read. There are a lot of swear words, sex, and drugs in this books. So if you're ok with that, then definitely pick this up!
November 7, 2021
This is not your average "coming of age" story. Sure, it has some of the hallmarks -- a kid from a troubled family, a first summer job, a first romance, etc. -- but it's a far rougher, grungier, and more macabre take on such a story. And that might not appeal to every reader. But for those who don't mind a bit of the profane and freakish in their coming-of-age story, "Styrofoam Throne" is an entertaining, if flawed, read.
Donovan is already a freak and an outcast among his classmates, and his love for the macabre and his volatile relationship with his mother don't help things. But his ultimate dream is to go inside Castle Dunes, the local haunted-house attraction... and his dream comes true when he manages to land a job there! Inside the crumbling, run-down castle, he finds a kinship with the ghouls, stoners, and weirdos who make it run, and even falls in love... but will the castle's sleazy owner and an egocentric Dracula actor ruin things for Donovan?
This book is not for younger readers (though teens can and probably will enjoy it). It's gritty and foul-mouthed, and contains quite a bit of drug use, sexual content, and just plain weirdness. Its characters range from "unlikable" to "likable but still deeply flawed," and that includes the main character. And in all honesty, the book doesn't try to polish up its own rough edges or apologize for what it is. It's much like the castle and its workers in that way -- rough, edgy, gritty, flawed, and unapologetic for all those things.
And despite its roughness, it's a weirdly enjoyable read. It's funny (albeit occasionally in a dark way), full of memorable and quirky characters, and will appeal to those who feel like loners and weirdos in their own lives. I felt that the ending was a little rushed, and too eager to provide a pat ending to what had been a weird and quirky story, but at least the ride there was fun.
"Styrofoam Throne" is a grungy little book that somehow manages to be fun, and will probably appeal to those who feel like outcasts themselves.
Donovan is already a freak and an outcast among his classmates, and his love for the macabre and his volatile relationship with his mother don't help things. But his ultimate dream is to go inside Castle Dunes, the local haunted-house attraction... and his dream comes true when he manages to land a job there! Inside the crumbling, run-down castle, he finds a kinship with the ghouls, stoners, and weirdos who make it run, and even falls in love... but will the castle's sleazy owner and an egocentric Dracula actor ruin things for Donovan?
This book is not for younger readers (though teens can and probably will enjoy it). It's gritty and foul-mouthed, and contains quite a bit of drug use, sexual content, and just plain weirdness. Its characters range from "unlikable" to "likable but still deeply flawed," and that includes the main character. And in all honesty, the book doesn't try to polish up its own rough edges or apologize for what it is. It's much like the castle and its workers in that way -- rough, edgy, gritty, flawed, and unapologetic for all those things.
And despite its roughness, it's a weirdly enjoyable read. It's funny (albeit occasionally in a dark way), full of memorable and quirky characters, and will appeal to those who feel like loners and weirdos in their own lives. I felt that the ending was a little rushed, and too eager to provide a pat ending to what had been a weird and quirky story, but at least the ride there was fun.
"Styrofoam Throne" is a grungy little book that somehow manages to be fun, and will probably appeal to those who feel like outcasts themselves.
February 7, 2019
This book was morbid but so good. It was a coming into one's own for Donovan. It is the time in life when teens are not little children but not adults yet either. They are still vulnerable, trying to find their place in the world, not wanting to be a dweeb but at the same time insecure about who they currently are. Most want to identify with the cool crowd but fall way short. This is Donovan's story of his process in growing up one summer by way of Castle Dune. In the end, the least one he expected to be there for him was the one that came through like a champ, his mom. The reason it took me years to finish it is my OCD, lol. I lost my Kindle and when I got one as a gift, I am now going back to read all the books I didn't finish. This one was a good one.
September 2, 2024
I am a sucker for any 80s coming of age story, and there was some fun with the setting being a haunted house along the beach. Some of the metal love was also fun. The issue is the lead is incredibly dislikable, and though he is the "outcast" as he often labels himself, he's also just a jerk. The people he interacts with are mostly jerks. The only person who seems redeemable is the complicated love interest who he abandons at the end. Enjoyable setting but let down some.
February 6, 2014
Very rarely am I hooked on a book by the first paragraph. This is one of those very rare occasions. David Bone’s Styrofoam Throne was a brilliant mirror into my own extremely awkward, horror movie filled, agonizingly morose, lonely and misunderstood teen years. Some of the parallels between Donovan I were so precise, it was almost frightening.
“My legs were out in the aisles because they wouldn’t fit under the desk. But really, nothing about me fit in at school. Surrounded by red-blooded, all-American assholes, I was a horror-obsessed loner.”
Yep, that’s me to the T. At Donovan’s, our dark hero’s age my favorite films were The Exorcist and Night of the Living Dead (The 1968, of course) and I was a gnarly 6’4” giving me this over whelming Lenny from Of Mice and Men quality, I had actual physical growing pains; not that dumb “Mike Seaver” after school special emotional bullshit. Okay, so maybe I was a little more popular then Donovan was, and little happier to be alive, I wasn’t raised by a single mother, and no one ever picked on the giant roaming the halls of the school. But at my darkest, most sullen times, I felt just as alone as he was. Which I think is why this book is so universal. Everyone has been Donovan at one point or another to some degree; every teen felt alone, and scared of whatever life might lay in front of them. Only now, ten years passed my graduation from high school, do I see how silly it was for us all to be so miserable and to not have admitted it to each other. But that would have been totally lame, right?
I’m sure not everyone has hung out for hours, even spent a couple nights in a graveyard, like my friends and I did. Or worked in a haunted house, like I did. I’m sure some people did not have a pot smoking, wise talking, scheming, tough acting Renaldo there to help us brake out of our shell; just like I did. But this story will bring any adult reader back to a time where there life was filled with plagues of acne, awkward locker rooms, and just pure unadulterated self-loathing. But I don’t view this a book for adults. Nor, based on language, drug use, and sex, would I recommend this for all teenagers; just the cool ones, the loners, the freaks… you know who they are. The ones who swear, party, and have a serious axe to grind.
It’s a story of Firsts; first love, first real friend, first job, first loss, first “time”, first beer, first joint, first fake ID and the ultimate first major disappointment which is always the first step into adulthood. To call this a coming of age story doesn’t do it justice. To me it’s an ending of age story. Which brings those last days of adolescence to a violent halt; as you get out, slam the door and stumble, drunkenly through adulthood.
If you were a Donovan, knew a Donovan, or currently know a Donovan, get this book. It’s only 200 or so pages, and how friggin’ busy could you possibly be? That’s what I thought.
“My legs were out in the aisles because they wouldn’t fit under the desk. But really, nothing about me fit in at school. Surrounded by red-blooded, all-American assholes, I was a horror-obsessed loner.”
Yep, that’s me to the T. At Donovan’s, our dark hero’s age my favorite films were The Exorcist and Night of the Living Dead (The 1968, of course) and I was a gnarly 6’4” giving me this over whelming Lenny from Of Mice and Men quality, I had actual physical growing pains; not that dumb “Mike Seaver” after school special emotional bullshit. Okay, so maybe I was a little more popular then Donovan was, and little happier to be alive, I wasn’t raised by a single mother, and no one ever picked on the giant roaming the halls of the school. But at my darkest, most sullen times, I felt just as alone as he was. Which I think is why this book is so universal. Everyone has been Donovan at one point or another to some degree; every teen felt alone, and scared of whatever life might lay in front of them. Only now, ten years passed my graduation from high school, do I see how silly it was for us all to be so miserable and to not have admitted it to each other. But that would have been totally lame, right?
I’m sure not everyone has hung out for hours, even spent a couple nights in a graveyard, like my friends and I did. Or worked in a haunted house, like I did. I’m sure some people did not have a pot smoking, wise talking, scheming, tough acting Renaldo there to help us brake out of our shell; just like I did. But this story will bring any adult reader back to a time where there life was filled with plagues of acne, awkward locker rooms, and just pure unadulterated self-loathing. But I don’t view this a book for adults. Nor, based on language, drug use, and sex, would I recommend this for all teenagers; just the cool ones, the loners, the freaks… you know who they are. The ones who swear, party, and have a serious axe to grind.
It’s a story of Firsts; first love, first real friend, first job, first loss, first “time”, first beer, first joint, first fake ID and the ultimate first major disappointment which is always the first step into adulthood. To call this a coming of age story doesn’t do it justice. To me it’s an ending of age story. Which brings those last days of adolescence to a violent halt; as you get out, slam the door and stumble, drunkenly through adulthood.
If you were a Donovan, knew a Donovan, or currently know a Donovan, get this book. It’s only 200 or so pages, and how friggin’ busy could you possibly be? That’s what I thought.
March 19, 2015
I found out about this book through the website Dark in the Park which celebrates historic Dark House attractions on the Jersey Shore. Though this book is set in California and is fiction, it is reminiscent of the classic 70's and 80's era on the Jersey Boardwalks. Having grown up spending my summers at the boardwalk, it was the Castle attractions, commercials, and setting that would linger long after the last summer sunset. This book explores how one teen's life is changed through his addiction to the castle. It is a great, quick, easy read that will bring back a flood of memories for anyone who grew up near the boards during the "castle heyday" or for those in the tri-state area who recall the endless haunting commercials on WPIX. (Is it horrible that my favorite character is Renaldo? :)
February 15, 2014
This book centers around Donovan, an angry teen whose goal in life is to get into Castle Dunes, a house of horrors. His and his mother's relationship is broken and his father is non-existent. Eventually his dream is realized and he becomes part of the Castle monsters. But like a lot if dreams, once they manifest, reality looks a lot different. The author has a great voice and I really buy the teen's perspective. He also does a wonderful job of developing Donovan's character showing the readers how he goes from weird geek, to confident, but rebellious teen, to finally seeing the light and understanding what's real. Great job. I definitely recommend.
March 5, 2014
Quick read. This book is populated with unsympathetic characters in unsympathetic settings doing unsympathetic things. It's also not as funny as it seems on the surface. I know high school kids are jerks, but when everyone around them is also a jerk, the book as a whole has no clear shot at redemption. I was glad to see the protagonist get over himself at the end, but there were some missed opportunities just begging to be explored.
November 10, 2014
This was a really incredible story. The characters were great and the situations realistic. I could totally see what Castle Dunes was like in my mind. It's a great coming of age story and I liked that it was gritty and real. I do wish we could have known more about Dono and what he went on to do with his life. It really is just a summer of this boy's life and the ending introduces more questions then answers.
November 20, 2016
A decent teen angst story with a bit too much (although pretty believable) sex, drugs and violence for the younger YA reader. Story paces well and the characters read somewhat real. Although supposedly set in the mid-80's he time frame seems to swing back and forth though and I really didn't get a deliberate 80's vibe from it. Still, all in all, an enjoyable, quick read.
February 1, 2015
I have always had a fascination with "haunted" or "fun" houses and enjoyed reading about what really goes on behind the scenes in this one. This is like a grittier watered down version of Stephen King's "Joyride". The language was a little offputting but since it is written from the view of a 16 year old teenage boy, I can see how the author was trying to "keep it real." Entertaining.
February 3, 2014
Fun, quick coming of age story, told from the perspective of an awkward 16 year old boy. The situations and dialoge are pretty realistic, and humor is usd throughout. I'll be looking for more from this author.
May 31, 2015
Very funny and interesting book. Wish the end had a little happier of an ending though. But still a great read!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
February 11, 2014
Stopped at 60%... god awful writing. The only thing that got me this far was the humor.
February 2, 2014
quirky. original. creative. yet predictable. just like a bad haunted house.
February 12, 2014
well worth the time and I think anyone who reads this book will be entertained. funny read with a little crude humour and to many cuss words. go get it
September 22, 2014
I don't think I got the point of this book, but the writing was good and the story kept me going. I think I liked it though.
June 28, 2014
Great writing, nice imagery.
Good summertime read.
Good summertime read.
April 10, 2015
This was a strange and morbid journey into the mind of a goth and death obsessed kid. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews