1. Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925 – November 2, 2000)
1991 Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner
Presented by: Marlina Fraterman
yorknotes.com
Background image from shadowness.com

2. Why was he known?
Has been called the “single most important writer in the whole history of young adult literature” (Hastings)
Frequently pessimistic, downbeat books with little to no happy endings
Although his books seem dark, they are full of morals

3. What if…? Often questions government Son’s refusal to sell chocolates
Newspaper article about witness protection
What if a parent betrayed a child’s trust?
Tenderness’ questions

4. Personal Touches
“French Hill” in Leominister, Massachusetts common setting
French Hill became Frenchtown
Leominister became Monument
Nearby Fort Devens became Fort Delta
A large part of self seen in his characters according to daughter
Catholic faith seen through themes of sin and absolution and through some schools
Also in The Rag and Bone Shop, both through mentions of sin/confession/absolution and through Jason’s faith

5. Margaret A. Edwards Award Winners
Momreadsteen.wordpress.com
amazon.com
en.wikipedia.org
The Chocolate War (1974)
I Am the Cheese (1977)
After the First Death (1979)

6. Books for Author Study (1979) (1997) (2001) bfgb.wordpress.com
Fantasticfiction.co.uk
(1979)
(1997)
(2001)

7. After the First Death
Narrators: Ben, Kate, Miro, Mark, briefly children
Son of a general
A teenaged girl who is driving the bus for her uncle
A freedom fighter
A general in Inner Delta; Ben’s father

8. Tenderness
Narrators: Lorelei (Lori) Cranston, Eric Poole, Lieutenant Jake Proctor
A fifteen-year-old runaway
An eighteen-year-old released from juvenile detention
A lieutenant who is obsessed with keeping Eric incarcerated

9. The Rag and Bone Shop Narrators: Jason, Trent
A twelve-year-old boy accused of murdering his seven-year-old friend
An interrogator known for always getting a confession

10. Overarching Themes Intimidation Imprisonment Innocence vs. Monstrosity
Guilt
Death/Murder
Inner Demons

11. Intimidation

12. After the First Death Terrorists hijack bus of school children
Use intimidation with the government
Attempt to use intimidation in order to have their demands met
Have guns to intimidate Kate

13. Tenderness
Lieutenant Jake Proctor to Eric
Cops patrol aunt’s house

14. The Rag and Bone Shop Intimidation tactics:
Higher chair to loom over Jason
Crowded space with no windows
Saying Jason is in denial and telling him what is waiting outside of the interrogation room

15. Imprisonment

16. After the First Death Kate and children on bus
Ben’s father Mark in mental institution or in his own head

17. Tenderness Eric’s imprisonment Lori’s mom’s abusive relationships
Lori’s sexuality and naivety

18. The Rag and Bone Shop
Interrogation room with Trent

19. Innocence vs. Monstrosity

20. After the First Death
Children vs. situation
Miro in Kate’s eyes

21. Tenderness
Innocence-Lorelei (world view and actions)
“Monster”- Eric

22. The Rag and Bone Shop Alicia’s innocence vs. murder
Jason’s innocence and naivety in interrogation
Loss of innocence false confession
Loss of innocence turning into monstrosity

23. Guilt

24. After the First Death Miro regarding Artkin’s death
Ben regarding relaying information
Ben after finding out he was supposed to give them the information
Mark allowing his son
Kate not following headlines
Kate unable to leave bridge

25. Tenderness Jake regarding past serial killer
Eric regarding Lorelei’s death

26. The Rag and Bone Shop Trent regarding false confession
Jason admitting to something he didn’t do

27. Death/Murder

28. After the First Death Kevin (accidental) Raymond (murder)
Stroll (murder)
Antibbe (murder)
Artkin (murder)
Kate (murder)
Ben (suicide)
Mark (physical or mental death?)

29. Tenderness Eric’s mother (murder) 3 girls (murder)
Eric’s stepfather (murder)
3 girls (murder)
Laura Andersun
Betty Ann Tersa
Alicia Hunt
Lorelei (accidental)

30. The Rag and Bone Shop
Alicia Bartlett (murdered)
Bobo Kelton (implied)

31. Inner Battles

32. After the First Death Miro: Struggle with sexualizing Kate
Miro: Artkin
Kate: Bravery struggle
Ben: Fight to withhold information
Mark: Ben

33. Tenderness Jake Proctor’s obsessions
Eric’s “psychopathic” ways and finding emotions

34. The Rag and Bone Shop
Trent’s pride
Jason’s ideas

35. Finishing Thoughts
Kind, compassionate, sensitive, afraid of “everything”
Traveled around the world to give talks
Always tried to show he was human and not a monster
Accessible – I Am the Cheese
Cloudfront.net

36. Picture Bibliography

37. References
Beckman, W. H. (2008). Robert Cormier: Banned, challenged, and censored. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers.
Campbell, P. J., & Menen, A. (1985). Presenting Robert Cormier. Boston, Mass: Twayne Publishers.
Campbell, P. J. (2006). Robert Cormier: Daring to disturb the universe. New York: Delacorte Press.
Cormier, R. (1979). After the first death. New York: Pantheon Books.
Cormier, R. (2001). The rag and bone shop: A novel. New York: Delacorte Press.
Cormier, R. (1997). Tenderness: A novel. New York: Delacorte Press.
Hastings, Wally. English 240—Literature for Younger Readers, Robert Cormier ( ). (Retrieved from M.O. Hyde’s book)
Hyde, M. O. (2005). Robert Cormier. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.
1991 Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2015, from wards/maeprevious/1991awardwinner

38. Thank you~.