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"Where Are The Heroes" John Fitch IV Column
In this John Fitch IV column, Cormier laments the commodification of our heroes. Citing the example of the legendary Joe DiMaggio selling coffee makers, he argues that this consumerism robs our heroes of their mystery and mystique and that television…
"Words that Linger" John Fitch IV Column
In this John Fitch IV piece, Cormier shares a conversation he had with his 6-year-old daughter about his 10 favorite words in the English language. Their conversation was spurred on by Cormier's reading of several such lists of beautiful and ugly…
"Writer and Feminist" John Fitch IV Column
In this John Fitch IV column Cormier profiles Norma Klein, a writer for both children and adults and a self-avowed feminist. Cormier praises her character, sums up her writing career, and shares a bit about her personal background, which he notes…
"Writer pens tough teen stories" Middlesex News
In this portrait of Cormier for the Middlesex News, Lisa Alcock touches on the highlights of Cormier's career and explores the gritty realism that helps Cormier's work connect with young readers. She devotes considerable space to the newly-released…
"Writer's work travels far" Telegram
This 1997 article in the Telegram chronicles Cormier's early life growing up in Leominster, from his father's work in the plastic factory and his untimely death, to his beginnings as a writer, through his ultimate success of The Chocolate War and I…
Heroes book cover proofs
Four cover designs, two of which include front and back pages, for Cormier's novel, Heroes. One cover includes a biography of Cormier and book review snippets for Tenderness and In the Middle of the Night. The third and fourth designs were used: the…
Heroes cut and pasted typescript pieces
Twelve strips of cut sections of Heroes show Cormier's active revision process where he literally cut then pasted sections as he worked on the Heroes manuscript. Scenes on the Wreck Center sexual assault, Francis's meeting with Nicole after the war,…
Heroes handwritten notes
In these two handwritten pages of thumbnail sketches, Cormier lays out his conceptions of sections of Heroes. The outline is particularly concerned with when characters are introduced and when their backstories are revealed. The collaboration between…
Heroes marked typescript
In these eight typewritten pages of a Heroes draft, Cormier has added handwritten notes for revision. Scenes of Francis crushing on Nicole (called Dominique Cavalier in this draft) feature heavily as do the nuns and Catholic school. Also included are…
Heroes marked typescript miscellaneous pages
Thirty pages of Heroes manuscript, most of which show hand-written revisions and markings. Pages show pasted strips of salvaged sections from earlier drafts. Repeated versions of war scenes sliced with scenes of playing soldiers as children in the…
Scholastic Scope Stories by Robert Cormier including "President Cleveland, Where Are You?" and "Protestants Cry, Too"
This complete Scholastic Scope booklet includes two stories by Robert Cormier along with fill-in-the-blank word puzzles, a word search, a crossword puzzle, jokes, a comic strip, and queries and advice from readers. Furthermore, readers will find a…
Tenderness draft with editor's comment
Twenty pages of typescript of Tenderness show extensive commenting and editorial markings. Pages are numbered in pencil but not all pages are consecutive. Editorial comments, presumably from Karen Wojtyla, discuss issues of continuity, suspense,…
Tenderness draft with Robert Cormier's markings
These six-page non-consecutive typed draft of Tenderness sections shows both handwritten and typed revisions with XXXX over previously typed words. One page includes notes to himself about reframing Lori's parent's situations. The other pages are of…
Tenderness Grade Level Defense
This piece presents a detailed rationale for teaching Cormier's Tenderness at or above the sixth-grade level. The defense includes a summary of the novel, a biography of Cormier, teaching objectives, suggested teaching methods, potential essay…
Tenderness review in The Bulletin
The Bulletin's review of Cormier's novel Tenderness sticks mostly to the novel's plot and is positive overall, though it criticizes the novel's "clichèd action and stock characterization." The review also mentions the influence of thrillers and…