"Frances Clarke Sayers Lecturer Shares Inner Darkness" <em>GSE & IS Forum</em>
This article summarizes a lecture Cormier gave at UCLA in which he explores the origin of the dark and sometimes-violent tone of his books. He recounts facing bullies as a child, experiencing death during childhood, and feeling the effects of internalizing trauma.
<em>GSE & IS Forum </em><em></em>Vol. 3, No. 1
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Fall 1998
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, staple bound journal
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Journal+article">Journal article</a>
"In the Heat" in <em>Sixteen Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults</em>
In this story, the narrator and his 15-year-old son Richy go to his wife's funeral. The narrator struggles to cope with his wife's death, especially unexpected reminders of her. While driving to and from the funeral, the narrator also recounts memories of his parents and, in the end, feels the need to revisit his childhood neighborhood. Richy copes rather well to his mother's death and shares with his father how he remembers his mother, not in the hospital or the coffin, but lying in the sun and dancing with his father.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier%2C+Donald+R.+Gallo+%28editor%29">Robert Cormier, Donald R. Gallo (editor)</a>
<em>Sixteen Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults</em>, edited by Donald Gallo, published by Delacorte Press
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
1984
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
"Readers Responding Creative Writing and YA Literature" English Journal
Hardcover anthology
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Story+in+an+anthology">Story in an anthology</a>
Christmas in the Home: A Father's Blessing
In this short story, Cormier writes about a Christmas and New Year in French Canadian style and a blessing his father gave him at his request.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
<em>Visitor</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
31 December 1978
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
Cardstock xerox copies
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Magazine+feature">Magazine feature</a>
"Between the Darkness and the Daylight" <em>The Sign</em>
This Cormier story shows the unfolding thoughts of a husband who realizes his wife is an alcoholic after finding bottles hidden throughout their home. A significant factor that affects her mental health is the wife's recent miscarriage. While the husband worries about his wife's state, he brings her alcohol to the hospital, where she has been admitted after a car accident. The enabling husband focuses attention on his plight as that man with that wife.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
<em>The Sign: National Catholic Magazine</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
January 1968
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5 x 11 magazine paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Magazine+short+story">Magazine short story</a>
Robert Cormier's letter to Catherine July 1994
In this two-page typed draft of a letter to a family friend, Catherine, Cormier conveys sympathy to her and her family over the loss of her father. With at least a dozen pen edits, this copy clearly shows revisions. In it, he encourages her to explore fiction writing and shares that his own father's death was devasting to him. He also says writing about his father's death started as personal and therapeutic yet became a book. He encourages her to consider turning her experiences into some sort of literary effort.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
July 1994
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
"Try a Little Tenderness" <em>Boston Magazine</em>
This profile of Cormier investigates his life and work, with a specific focus on his recent visit to Judge John J. Connelly Youth Service Center, a Roslindale youth lockdown for boys. Keeping his interactions with troubled youth to the fore, the piece also brings in the characters of Cormier's recent novel, <em>Tenderness</em>, which students at the facility recently read. Cormier shares his concerns about how realistic his depictions of the juvenile detention center will appear to this audience and the students struggle to feel sympathy for Eric or accept Lori's sad fate. Also included is a background of Cormier's early writing career.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Lisa+Gerson">Lisa Gerson</a>
<em>Boston Magazine</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
December 1997
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8x11 glossy magazine
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Magazine+article">Magazine article</a>
Judy's letter to Robert Cormier 13 May 1997
This one-page typed letter is from a friend of "Bob and Connie". Judy confesses her fascination with serial killers, especially Ted Bundy, and praises the powerful characterization in Cormier's <em>Tenderness</em>. She speaks about her uncomfortable empathy with Eric and how believable, real, and tragic Lori is.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Judy">Judy</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
13 May 1997
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/26" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Judy 28 May 1997</a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>