World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Robert Edmund Cormier

ロバート・エドマンド・コーミア

Robāto Edomando Kōmia

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1925-01-17 （Leominster, Massachusetts, U.S.）
Died
2000-11-02 （Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.） age 75
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Roman Catholic
Residence History
Leominster, Massachusetts (lived most of his life)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Journalist
Active Years
1962-2000

Education

St. Cecilia's Parochial School
Country: United States
Catholic parochial school; encouraged in poetry during early years.
Leominster High School
Country: United States
Graduated as class president.
Fitchburg State College (now Fitchburg State University)
Country: United States
Had a short story published while a freshman; helped launch writing career.

Awards

Margaret A. Edwards Award
1991
Work: The Chocolate War; I Am the Cheese; After the First Death
Organization: American Library Association (Young Adult Services Division)
Result: 受賞
Phoenix Award
1997
Work: I Am the Cheese
Organization: Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Chocolate War

1974 Young adult (YA) fiction, realism, school novel

Set in a private high school, the novel explores power, rebellion, secret societies and the struggle of the individual against the group. Noted for frank language and a bleak ending; has been frequently challenged in libraries.

powerrebellionpeer pressureviolence
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Chocolate War (1988)

I Am the Cheese

1977 Young adult (YA) fiction, psychological thriller

Follows a boy as he searches for his past and family secrets. Explores memory, conspiracy, and identity.

memoryconspiracyidentitybetrayal
Adaptations
  • [Film] I Am the Cheese (1983)
  • [TV/short film] Lapse of Memory (1991)

After the First Death

1979 Young adult (YA) fiction, suspense, thriller

A tense story involving terrorism and hostage situations. Multiple perspectives depict the event's progression and moral dilemmas.

terrorismmoral dilemmasacrifice

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway

1983 YA fiction, human drama

Centers on a boy with a serious illness and the people around him; themes of human fragility and compassion.

illnesscoming-of-agerelationships
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (1999)

We All Fall Down

1991 Young adult fiction, social drama

Depicts a youth violence incident and its aftermath, examining the event from perspectives of victim, perpetrator, and community.

violenceresponsibilitycommunity

Bibliography

  • Now and at the Hour (1960)
  • A Little Raw on Monday Mornings (1963)
  • Take Me Where the Good Times Are (1965)
  • The Chocolate War (1974)
  • I Am the Cheese (1977)
  • After the First Death (1979)
  • 8 Plus 1 (1980, short story collection)
  • The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (1983)
  • Beyond The Chocolate War (1985)
  • Fade (1988)
  • Other Bells for Us to Ring / Darcy (1990/1991)
  • We All Fall Down (1991)
  • Tunes for Bears to Dance To (1992)
  • In the Middle of the Night (1995)
  • Tenderness (1997)
  • Heroes (1998)
  • Frenchtown Summer (1999)
  • The Rag and Bone Shop (2001)
  • I Have Words to Spend (1991, collected newspaper articles)

Adaptations

  • I Am the Cheese (1983, film)
  • The Chocolate War (1988, film)
  • Lapse of Memory (1991, adaptation)
  • The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (1999, film)
  • Tenderness (2009, film)
  • The Assignment (2012, student film adaptation of The Chocolate War)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
dark, pessimistic tonerealist depictionstyle that confronts adult issues for young adult readers
Recurring Motifs
abusemental illnessviolencerevengebetrayalconspiracy

Health

  • thrombosis / complications from a blood clot
    Died in 2000 from complications related to a blood clot. Ended his active writing career.

Legacy

Robert Cormier is a significant figure in young adult literature, presenting dark and complex themes to young readers. Works like The Chocolate War remained controversial yet enduring, expanding the expressive range of YA fiction.

Academic Societies

  • Children's literature research organizations (referenced)

Archives

  • Held in collections such as the Library of Congress

In Popular Culture

  • The Chocolate War has frequently been challenged or banned in libraries and schools.

Quotes

  • In most of his novels, the protagonists do not win.
    Source: Wikipedia (article: Robert Cormier)

Trivia

  • The Chocolate War was one of the most frequently challenged books in the U.S. between 1990 and 2000.
  • Spent most of his life in his hometown of Leominster.