This has been so inspiring and a joy to read. The short chapters are easy to absorb. Hope to see more of Father Robert's works SOON!

Fr. Bob's book was written with everyone in mind. It is easy to read and thought-provoking. Each chapter can be read in just a few minutes and yet provides enough material for meditation throughout an entire day.

Questions are raised that, when reflected upon, lead the reader to a better understanding of the real meaning of life. This, in turn, brings about a sense of peace and joy that so many of us seek daily.

I've shared the book with friends, family members and co-workers who are looking for help with their faith. I highly recommend it as a reference book in any personal library.

Finally a book that people of all religions, races, and ages can relate to. This book has become my instruction manual for life. Often people feel that they ask God for guidance and he doesn't seem to be answering them. This is not true at all. Through this book you will find the answers you are looking for. You will learn that God has given us many things to help us get through life one day at a time, you just have to look for them. My copy of this book is filled with post-it notes that mark the sections I need to constantly refer back to. With all honesty I can say that this book has changed my life and when ever I am in a rut I can turn to it to remind myself of God's plan. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a better life through faith and have given it over and over again as a gift.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful books, and doesn't mind sad endings. I thought it was interesting the way that although the entire book is written in first person, Cormier switches from character to character so that as the story unfolds you get to see it from more than one point of view. I like the way that Cormier changes his writing style and consequently the "voice" of the character that is telling that particular part of the story, so that you get to know the characters individually. Another thing that I liked about this book is that there is no main "hero" in the story; all of the characters have their insecurities and mistakes. I'm not sure I liked the way that Cormier really doesn't tie things together until the end. I was pretty lost for the first half of the book. After the First Death was a very disturbing but powerful novel and was a very quick read.

"After the First Death" is an outstanding, exciting read, driven by terrorism, violence, and bloodshed -- and, even more importantly, by Robert Cormier's tight, lyrical prose. Few other young adult novels are written with this level of verbal ingenuity. What impressed me most about the book's style is the mixture of narrators and narrative styles; Cormier shifts from first person to third person and back again, jumping back and forth in time as well. Normally, such an experimental style would drive young readers bonkers, but Cormier makes it work beautifully. This is a book that worked on all levels for me, both as a reader and a teacher, and it's been a very successful read with my freshmen. "The Chocolate War" may be his most famous, but I think "After the First Death" is his best.

After reading The Chocolate War and its sequel, I didn't think Robert Cormier could top it. After reading "After the First Death", I proved myself wrong. The story takes you on an emotional roller coaster. You go from hating characters to sympathizing with them, then back to hating them. I think the character development of Kate was by far the most impactful, although Miro was a very symbolic and well built character as well. If you read this ENTIRE book and don't feel a thing, then you belong in Miro's group. Hehe, if you've read it you'll understand.

A review by Jill

Heroes was a very interesting book. At first I thought it was going to be about a man in the war, but this takes place after the war. Francis Cassavant lost his face in the war. When he arrived in his home town, nobody recognized him. He decided to return to his home town so he could see someone that he wanted revenge on. As a child, Francis wasn't very popular, until Larry LaSalle came along. Larry helped Francis learn how to play table tennis, which made him meet Nicole. One day, Larry did something terrible to Nicole, and Francis didn't do anything to stop it. This is why Francis joined the army, he thought maybe if he got lucky, he would get killed in the war, but no luck.

Heroes had points where it wasn't very interesting and kept leading on to nothing. Although, it was easy to read, and hard to put down. It didn't take me long to finish, because everything lead to another, making me want to keep reading it. If you are into war or revenge movies, I would suggest Heroes by Robert Cormier.

Francis Casavant is an eighteen-year old boy who tells about his life since world war two. Throughout the book you experience the horrors of walking down the streets of French Town with half a face!
Francis goes into a depression after letting his true love down when she needed him the most. He joined the military hoping to bring an end to his life. His chance came when a grenade lands in his platoon's bunker, with no hesitation he dives on the grenade. He saved many lives and even his own! Even after receiving a Silver Star for his heroic effort, Francis is convinced he is not a hero. Now he is on a new mission, to kill the man that destroyed his life!
When I first started reading this novel I was immediately enthralled. The author's style of first person writing makes this book fun, easy to read and understand. Although the book is small, I feel that it's descriptive and to the point.

"Heroes" by Robert Cormier is, in my opinion, a great book for young adults to read. It has mystery, suspense, and a very interesting take on a moral dilemma. It is a fascinating story about a young man returning home from World War II. His war experiences have changed his life drastically. He no longer has a face because of a grenade and because of that he is no longer recognizable in his home town.
To look at Francais Cassavant you would think that the war had destroyed him, but the truth is he had been destroyed before he even enlisted. He had lost the only person in the world he loved Nicole Renard. The worst part is that he knows that he could have helped her when she needed it.
Robert Cormier is a fantastic writer. I felt every pain that Francais felt. I wanted to seek revenge on Larry LaSalle and I also understood why Francais hated himself.
It was interesting from beginning to end. I liked how it made reference to a war that the kids today are so far removed from and taken to a place where they get an idea of how horrible it was. I liked a lot the moral question of what a hero is and what makes a person one.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I am a student from Germany and we had to read the book "After the first death"'. Since I am not a native American it was a little hard to understand for me! This book was great and it helped me a lot understanding what Cormier means

The book Tunes for Bears to Dance to, by Robert Cormier, is a juvenile fiction novel. In it, the protagonist Henry faces some real problems. His brother had recently died and this had thrown the whole family into sorrow. His father did not work; his mother was forced to hold down to jobs for little pay at all. Henry works in a grocery store for Mr. Hariston, an evil bigot who would like noting more than to stare out his store window throwing nasty comments about passing people. Henry, innocent to Mr. Hairiston's bigotry trust him to provide a means of income for his struggling family. In due coarse Henry encounters and befriends Mr. Levine, an old Holocaust survivor with an amazing talent. Every day Mr. Levine goes to the town craft center and widdles out of wood an exact replica of his old village that was destroyed by the Nazis during WWII. Henry innocently tells his boss about this along with his desire for a monument for his brother's grave. Mr. Hariston then tells Henry that he will get the monument, his mother will get a raise, and he himself will keep his job if he does "one easy task". That task is to destroy the old man's wooden village. Henry is now faced with a quandary on whether to destroy the village or not. I believe this book, me being an 8th grade reader, is sophisticated enough to get a real impact from. In addition, the problem was introduced late in the story and then was resolved quickly and abruptly. On the other hand the book illustrated the, theme bigotry and abuse of power very well. Both sides of the story were described and the reader got an understanding of the choice Henry could have made and the choice he did actually make. The book has characters that seem real and the struggles Henry faces are those many children around his age face in some way or another.

The book Tunes for Bears to Dance to, by Robert Cormier, is a juvenile fiction novel. In it, the protagonist Henry faces some real problems. His brother had recently died and this had thrown the whole family into sorrow. His father did not work; his mother was forced to hold down to jobs for little pay at all. Henry works in a grocery store for Mr. Hariston, an evil bigot who would like noting more than to stare out his store window throwing nasty comments about passing people. Henry, innocent to Mr. Hairiston's bigotry trust him to provide a means of income for his struggling family. In due coarse Henry encounters and befriends Mr. Levine, an old Holocaust survivor with an amazing talent. Every day Mr. Levine goes to the town craft center and widdles out of wood an exact replica of his old village that was destroyed by the Nazis during WWII. Henry innocently tells his boss about this along with his desire for a monument for his brother's grave. Mr. Hariston then tells Henry that he will get the monument, his mother will get a raise, and he himself will keep his job if he does "one easy task". That task is to destroy the old man's wooden village. Henry is now faced with a quandary on whether to destroy the village or not. I believe this book, me being an 8th grade reader, is sophisticated enough to get a real impact from. In addition, the problem was introduced late in the story and then was resolved quickly and abruptly. On the other hand the book illustrated the, theme bigotry and abuse of power very well. Both sides of the story were described and the reader got an understanding of the choice Henry could have made and the choice he did actually make. The book has characters that seem real and the struggles Henry faces are those many children around his age face in some way or another.

I have been a Robert Cormier fan for over four years now and deeply enjoyed all of his books. "Tunes for Bears to Dance To" is meant for a younger audience than most of his work. It is suitable for perhaps fifth grade and up; the protagonist, Henry, is eleven.

The book deals with many issues such as racism, depression and grief, and child abuse. Henry is trying to be a good boy though his family has been torn apart by the hit-and-run death of his brother. His father has lapsed into an almost catatonic depression and his mother is away all the time, working double shifts struggling to pay the bills. Henry tries to pull his weight with a job stocking groceries: and there the antagonist is introduced. It's his evil boss, Mr. Hairston.

Mr. Hairston says nasty things about his customers behind their backs and abuses his young daughter. (Henry's naive eyes do not percieve the abuse, but to the reader it is all too clear.) But the real issue at hand is his racism towards Mr. Levine, a Jewish Holocaust survivor and Henry's friend. When Mr. Hairston learns of Henry's desire to get a gravestone for his brother (his family cannot afford them) he offers a deal: "I'll buy you a stone, but you have to do something for me." The "something" Henry has to do is smash Mr. Levine's beloved toy village that he's been painstakingly carving for months.

This conflict, while ingeneous, is introduced late in the story and resolved rather hastily, in only two or three pages. The story could have been much more powerful than it was; it seemed rather diluted, like strong wine watered down. Cormier fans will appreciate it for Henry's young, innocent narration and Mr. Hairston's surpreme evilness, but those not familiar with the author's work will probably find this book to be nothing better than toilet reading.

I Am the Cheese is a psychotic thriller placed in the late 1900's in New England. The story is about a teenager named Adam Farmer who leads the reader on a journey to uncover his own hidden past. Cormier transitions well between the views of the story. In one view, Adam is riding his old bike from Monument, Massachusetts to Ruttenburg, Vermont to visit his father in the hospital and give him a secret gift he had brought with him. The other view is that of Adam doing interviews with a psychiatrist who is trying to help him remember what happened in his shady past. Another unusual part of the story is that Cormier often leaves the reader unsure of the events transpiring because the story is told from a backwards point of view. This means that the readers must use their intelligence to try to sort the events out. This can also be a negative because it isn't a book that should be taken up for pleasure reading because the confusion may be too much to handle along with the story's often depressing plot. Another downside is the story's setting. Cormier has Adam riding his bike on his way to Vermont for almost the entire book. In conclusion, despite the negatives, I Am the Cheese still may appeal to the kind of reader who likes to figure things out for themselves.

Like many of Robert Cormiers' novels, "I am the Cheese" is quite confusing and depressing. Although some of Adam Farmer's (the protagonist) experiences are exaggerated, teenagers can relate to them. Through many question and answer sessions, Adam discovers many hidden memories, and some of these memories are not very comforting. Adam is alone in an unfamiliar setting (the foster and mental institution), searching for his lost father. Adam goes on this never-ending journey in search for his father, and he does not realize the truth until the last few pages of the book. Like many teenagers, Adam is searching for his identity. He wants to feel a sense of belonging, especially since he does not have parents. His question and answer sessions actually help him find his identity in the end. Even though Adam's real name is Paul, the name is irrelevant to how Adam defines his identity. Many teenagers go through the same type of identity crisis, and reading the book will help teenagers understand that they, themselves, have to find their own identity regardless of what identities others assign to them. In the end when Adam finally stops pedaling his bike, he comments, "...although I do not like it here and I feel somehow that I do not belong here, there is a feeling of belonging, of being among familiar things." This comment is very realistic toward life's application since we cannot always enjoy the situation we are in, but once we can understand and make sense of it, it is easier to accept. The book is a great book to use for class discussions because it will enhance students' critical thinking. However, students must be braced for a challenge; "I am the Cheese" is a very difficult book to understand without any type of interpretation and discussion.

"I am the Cheese" by Robert Cormier is not just a book about coming of age. It is very bizarre that Mr. Cormier used three narratives during the book; 1st person narrative from Adam on his journey to Rutterberg, 3rd person narrative about Adam's past and the tapes between Brint and Adam. In a way it was confusing and strange until the end; but in another way, it makes you want to read on until you find out what happens to Adam Farmer-the protagonist. I guess you can say Cormier pulled it off. A theme of the book would be alienation of the world. Adam feels like he can trust no one but himself. Even in the institution, Adam does not tell Brint everything. He tries to find his own identity throughout the book. Even when he finds out that his real name is Paul Delmonte, he is confused because he does not know whether he is Paul or Adam. A controversial theme is that Adam is up against three different organizations. They are after Adam because his father testified against a powerful organization linked to criminals. This theme is linked to historical moments such as the mysterious death of President John F. Kennedy. This is a reason this book might be contentious is that it reminds us of corruption in the world and that our government is tainted.
Adam Farmer is an individual against the world. His mother was never happy except when she called weekly to her sister but he never understood why (Adam did not know she called his aunt, or that he even had an aunt until the end of the book). His father had a friend-Grey-- that came to his house to talk every week. His girlfriend, Amy was completely different than him. Adam is also "fighting" against three different organizations that are actually linked to each other. The first one is the Witness Re-establishment program. Grey, an agent of that agency, wanted information from David Farmer, Adam's Father. Since he got no information, Grey betrayed the Farmers. Another Organization after Adam is the powerful, corrupt association whom David testified against. They killed David and his wife. They were probably sent by Grey. The last one is the institute in where Adam goes to recover his memory. It looks like Brint; the man who says is trying to help Adam recover his memory, is against Adam also. He believes that Grey should not be persecuted because of the murder of David and Louise Farmer. Adam can only trust himself in the world.
The book is not that controversial sexually or morally, but some people might see it politically immoral. Mr. Cormier shows us that the world we live in is not as perfect as we may think. Our world is corrupt. From the lowest criminal to the president of the US, it exists. Even in the United Nations, corruption exists. Last month, it was revealed that the Food and Oil Program from the United Nations was giving billions to Saddam Hussein while it let the Iraqi population die. Adam's identity was revealed late in the book. In a coming of age book, it would be revealed on the last chapter. Adam's quest to find his identity was long and harsh as it cost him his parents and his safety.
Robert Cormier's "I am the Cheese" is a book about a quest to findAdam's real identity. But when he finds his identity, he would rather have what he had before it. That is why it banned in certain places. In coming of age books, the protagonist's parents are not supposed to die. Adam had a stuffed animal called "Pokey the Pig" when he was small. He carried it throughout his voyage. It symbolizes the childhood he had before being relocated. It is also his only real possessions and that is why he holds on to it. This book explains that the world we live in is corrupted and full of traitors.

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier is about a twelve year old boy, Jason Dorrant, who is enjoying his summer vacation. Then, a seven year old girl, who is Jason's friend's sister, shows up dead in her backyard, and the last person to see her was Jason. The entire town waits impatiently while a big time interrogator figueres out if Jason is the murderer.
This book is a very quick read. It always keeps you going and wanting to read more. But that's about it for its positives qualities. This book feels very unrealistic because a twelve year old boy, in middle school, hangs out with his eight year old sister and a seven year old girl. This does not seem very realistic. The characters are very mature for their ages. The seven-year-old is able to do a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of a red cardinal. The eight-year-old is already writing her own detectives stories, too. The characters needed to be older in order to fit their personalities. I found this book interesting, yet, unrealistic which is why I give it 3 stars.

After a normal, typical day of play of a few neighborhood kids, a seven-year-old girl is found dead--murdered. There are no leads, murder weapon, or clues in the case. The police department, reacting from all the pressure of the townspeople, follow a gut instinct and begin to lean heavily on a twelve-year-old, male suspect who had been one of the last people to see the girl alive.
A hot shot interrogator is called in on the case to make the boy confess. He has never in his career failed to get a confession. Will he get one this time? Will it be a truthful one?
This novel will hold your attention throughout. It's full of murder, suspense, and intrigue. And, get ready for a surprise ending that leaves you stumped! Robert Cromier is one of the best writers of young adult literature that I have ever read.

The Rag and Bone Shop, Robert Cormier's last book before his death, is not for the young or faint of heart.
Interrogated by an expert, 12 yr. old Jason cannot avoid linking himself to the murdered 7 yr old. Does what he say cause him to become someone different? In the windowless interrogation room he perceives the double-edged sword of reality and its underlying currents of suspicion and need. This book is for mature readers because the seemingly simple story twists and turns into a stark fatal attraction. Are truth and justice found in the rag and bone shop? The suspense builds with each answer that Jason gives. Like writing an epitaph on a tombstone, author Robert Cormier lures the reader into formulating and answering a poignant question. And not until the end does he...reader, this is a master at work; you'll not want to close the cover of this powerful, slim book.

The Chocolate War is a very interesting book that shows the effects of peer pressure on highschool kids, and at the same time, tells about a boy that fights back agaist other kids that THINK they are more powerful. The book is set in a private Catholic school for boys in the 1970's. The school has an annual tradition of selling chololates in which the main character, Jerry Renault, refuses to participate in. The Vigils are the main cause of his protest against the chocolate sale. "The Vigils" is a group of boys that is understood to rule the school. They test younger students to see if they have the potential to be a Vigil by giving them assignments. Jerry's assignment was to refuse to participate in the chocolate sale for ten days. Everyone, especially Brother Leon, gets irritated with him. Since the chocoalte sale is traditional, and EVERYONE always participates, the other students see this as weird. After the ten days are up, Jerry still refuses to sell the chocolates. He does this as a protest against the Vigils because they tell him to start sellng them. The author used the chocolate sale to symbolize society. Everyone does the same thing everyone else does. It's just "normal." Jerry Renault stepped outside of what was "normal," and therefore he was looked upon as being and outsider. In the end, Jerry sticks with his decision to not sell the chocolates and proves that not everyone does what everyone else does.

I feel I need to defend this novel, especially after the plethora of reviews from December 17th. Often in childrens/YA novels good v. evil is played out in fantasy terms (witches, demons, etc, but this novel disturbs the universe and places real people in real situations. A freshman at a private high school decides to "disturb the universe", and soon realizes that he may have done overstepped his bounds. The shifting narrative is very distinct and unique, yet sometimes confusing. This is a great novel for classroom discussion with some strong themes: to include, courage & cowardice, peer pressure, victimization, individualism, good v. evil and god and religion. The ending is unconventional and truely climatic, can you remember when you first realized that life is not fair, and sometimes doesn't come close to being fair? This book opened up the new genre of YA literature, and Cormier certainly "disturbed the universe" with its publication. This book is constantly under the eye of parent groups who would like to see it "banned" or placed on a restricted list...because that is the case, it should be required reading for all teenagers. If you are younger, you may want to read Spinelli's WRINGER: a story so foul, so horrifying that it should be shelved next to Cormier's The Chocolate War.

As a young adult librarian, I will continue to offer Cormier's books because he refuses to compromise the truth as he sees it.

For an indepth look at Cormier's writing try: PRESENTING ROBERT CORMIER Twayne Publishers, 1989

The Chocolate War is a multileveled masterpiece! On the surface are Jerry and the other kids who attend a middle class private school, that seems to be religiously affiliated, but inside are issues of: authority, self-perception, puberty, decision making, good vs. evil, social responsibility, and so much more. Of course the adults in this story are evil and rotten, as are some of the boys. Jerry is the hero in more ways than one- sometimes vulnerable but always strong. It is possible that Cormier wanted to blast religion in this novel, but I see him as empowering kids, to not simply lie down and let the world happen to them.

Don't I wish I'd read this book as a teenager? YES I DO!

Considering the unusual complexity of I Am the Cheese for a young adult novel, Jennifer Keely has written a surprisingly shallow analysis/history. The book is written at a reading level closer to the younger end of the book's readers, which is fine, but she fails to give much insight into the novel beyond quoting numerous newspaper reviews (some of which are obviously, in hindsight, ridiculous) and she leaves out much of the controversy that The Chocolate War has stirred up over the years (one of the most frequently banned books in schools), although she mentions that book quite a lot. There is also scant mention of the major motion picture adapted from I Am the Cheese, which might be a useful research/teaching tool for young readers. Unless you're writing a paper for an English class, Understanding I Am the Cheese is worth flipping through at your public library, but not worth purchasing.

The book was ok but it was confusing.I liked the book because bikes interest me.After you get into the book it starts to make sense.