Robert Cormier forged a reputation for deeply pessimistic and downbeat literature. His works frequently delve into challenging themes such as abuse, mental illness, violence, betrayal, and conspiracy. Cormier's novels explore the darker aspects of human nature and societal issues, often with protagonists who do not ultimately triumph. His unflinching approach highlights raw reality and psychological complexity, offering readers a thought-provoking and memorable literary experience.
Francis is a World War II hero - or so everyone believes. Only Francis knows that the act of heroism that destroyed his face was a suicide attempt. Francis has one purpose in his life - to kill Larry La salle, the charismatic youth leader who raped Francis' girlfriend years before.
The head of Trinity College asks Archie Costello, the leader of The Vigils, a secret society that rules the school, to sell 20,000 boxes of chocolates in the annual fund-raising effort. But Carter and Obie, leading members of The Vigils, can't contemplate the future until they have destroyed Archie Costello.
The school year is almost at an end, and the chocolate sale is past history. But no one at Trinity School can forget The Chocolate War. Devious Archie Costello, commander of the secret school organization called the Vigils, still has some torturous assignments to hand out before he graduates. In spite of this pleasure, Archie is troubled by his right-hand man, Obie, who has started to move away from the Vigils. Luckily Archie knows his stooges will fix that. But won't Archie be shocked when he discovers the surprise Obie has waiting for him? And there are surprises waiting for others. The time for revenge has come to those boys who secretly suffered the trials and torments of Trinity. The fuse is set for the final explosion. Who will survive?
When her father is transferred to an army camp in Massachusetts during the Second World War, Darcy feels isolated in her French-Canadian neighborhood until she meets the vivacious Kathleen Mary O'Hara and learns about Catholicism.
They entered the house at 9:02 P.M. and trashed their way through the Cape Cod cottage. At 9:46 P.M. Karen Jerome made the mistake of arriving home early. Thrown down the basement stairs, Karen slips into a coma. The trashers slip away. But The Avenger has seen it all.
Sixteen-year-old Barney can't remember life before the Complex, an experimental clinlc. He knows he's different--he's the control subject. Then he uncovers a terrible secret about himself, a secret that drives him to fulfill his and his fellow subjects' ultimate dream. The Bumblebee must fly!
A young boy desperately tries to unlock his past yet knows he must hide those memories if he is to remain alive.
The story explores the complex relationship between Lori, who seeks closeness with Eric, a man with a violent past. Eric is thrown off balance by Lori's genuine affection, as he grapples with the instinct to distance himself from someone so innocent. This tension between his dark nature and her unfiltered warmth creates a gripping dynamic, challenging the boundaries of love and morality.
Who will be the next to die? They've taken the children. And the son of a general. But that isn't enough. More horrors must come...
A high-school freshman who refuses to participate in the annual fund-raising chocolate sale is forced to defend his convictions.
