Browse Items (50 total)
- Collection: After the First Death
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Alyssa O'Brien's letter to Robert Cormier
In this three-page, handwritten letter by 12-year-old Alyssa O'Brien, the reader is introduced to a thoughtful young woman who has read several of Cormier's books twice or more in the interest of better understanding a book as time goes by. That she…
"Born to Kill"
In this paper, written for English 220 by Andrew Dimond in November 1982, the author explores themes of terrorism, innocence, personalities, and relationships. The piece begins with an investigation of the character, Miro. The author discusses…
Anny Lee's letter to Robert Cormier
In this letter from Anny Lee shares with Cormier her experience of reading After the First Death. She shares with the author how she felt his text was 'the weirdest, most confusing, and unique' book she ever read. Though she conveys how much she did…
Belinda Lothrop letter to Robert Cormier 25 October 1988
Belinda explains the class newspaper project for Mrs. Anti's English class on Robert Cormier's novel After the First Death and explains how it was motivated by finding answers regarding the events of the novel. She pleads with Cormier to visit her…
Hallowell Headline Mrs. Gottenfeld's Class Project
In this 12-page student-created magazine, Hallowell Headline, Mrs. Gottenfeld's Class Project, dated 26 November 1981, students have written fan fiction inspired by Cormier's book, After the First Death.
Cindy Ryal's letter to Robert Cormier
Cindy Ryal's letter to Robert Cormier faded and word-processed, dated 12 May 1989 (and it shares most of its text with a letter to Cormier by Kristy). Cindy asks about After the First Death's characters and plot twists. She ends the letter saying her…
Book Review: "Too Much Terror for Us Rabbits"
Clarence E. Olson reviews After the First Death, stating that he will avoid reading Robert Cormier's work in the future, not for a lack of quality writing, but because its use of sustained terror is nerve-wracking and emotive. He writes "Cormier has…
David Key letter to Robert Cormier
David explains how After the First Death was a summer reading project for Mrs. Anti's freshman English class and their newspaper assignment was to write an interview of a character that would reveal further information on Inner Delta.
Denise Concheri letter to Robert Cormier
Denise discusses the frequent questions the students had after reading After the First Death and producing a newspaper with interviews of the characters. She mentions her teacher's (Mrs. Anti) diligence in answering their questions. However, she…
Book Review: "Nightmarish Novel of Terrorist Violence"
Grover Sales' review of After the First Death for the San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle praises the book's treatment of terrorism as above the current trends on the topic. He specifically speaks of patriotism and Ben Marchant's spoiled innocence.
"Miro, The Terrorist With a Conscience"
In this student-written piece, Haddie Bratwaite reflects on the character of Miro, in After the First Death. Specifically, she explores the sympathetic side of his nature that exists in contrast to his acts as a terrorist. Beginning with a look at…
Hugh Agee's letter to Robert Cormier
In this short letter, Hugh Agee, an instructor at the University of Georgia, shares an article he wrote that explores student responses to After the First Death, specifically their questions regarding the narrative perspective. Agee shares with…
"The Reader and the Text: Transaction and Reaction in Cormier's After the First Death"
In this scholarly article, written by Hugh Agee and Eugenia Vazey, the authors explore the narrative ambiguity of After the First Death through the lens of student responses. Drawing from writing produced by his college class of English education…
Jamie Argento letter to Robert Cormier
Jamie mentions specifics of the newspaper project Mrs. Anti assigned on After the First Death and asks Robert Cormier about the motive for writing a book on terrorism for children and how he melded those seemingly contradictory elements.
Jamie Lavender's letter to Robert Cormier
In this one-page, typed letter by Jamie Lavender, a high school student living in Lakewood, New Jersey, and dated 20 October 1983, the writer wrestles with the question of the purpose of fiction. S/he believes it is to "free the mind" not "burden" it…