This seven-page draft of a section of We All Fall Down includes many pencil edits. The draft opens with the scene at the mall and the remarks on the crowds. Lines about teenagers and older people are crossed out. The piece continues with the Avenger considering where the Trashers will be found, and patrolling the mall in search of them. Then, the Avenger spots Jane and shares his memories/fantasies of her. Pencil edits make more clear how thinking about Jane makes the Avenger feel relieved and sad. The draft closes with the Avenger's determined thoughts of enacting justice.
In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier responds to Raymond Wynter's questions. He explains that the idea for the novel came from an act of vandalism reported on the news. Specifically, he wanted to understand why kids from 'average' families would commit such crimes. Cormier closes the letter by describing the teenage years as a terrible and terrific time - a time for finding identity.
Raymond Wynter, a sophomore in high school, writes to Robert Cormier with a number of questions. Specifically, he asks about Cormier's influences, Cormier's teenage readers, and Cormier's favorite authors.
Mike Romano's fan letter is a one-page typed document addressed to Robert Cormier in the care of Dell Publishing. Mike had finished We All Fall Down and talked about the characters as if they were very real to him. He asked Cormier some questions like why did Jane have to come home early that night? He was worried about Jane. His letter shows an immersion into the text.
In this one-page, typed response to Hall Alexander, dated May 7, 2000, Robert Cormier explains one of the plot knots that Hall had queried him about regarding We All Fall Down. Cormier describes a trail of consistent characters' reactions given the circumstances in which he put them. Always an advocate for an active reading life, Cormier encourages Hall's continued enjoyment and deep consideration of books.
This two-page, typed, undated fan letter to Robert Cormier comes from a high school student, Hall Alexander of Ottowa, Kansas. Hall is very caught up in We All Fall Down. He has questions about both events and characters and he has opinions, as well. He is not writing as part of a school project but appears to have written on his own. In many ways, Hall epitomizes the engaged reader.
A participant in the Literature-N-Living class presents his lessons learned from We All Fall Down to an audience of peers and their family members. After summarizing major plot points, he talks about the pain victims feel and shares his realization that, ultimately, the perpetrator will come to such a painful awareness as well.
John Richter's letter to Robert Cormier
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation I - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation B - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation D - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation G - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation F - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation H - We All Fall Down
A participant in the Literature-N-Living class presents his lessons learned from We All Fall Down to an audience of peers and their family members. He speaks to the psychological and mental damage that a victim of crime might suffer. He also talks about how it's better to commit crimes alone so no one can turn you in.
John Richter's letter to Robert Cormier
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation I - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation B - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation D - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation G - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation F - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation H - We All Fall Down
A participant in the Literature-N-Living class, after reading We All Fall Down, presents his thoughts to an audience of peers and their family members. He talks about owning one's mistakes, becoming a man, and honoring God. He calls on his audience to commit to change and avoid making mistakes.
John Richter's letter to Robert Cormier
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation I - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation B - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation D - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation G - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation F - We All Fall Down
Literature-N-Living Oral Presentation H - We All Fall Down