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…
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 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…
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 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…
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 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 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…
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.
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…
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…
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 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.
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…
In this two-page, handwritten letter by Janet Fredericksen to Robert Cormier, the adult writer explains that she encountered the book, After the First Death, in a Children's Literature class. Almost angrily, she demands to know who his audience is…