"Journeys into Terror"
<p>In this article, Mary Shaner explores two pieces - Robert Cormier's <em>After the First Death</em> and Peter Dickinson's <em>The Seventh Raven</em>. Both novels look closely at the plight of children as victims of terrorist attacks. Both books also look more deeply at teenage protagonists who are under pressure from their elders to act in a specific way. Bravery also comes into play - both perceptions of bravery and the need to be brave. Both novels offer a portrayal of terrorists as people, and both offer sympathetic characters. A central theme, shared by both books, is that of integrity, which sometimes comes at the cost of humanity.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Mary+Shaner">Mary Shaner</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo, Katy Covino
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Essay">Essay</a>
Anny Lee's letter to Robert Cormier
In this letter from Anny Lee shares with Cormier her experience of reading <em>After the First Death</em>. 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 not like the close analysis her class engaged in, she does say how interested she became in the characters and the plot.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Anny+Lee">Anny Lee</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
19 November 1987
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo, Katy Covino
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wayne Kent's letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Kenzel's letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 lined paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Jennifer Cowan's letter to Robert Cormier
In this one-page, typed letter dated April 14, 1986 by Jennifer Cowan, a high school student living in Hudson, she asks Cormier specific questions about character development in<em> After the First Death.</em>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Jennifer+Cowan">Jennifer Cowan</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
14 April 1986
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/81" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's response to Jennifer Cowan</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Kristy Luzar's letter to Robert Cormier
<p>In Kristy Luzar's typed but very faded letter to Robert Cormier dated 15 May 1989 she shares her engagement with the novel, <em>After the First Death</em>, and asks him key questions about the characters and plot structure of the novel.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Kristy+Luzar">Kristy Luzar</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
15 May 1989
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/89" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cindy Ryal's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Maxine Shosto's letter to Robert Cormier
<p>Maxine Shosto was a high school student in England when she wrote this one-page, handwritten letter. She explains that she had been "set to write an essay" and then included several interviews and plot questions concerning <em>After the First Death</em>.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Maxine+Shosto">Maxine Shosto</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/93" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's draft response to Maxine Shosto</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Mike Romano's letter to Robert Cormier
<p>Mike Romano's fan letter is a one-page typed document addressed to Robert Cormier in the care of Dell Publishing. Mike had finished <em>We All Fall Down</em> 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.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Mike+Romano">Mike Romano</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
11 October 1996
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/95" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's response to Mike Romano</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's draft response to Maxine Shosto
<p>Robert Cormier's hand revised draft of his letter to Maxine Shosto addresses her questions regarding <em>After the First Death</em>. In particular, he talks about the ambiguity in the book and says that it is because life is ambiguous. He had mislaid the letter and was unable to get the reply back to her in time for her school report. The heavy pencil edits show his concern with precise language.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/92" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maxine Shosto's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's letter to Kevin Prentice
Robert Cormier responds to Kevin's inquiries regarding the ideas for the novel, <em>After the First Death</em>. He cites three main sources of interest: 1) his home near Fort Devens and the possibility of a terrorist attack, 2) the Abraham-Isaac Bible story, and 3) his desire to create a female character.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
25 May 1998
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo, Katy Covino
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's response to Jennifer Cowan
In his two-page "random" response to Jennifer Cowan, as one of several (or more) classmates who wrote, Robert Cormier reveals that <em>After the First Death</em> is told from the point of view of Ben's father. He refers to a pamphlet he enclosed and hoped that would answer some of the questions she and others of her classmates entertained.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
8 May 1986
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/80" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jennifer Cowan's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's response to Mike Romano
Robert Cormier's response to Mike Romano dated Nov. 15, 1996 addresses Mike's questions and talks about the news story that drew his attention about the "regular" teens who trashed and "desecrated" a home in Massachusetts upon which he based part of <em>We All Fall Down</em>.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
15 November 1996
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/94" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike Romano's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>