Biography Essay

"Teen-agers' Laureate," the title conferred upon Robert Cormier by Tony Schwartz in Newsweek (16 July 1979), is fittingly bestowed upon this widely read and critically acclaimed author in the relatively new and somewhat amorphous genre referred to as young-adult literature. For many years a journalist, newspaper editor, and author of fiction, Robert Cormier never wrote for a young-adult audience until first his agent, then his publisher, suggested that The Chocolate War (1974) would be a fine youngadult book. Although Cormier did not change any aspect of his writing—perhaps a key to his success-he became known as a young-adult writer. Treating subjects such as terrorism, fear, power, betrayal, death, and courage, Cormier creates unforgettable stories that are suspenseful, psychologically thrilling, and bleak in outlook. While Cormier's subject matter and pessimism sometimes give rise to controversy, there is no controversy about the clarity of his style, with its vivid figures...