"Terrorism, suicide, child murder, betrayal, personality destruction, and governmental and religious corruption." They might seem more like topics for television movies-of-the-week than themes for young adult novels, but this is the list of subjects covered in Robert Cormier's novels that Joe Stines compiled for his Dictionary of Literary Biography essay on the author. Cormier's works defy young adult fiction stereotypes and offer teens hard- as-nails novels often dominated by a feeling of despair. Since The Chocolate War, his breakthrough first novel for young audiences, appeared in 1974, critical debate on Cormier's books often focuses on his themes and subject matter and their appropriateness for young readers. Cormier, however, remains firm in his desire to provide books for his youthful audience that will take them beyond the happily-ever-after fairy tales of childhood and the easy solutions of television action shows. "Why should I have to create happy endings"," he asked...