At the age of forty-nine Robert (Edmund) Cormier published his first novel for young adults. The Chocolate War (1974) was the beginning of his remarkable career in the field of young adult books, which started by coincidence. When Cormier submitted the novel his editor convinced him to publish it for young adult readers rather than for the adult audience he had intended. Although Cormier did not feel comfortable with the idea at first, he later admitted that he was grateful for the editorial suggestion.

Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, Massachusetts.

After graduating from high school he studied at Fitchburg State College where he published his first short story. Starting in 1946, he worked for a Worcester radio station for two years and then transferred to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette in Leominster where he stayed for seven years. In 1955 he started his career as...