When Francis Cassavant returns to his home town, his face horribly disfigured during World War II, he is tormented by memories of the conflict. People believe him to be a teenage war hero, not realising that his act of 'heroism' was in fact a suicide attempt. Back home, Francis has a mission - to get revenge on the youth leader he idolised, but betrayed him. And he's prepared to do whatever it takes. What are the themes? Heroism, conflict, struggle against evil, guilt, forgiveness, loneliness, loyalty. Teaching points This short novel, with its gripping plot and engaging themes, is accessible to a wide range of abilities. Provides excellent opportunities for exploring structure and narrative viewpoint.

A provocative story about the return home of teenage war hero and war victim, Francis Joseph Cassavant, to confront his past - the youth leader he idolized and who betrayed him - and the girl he still loves.

They entered the house at 9:02 P.M. and trashed their way through the Cape Cod cottage. At 9:46 P.M. Karen Jerome made the mistake of arriving home early. Thrown down the basement stairs, Karen slips into a coma. The trashers slip away.



But The Avenger has seen it all.

AFTER THE FIRST DEATH is a brilliantly tense hostage drama, by Robert Cormier, the acclaimed author of THE CHOCOLATE WAR. It is one of The Originals from Penguin - iconic, outspoken, first. On the outskirts of a small American town, a bus-load of young children is being held hostage. The hijackers are a cold and ruthless group, opposed to the secret government agency Inner Delta. At the centre of the battle are three teenagers. Miro is the terrorist with no past and no emotions. Kate is the bus driver, caught up in the nightmare, and Ben is the General's son who must act as a go-between. The Originals are the pioneers of fiction for young adults. From political awakening, war and unrequited love to addiction, teenage pregnancy and nuclear holocaust, The Originals confront big issues and articulate difficult truths. The collection includes: The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton, I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith, Postcards from No Man's Land - Aidan Chambers, After the First Death - Robert Cormier, Dear Nobody - Berlie Doherty, The Endless Steppe - Esther Hautzig, Buddy - Nigel Hinton, Across the Barricades - Joan Lingard, The Twelfth Day of July - Joan Lingard, No Turning Back - Beverley Naidoo, Z for Zachariah - Richard C. O'Brien, The Wave - Morton Rhue, The Red Pony - John Steinbeck, The Pearl - John Steinbeck, Stone Cold - Robert Swindells.

Do not pick up the phone. Let your mother or me answer it. If it' s for you, I will hand it over. Alone in the house, you do not answer.

The phone calls come every year, waking Denny up in the middle of the night. Every year, Denny's father calmly answers. He never speaks. He simply listens. But this year it's different. It's twenty-five years since the fire, the terrible tragedy for which Denny's father bears the blame. The tragedy which triggers these calls, year in, year out.

This year, Denny has had enough. This year, he will pick up the phone – and face the consequences.

A masterful portrayal of hatred, prejudice and manipulation that challenges readers to examine how they would behave in the face of evil. Henry meets and befriends Mr. Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor, who is carving a replica of the village where he lived and which was destroyed in the war. Henry's friendship with Mr. Levine is put to the test when his prejudiced boss, Mr. Hairston, asks Henry to destroy Mr. Levine's village.

The headmaster of Trinity College asks Archie Costello, the leader of the Vigils, a secret society that rules the school, to help with the selling of 20,000 boxes of chocolates in the annual fund-raising effort. Archie sees the chance of adding to his power - he is the Assigner, handing out to the boys tasks to be performed if they are to survive in the school. Freshman, Jerry Renault, a newcomer to the corrupt regime, refuses to sell chocolates. Enormous mental and physical pressure is put on him but he will not give in - the result is an inevitable, explosive tragedy.

One of the most controversial YA novels of all time, "The Chocolate War"is amodern masterpiece that speaks to fans of S. E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" and John Knowles's "A Separate Peace."
After suffering rejection from seven major publishers, "The Chocolate War" made its debut in 1974, and quickly became a bestselling--and provocative--classic for young adults. This chilling portrait of an all-boys prep school casts an unflinching eye on the pitfalls of conformity and corruption in our most elite cultural institutions.
"Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful."--"The New York Times Book Review"
"The characterizations of all the boys are superb."--"School Library Journal," starred review
"Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending."--"Kirkus Reviews," starred review
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A "School Library Journal" Best Book of the Year
A "Kirkus Reviews" Editor's Choice
A "New York Times" Outstanding Book of the Year

Adam's father is in hospital and Adam has set off to visit him. It's a long, cold journey; as he travels along Adam gets tired and. To take his mind off his exhaustion, he traces the events that led up to his father being taken to hospital. He had testified against government level corruption and the family became the subject of a government-orchestrated protection plan. The journey is a kind of odyssey, a search - through the mysteries of the mind. Adam must unlock the past and really rememberit if he is to survive.

First published in 1977, < I" Am the Cheese< /I> provides an exciting introduction to psychological thrillers. This sensitive, emotional, subtly-crafted novel by Robert Cormier (author of < I>The Chocolate War< /I>) was a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year, as well as a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Who will be the next to die?



They've taken the children. And the son of a general. But that isn't enough.



More horrors must come...

The school year is almost at an end, and the chocolate sale is past history.  But no one at Trinity School can forget The Chocolate War.

Devious Archie Costello, commander of the secret school organizationcalled the Virgils, stall has some torturous assignments to hand out before he graduates.  In spite of this pleasure, Archie is troubled by his right-hand man, Obie, who has started to move away from the Virgils.  Luckily Archie knows his stooges will fix that.  But won't Archie be shocked when he discovers the surprise Obie has waiting for him?

And there are surprises waiting for others.  The time for revenge has come to those boys who secretly suffered the trials of Trinity.  The fuse is set for the final explosion.  Who will survive?

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ERIC HAS just been released from juvenile detention for murdering his mother and stepfather. Now he's looking for some tenderness--tenderness he finds in caressing and killing beautiful girls. Fifteen-year-old Lori has run away from home again. Emotionally naive but sexually precocious, she is also looking for tenderness--tenderness she finds in Eric. Will Lori and Eric be each other's salvation or destruction?
"Cormier is in top form in this chilling portrait of a serial murderer. . . . Gripping."--"School Library Journal," Starred
"An""ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults"