T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot

attended Parochial Schoolattended Parochial School Nuns gave him a terrible time. Nuns gave him a terrible time.

– In eighth grade, he In eighth grade, he watched from his classroom watched from his classroom window as his own house window as his own house caught fire and burned. caught fire and burned.

– Teacher refused to let him Teacher refused to let him go to see if his family was go to see if his family was safe until he had said the safe until he had said the requisite prayers. requisite prayers.

Had first published Had first published poem in the 7poem in the 7thth grade grade

Wrote commercials and Wrote commercials and worked as journalistworked as journalist

First MAJOR novel was First MAJOR novel was The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War in in 1973.1973.

The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War won several awards won several awards including including The New The New York TimesYork Times “Outstanding Book of “Outstanding Book of the Year.”the Year.”

Was made into a Was made into a movie in 1988movie in 1988

criticized for bleak criticized for bleak portrayals of portrayals of adolescenceadolescence

Banned from some Banned from some school libraries school libraries because of because of disturbing themesdisturbing themes

QUOTESQUOTES

““young people today young people today are exposed to so are exposed to so much information, much information, they are probably they are probably more demanding in more demanding in terms of realism.”terms of realism.”

QUOTESQUOTES ““a controversial book belongs in a controversial book belongs in

the classroom where it can be the classroom where it can be discussed, where a teacher can discussed, where a teacher can guide the students, where, in guide the students, where, in fact, a student can get up in fact, a student can get up in class or write a paper saying class or write a paper saying that he or she doesn't like the that he or she doesn't like the book and objects to facets of it. book and objects to facets of it. That's the kind of freedom that That's the kind of freedom that we must preserve.” we must preserve.”

OTHER WORKSOTHER WORKS I Am The CheeseI Am The Cheese After The First DeathAfter The First Death Beyond the Chocolate Beyond the Chocolate

WarWar– sequel to sequel to The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War

Robert Robert Cormier died Cormier died

in 2000in 2000