Cormier, R. (1977). I am the cheese. New York: Knopf.
The story of Adam Farmer begins
when he sets out on a bicycle trip from Monument, Massachusetts, to Rutterburg,
Vermont to see his father. Along the
way, he encounters dangers of the road, some of his worst fears, and a few
helping hands. Interspersed with Adam’s
first person account of his journey and his recollections of happier times are
transcripts of interviews between Adam and Brint, a doctor who is trying to
help Adam regain his memories. Through
their conversations and Adam’s trip narrative, the clues about Adam’s family
and past unravel.
The
multiple points of view to which the reader has access through Adam’s travel
narrative, the interview transcripts, and the third person descriptions of some
of Adam’s memories that are recalled during the interview sessions highlight
the unreliability of Adam as a narrator while leaving clues and foreshadowing
for the reader to solve the mystery of the Farmer family. Multiple viewpoints or shifts in narration
from first to third person may be more common in contemporary young adult
literature, but for its time, this was a likely an innovative literary
device. The events of the story also cast doubts upon
certain aspects of the government in a move that mimics the trends in adult
literature of the same time and is a precursor to conspiracy theories and exposés that abound in popular
fiction (and nonfiction) today.
Like so
many other young adult novels that have remained perennial favorites among both
teens and the teachers and librarians who recommend and advocate for them, I Am the Cheese is a story of seeking
out identity. In Adam’s case, this may
be a more literal quest than other works, but the story is told in such a way
that even if teens cannot relate to the specific circumstances of Adam’s life,
they will connect to his exploration of memories as he tries to piece together
and explain his life. The mystery and
adventure of his bike trip will also likely resonate with readers who are eager
to gain independence from home and family while the treatment of Adam’s many
fears along the way can be viewed as reassuring or affirming to readers who may
be dealing with their own fears and insecurities about growing up, changing
relationships, and identity. I believe
that the accessibility of the teen characters of Adam and Amy in the book and
these themes of identity, insecurity, and independence are the greatest
strengths of the novel. As someone who
reads a great deal of young adult literature, I can see the influence of
Cormier’s writing and characters in the writing of more contemporary realistic
fiction. As I read, I noticed several
instances or descriptions that will make this novel seem dated to today’s young
readers. Adam has to use pay phones in
his attempts to contact his friend Amy along his journey, and during one of the
calls, the operator cuts in to speak to him.
Although I can recall a time before cell phones when pay phones were a
necessary part of life, but today’s teens will have little or no reference for
this plot point. Some of the literary
and musical references will be similarly outside the experience of current
readers. This could be perceived as a
drawback to some teens who aren’t interested in outdated references in books or
movies, but the overall strength of the characters, plot, and theme of the story
ultimately outweigh this drawback.
No comments:
Post a Comment