49 pages • 1 hour read
I Am the Cheese
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Book Brief
233
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1970s
1977
YA
13-18 years
750L
Super Short Summary
In I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier, teen Adam Farmer believes he is biking from his Massachusetts hometown to a Vermont hospital to visit his dad, a journalist who exposed governmental corruption, while the story progressively reveals his reality in a psychiatric hospital and his journey through repressed traumas, identity crisis, and the struggle to recall his true past. The book references violence, threats, murder, psychological trauma, and family loss.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Unnerving
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
17,716 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Robert Cormier's I Am the Cheese is praised for its intense, gripping narrative and complex, layered storytelling that effectively explores themes of identity and memory. However, some critics find the plot's nonlinear structure challenging and potentially confusing. Overall, it remains a thought-provoking and memorable read.
Who Should Read I Am the Cheese?
Fans of suspenseful, psychological fiction with a young adult focus will enjoy Robert Cormier’s I Am the Cheese. Readers drawn to complex narratives and themes similar to S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders or Lois Lowry’s The Giver will appreciate this gripping tale of identity and memory.
17,716 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Dave (David) Farmer/Anthony Delmonte
Dave (David) Farmer/Anthony Delmonte
Adam's father, portrayed as a steadfast but mysterious figure whose past as a journalist influences the story's events and his family's current predicament.
Louise Nolan/Louise Holden
Louise Nolan/Louise Holden
Adam's mother, depicted as a troubled and complex character whose emotional depth is gradually revealed throughout the narrative.
Amy Hertz
Amy Hertz
A lively and mischievous presence in Adam's life, representing his longing for normalcy and companionship amid the turbulence he faces.
Brint
Brint
A manipulative government figure whose interactions with Adam drive much of the plot's tension and mystery, representing the authoritative forces that loom over Adam's life.
Mr. Grey
Mr. Grey
A secretive and enigmatic official responsible for the protective yet unsettling presence in Adam's family life, symbolizing the latent threats surrounding them.
233
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1970s
1977
YA
13-18 years
750L
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