1. What is one example of symbolism in the book?

1. Pokey the Pig
2. Cat
3. Horse
4. Dog

2. Who was the point-of-view from?

1. Mr.Grey
2. Louise Farmer
3. Adam Farmer
4. Amy Hertz

3. What was the overall tone of the story?

1. Happy
2. Hopeful
3. Sad
4. Depressing

4. What was the overall mood of the story?

1. Stressed
2. Happy
3. Suspenseful
4. Sad

5.  What type of figurative language is this?

“I am the bike and the bike is me”

1. Personification
2. Simile
3. Metaphor
4. Imagery

6. This is an example of what type of figurative language?

The guy who works at the gas station stresses to Adam that he fears identity theft. Mr. Grey is referred to Mr. Thompson and Brint’s tag in the transcriptions is “T”.

1. Simile
2. Foreshadowing
3. Metaphor
4. Imagery

7. This is an example of what type of figurative language?

“I stand there like a tree”

1. Metaphor
2. Simile
3. Tone
4. Mood

8. This is an example of what type of figurative language?

“I am the package”

1. Personification
2. Mood
3. Metaphor
4. Simile

Answers: A,C,B,C,D,B,B,C.

As a boy searches for his father he discovers his family’s secret past.

The cool thing about the book, I am the Cheese, is that the book has two kinds of narrations from the same teenage boy. In the first narration the teenager Adam Farmer who is on a bike ride journey to visit his father. In the second narration a doctor named Brint is interviewing Adam about his life trying to help Adam remember everything about his life.

Adam Farmer narrates as he is riding on his bike from Monument, Massachusetts. Adam is wanting to visit his father where he thinks is in Rutterburg, Vermont. Adam has a special package to deliver to his father. Throughout the trip Adam is faced with multiple challenges that he had feared before he even started to make his journey. For example, he had to faced a dog. Adam is very scared of dogs. Another thing Adam has to face on his journey was a group of bullies. The story goes on with everything that happened on his journey until he makes it to his final distention. On the other side Adam is getting interviewed by a guy named Brint. Brint starts to be very pushy with Adam wanting to know a lot about Adam’s father and the work his father did. Brint’s whole objective was to help Adam remember things about his life.

The main overall theme of the novel is it is hard to know who can be trusted. At first Adam had a hard time trusting his new friend Amy. Amy was so different than he was so it was hard for him to adjust to something different. Over time he starts to trust her and becomes more comfortable around her. Throughout the story Adam begins to not trust his parents. Adam starts to learn things about his life that doesn’t add up to what his parents had told him. Once he hears his mother’s conversation on the phone he realizes that his parents can’t be trusted. Another person that can’t be trusted in the story is, Mr. Grey, the guy that comes and visits with Adam’s father. Mr.Grey is very secretive. He also isn’t very open to changes that he hadn’t came up with himself. Robert Cormier wrote, “And you don’t even know who to trust anymore. Do you know who the bad guys are?” […] “Of course you don’t. Because you can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys anymore. Nobody knows these days. Nobody” (54). Another quote that really goes with this theme is when Cormier states,”Adam was amazed at his ability to lie, the way his mind had been quick to invent a new set of circumstances for himself and his parents. But he wondered why? Why is it necessary to lie?” (142). These quotes really explain that it is hard to know who to trust. Sometimes it’s even hard to trust yourself.

Amy Hertz was one of the most outgoing and fun person to ever live. Amy was born on April 18th, 2001. She passed away on November 30th, 2020 at the age of 19. Amy Hertz lived in Monument, Massachusetts growing up until she moved to Kansas City, Missouri after attending college. At the time of her death she had many living friends and family. She was survived by both of her parents Rick and Donna Hertz. Some of her closest friends included Megan Vance and Jewel Wilson. All three of them grew up in Monument together and then went to Missouri State University. Amy’s childhood best friend was Adam Farmer. Adam died in a car crash while in high school. Amy loved to do anything crazy. Amy always found ways to have tons of fun. While in high school Amy enjoys pulling pranks on people, reading, and hanging out with her friends. Amy had always been a very optimistic person. She never failed to bring joy and brightness into someone’s life. Amy will be forever missed.

Adam Farmer was a very quiet and shy teenager. Adam was born on February 14th, 2002. He passed away on March 2nd, 2017 at the age of 15. Adam Farmer lived in Monument, Massachusetts with his mother and father. At the time of Adam’s death he only had one living relative his aunt Martha. Adam’s life will be celebrated on June 26th, 2017 at the Catholic church in town where he and his parents attended church his whole life. Adam really only had one friends and that was Amy Hertz. Adam and Amy pretty much did everything together. Adam then began to have feelings for Amy, but he never found out if Amy felt the same. Adam loved to read and hangout with Amy and his parents. Adam was currently attending Monument High School. Even though Adam was a shy and quiet person he still was very friendly. Once you would get to know him he would come out of his shell and join in on the fun. Adam died in a car crash with his father and mother who also died in the crash. Adam will forever be deeply loved and missed.

Louise Farmer was a lovely woman. Louise was born on December 11th, 1981. She passed away on March 2nd, 2017 at age 35. Louise Farmer lived in Monument, Massachusetts with her husband and son. Louise had one sister, Martha, living at the time of her death. We will be celebrating the life of Louise Farmer on June 26th, 2017 at the Catholic church in town where she attending church most of her life after she married her husband, David. Louise didn’t have really have any friends because she was a stay at home mom. Louise rarely left the house. Louise’s few friends included the librarian and some of her husband’s friends. Louise loved to do things with her son, Adam. She also loved to read and paint. One of the few things she didn’t like to do was go to the grocery store. She really loved spending time with her family. Anytime she could she would do something with them. One of Louise’s favorite things to do was to travel with her family. Like said before Louise was a stay at home mom. Louise was always a very comforting person who anyone enjoyed being around if they got a chance. Louise died in a car crash with her husband and son who also died in the car crash. Louise will be deeply missed.

David Farmer was a nice and wonderful man. David was born on June 20th, 1979. He passed away on March 2nd, 2017 at age 37. David Farmer lived in Monument, Massachusetts with his wife and son. David had one sister-in-law, Martha, at the time of his death. We will be celebrating the life of David Farmer on June 26th, 2017 at the Catholic church in town where he attending church most of his life and where he asked to have his service before he died. David Farmer didn’t have very many friends because of his job, but the few friends he had deeply miss him. A few of his friends include a man named Mr. Grey and a few of his coworkers. David Farmer didn’t own any pets or animals, but he had always wanted to get one he just never had the time to do so. David loved to write and read. He also loved being around his wife and son, Louise and Adam. David loved taking his family on vacations and spending time playing board games or watching tv with them. David also enjoyed doing pretty much any activity outside. David was a political journalist in which he a a major in journalism. David was a fun spirited person, lighthearted, playful, and decent American citizens who loves his family very much. David died in a car crash with his wife and son who also died with him. David will forever be cherished to all the people he had an impact on.

This is an interview between Kaylyn Rogers and Robert Cormier.

K: Can you tell me a little about your childhood? Like when and where you born? Also where did you grow up?

R: I was born in Leominster, Massachusetts on January 17, 1925. I had a lovely childhood in Leominster where I was born. We often called it Monument.

K: When did you know you wanted to write books?

R: I knew I wanted to be a writer after writing my first poem at the age of 12.

K: That’s awesome! What are some of the steps you took to become a writer?

R: I wrote commercials for a local radio station, I was a journalist for several years for multiple newspapers.

K: Wow that’s very impressive!

R: Thank you!

K: What do you think would be your favorite quote from your book, I am the Cheese?

R: I think it would be “He was intrigued by the power of words, not the literary words that filled the books in the library but the sharp, staccato words that went into the writing of the news stories. Words that went for the jugular. Active verbs that danced and raced on the page” (25).

K: I really like that quote.

R: Thank you!

K: Well thank you for your time.

Works Cited

“Robert Cormier.” IMDb, IMDb.com, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0180068/bio#spouse.

This book should be on the college-board reading list. There are many reasons why this book should be on the college-board reading list. One of the biggest reasons is because a lot of kids in school are like Adam Farmer. Most kids in high school are trying to figure out who they are just like Adam is. Throughout the story Adam is trying to figure out where he came from and who he really is. The more people that read this book the more people will realize that everyone goes through a time where they don’t really know exactly who they are or where they came from.  Another reason this book should belong on the college-board reading list is because the book is very enjoyable. Throughout the whole story there are all these different things that happen. Many of the things that happen come up out of nowhere which makes the book even more exciting. The last main reason that this book should belong on the college-board reading list is because of the writing style that Cormier creates through his story.  says, “Cormier’s novels are unusually dark for fiction addressed towards a younger audience” (1). Another person named Kenneth L. states that, “Robert Cormier is a genius. While this is considered a young adult level novel, it does not talk down to readers. Very sophisticated plotting. Fantastic twist ending that will have you re-reading the beginning for the clues you missed. Highly recommended” (2).

(1)https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48974.I_Am_the_Cheese#other_reviews

(2)  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/i-am-the-cheese/user-reviews/adult

The setting of the story is in Monument, Massachusetts.  Monument is a beautiful place. It’s a town where even though it’s a small town you can still have tons fun. In Monument the people are super nice and always make sure you are okay. People are always super friendly to the visitors and are very welcoming. Monument would be a perfect place to spend your summer at or even your week’s vacation. There is an amazing library in Monument too. A lot of the teenagers really like going to the library. Everything about Monument is amazing so I encourage to go there someday.

Dear Editor,

This is Adam. As in Adam Farmer. I am very concerned with what happened to my parents. I just don’t understand why they had to go away. Why couldn’t you tell Cormier that the book shouldn’t end like this. My parents meant everything to me. I loved both of them more than you could of imaged and now I don’t even know where my father or mother is. I think I know where my mother is, but I’m not for sure. I’m just so confused.

                                                                                                       Sincerely,

Adam Farmer

Dear Editor,

I do not think that college-bound people should read this book. There are many reasons I think this. One of the main reasons I think this is because most people that are going to go  to college in the future are not going to want to read this book. Not that many people are going to want to read about a teenage boy who runs away from home in search to visit his father. Another reason I think that college-bound people shouldn’t read this is, because the book is very easy to read. When you are preparing for college you are going to want to read something that is more difficult to read.

                                                                                                           Sincerely,

Kyle Sage