Tenderness

Tenderness is a psychological thriller that follows Eric Poole, a teenage serial killer recently released from juvenile detention, and Lori Cranston, a troubled fifteen-year-old girl who becomes obsessed with him. Detective Jake Proctor, convinced of Eric's guilt in additional murders, works to prevent him from killing again. The narrative centers on Eric's release back into society and Lori's decision to run away from home to find him. Their paths intersect as Detective Proctor sets up surveillance, creating a tense dynamic between the three main characters. The story traces the complex relationship between Eric and Lori while Detective Proctor shadows their movements. Each character's past experiences and psychological makeup drive their actions and choices throughout the novel. This young adult thriller examines themes of obsession, manipulation, and the human need for connection - even in the most dangerous circumstances. It raises questions about the nature of evil and whether genuine tenderness can exist in damaged souls.

Readers describe Tenderness as a dark, unsettling psychological thriller that pushes boundaries for young adult literature. The book holds a 3.8/5 rating on Goodreads from 2,000+ ratings. What readers liked: - Complex character development and psychological depth - Unpredictable narrative structure - Raw, honest portrayal of difficult themes - Subtle building of tension - Memorable, haunting ending What readers disliked: - Too disturbing for the YA category - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some found it hard to connect with the protagonists - Content warnings needed for violence/sexual themes From reviews: "The dual perspectives create an uncomfortable intimacy with both characters" - Goodreads reviewer "Not for the faint of heart, but the writing is remarkable" - Amazon review "Left me thinking about it for days after" - LibraryThing user Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 Amazon: 4.1/5 LibraryThing: 3.9/5

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🔍 The book was published in 1997, the year before Cormier's 73rd birthday, and represents one of his last major works before his death in 2000. 📚 Cormier worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for 30 years before becoming a full-time novelist, which influenced his sharp observational writing style. 🏆 Like many of Cormier's works, "Tenderness" was controversial upon release but went on to win multiple awards and is now frequently taught in high school literature classes. 🗺️ The New England setting draws from Cormier's lifelong connection to the region - he was born in Leominster, Massachusetts and lived there his entire life. 🎭 The character of Eric Poole was partially inspired by real-life cases of teenage killers that Cormier researched during his time as a journalist.