Tenderness (novel)

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This article is about the book. For the film based on the book, see Tenderness (2009 film).

Tenderness

Author Robert Cormier

Country United States

Language English

Genre Young adult novel

Publisher Bantam Doubleday

Publication date 1997

Media type Print

Pages 240

ISBN 0-385-73133-7

Tenderness is a 1997 novel written by Robert Cormier.[1] It is the basis for John Polson's 2009
film, Tenderness.[2]

Plot[edit]
Eric Poole is a convicted teenage serial killer. Lorelei "Lori" Cranston is a troubled 15-year-old
girl.
As a little boy in New England, Eric Poole already exhibited symptoms of a sociopath. He was
suspected of murdering several young girls, but also murdered his mother and stepfather, and
was convicted for those deaths. He convinced investigators that he killed his guardians out of
self-defense with a false story of abuse.
Lori is described as a beautiful girl with a very mature body at a young age. Consequently she
must constantly deal with the wanted and unwanted sexual attention she receives from men. She
has a tendency to fixate of men, and will pursue them until she has put her mouth on theirs.
Detective Jake Proctor always suspected that Eric was guilty of killing the other girls and had
fabricated the abuse story. He is determined to prove that Eric is a serial killer.
At 18, Eric is released from the juvenile detention center he has been held in and immediately
starts looking for a new victim. Lori sees him on TV, fixates on him, and runs away from home
to find him while Detective Proctor begins setting a trap to catch Eric before he can kill again.

Supporting characters[edit]
Lieutenant Jake Proctor
Retired cop, now a detective. Proctor labeled Eric a psychopath and a monster incapable of
feeling. Proctor doubts Eric's accusations of abuse and strongly suspects Eric of having
committed at least two other murders. The two seem to like each other but are ultimately at cross
purposes. Proctor takes Eric's case personally, as 20 years before he let another young man, who
resembles Eric and also suspected of murder, go free when he had equally strong doubts. Now
Proctor is determined to prove Erics guilt and put and bring him to justice, this time as an adult.
Proctor hopes this will put an end to his nightmares of murder victims denied justice that keep
him up at night.
Aunt Phoebe
A well-dressed, never married, and attractive woman, Eric's aunt is also the owner of the parrot
murdered at Erics hands. She offers Eric a place to stay once he is released from the facility.
Maria Valdez
The beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed Hispanic girl who fits the usual look of Eric's victims. She
gives Eric her number while in the facility and later meets him at the state fair. She is revealed to
be working with police.
Jimmy
The young cop who helps Proctor catch Eric in the act, whether real or framed.
Sonny Boy
Sweet Lefty's torturer and resident bully at the facility.
Sweet Lefty
An easygoing and usually well-liked inmate who is bullied by other inmates but "rescued" by
Eric.
Ross Packer
A young reporter at the Wickburg Telegram who writes the Ms. Anonymous piece on Lori that
Eric later reads.
Gary
One of the nicer men that Lori's mom has dated. Gary also feels attracted to Lori.
Dexter
An ex of Lori's mother who beat her, giving her a black eye and then fled soon afterward.
 Mr. Clayton
The driver of the van who picks up Lori when she hitchhikes and succumbs to her seductions.
Lori steals his wallet and decides to mail it back to him, but she never does because it is later
stolen from her.
Phyllis Kendall
A beautiful old woman with white hair who is also the caretaker and mentor at the teen
pregnancy center, Harmony House.
Mrs. Hornsby
An out of place cook at the teen pregnancy center, Harmony House.
Debbie
An exceptionally big pregnant teen at Harmony House.
Chantelle
Another very pregnant teen girl.
Tiffany
A frail tiny girl who is also Lori's rival, she tries to frame her for theft at Harmony House.
Rory
Leader of a gang.
Crystal
A plump girl who is a member of the gang, later becomes pregnant, and attends Harmony House
teen pregnancy center
Bantam
A skinny little kid who wants to act tough and is also part of the gang

References[edit]

1. Jump up^ Mosle, Sara (1998-08-02). "Culture Zone; The

Outlook's Bleak". The New York Times. Archived from the
original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved 2008-02-25.

2. Jump up^ "King of the shorts is still on a roll". Sydney

Morning Herald. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-25.

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Published novels by Robert Cormier