Tenderness

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Author(s)

Robert Cormier

Publisher

Bantam Doubleday Dell

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

14+

Release Date

March 10, 1997

ISBN

0385322860

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Eighteen-year-old Eric has just been released from juvenile detention for murdering his mother and stepfather. Now he’s looking for tenderness—tenderness he finds in caressing and killing beautiful girls.

Fifteen-year-old Lori has run away from home again. Emotionally naïve but sexually precocious, she is also looking for tenderness—tenderness she finds in Eric. Will Lori and Eric be each other’s salvation or destruction? Told from their alternating points of view, this harrowing thriller speeds to its fateful conclusion with an irresistible force, and a final twist that will not be easily forgotten.

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3 reviews

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0(3)

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You'll Be Rooting For the "Villain"

August 10, 2012 (Updated: July 12, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

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I read this book years ago and it stuck with me. That is a positive note in itself. I loved how you read the mind of a "psychopath" but immediate fall in love and root for him. You read the story of how Lori and Eric very well may be meant to be - together their lack of support makes them lean on each-other.
The ending truly made me cry!

Good Points

*Suspenseful
*Romantic in an anti-hero sorta way
*A true page turner
*Easy to read

Linda

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one of those stand still let me think for a minute psychological beauties

March 19, 2005 (Updated: July 12, 2026)

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Reader reviewed by Alyssa

It was dark, dangerous and thrilling and so was it's psycopath main character. I loved it becuase it wasn't a typical teen book. It was intriguing and played at my intellect. A guy is released from juvenile prison and a young girl falls in love with him. Eric's mother sexually abused him so that explains his psychological problems. It is quite something and the title tenderness is interesting considering the content but both main characters neede love and were searching for tenderness.

Guest

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The end is shocking

April 03, 2002 (Updated: July 12, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by L. Eustace

A teenage girl becomes fixated with a teenage male criminal she sees on television. She goes out to find him when he is released, only to be caught up in a web of love and trouble. He on the other hand wants to go on with his life after having abused many teenage girls his age, the reason why he ended up in jail. When he meets this courageous and troubled girl, he finds himself in love with her.

You get all caught up in the story that the end shocks you. The book was all happy and sappy, until a boat ride at night, when he debates on whether he should gag her or take her. Suspenseful and entertaining.

Guest

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