Tenderness (novel)

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

Plot
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 on 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 that he had fabricated his abuse story. He is determined to prove that Eric is a serial killer.

At 18, Eric is released from the juvenile detention center and immediately starts looking for a new victim. Lori sees him on TV, fixates on him, and runs away from home to find him. During this time, Detective Proctor begins setting a trap to catch Eric before he can kill again.

Supporting characters
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 Eric’s 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 Eric’s 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

Reception
In 1998, the American Library Association named Tenderness one of the top ten Best Books for Young Adults to be published that year.