Teaching I Am the Cheese

Unless you're Shmoop, chowing down on gouda and watching The Shining again on a Saturday night, psychological thrillers and cheese usually…don't mix. But Robert Corimer's classic YA novel I Am the Cheese is about to prove you wrong—it's the story of a boy named Adam who's on a physical journey through New England and a mental journey through the past, revisiting his traumatic childhood and trying to uncover lost memories.

Sound spooky? It is. And it's also imminently teachable, even if cheese isn't involved as much as we thought when we initially splurged on our copy.

In this guide, you'll find

• a hook activity that helps students explore their identity through poetry—just as Adam will search for his identity throughout the novel.
• a spotlight on different narration styles featured in the book.
• conspiracy theories like whoa.

Like all classic YA angst-lit, I Am the Cheese tackles conformity, isolation, and alternate realities without breaking a sweat. If your students start questioning everything after reading it like they're on Season 2 of The X-Files, don't blame Shmoop's Teaching Guides.

What's Inside Shmoop's Literature Teaching Guides

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring literature to life.

Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:

• 13 – 18 Common Core-aligned activities to complete in class with your students, including detailed instructions for you and your students
• Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students
• Reading quizzes for every chapter, act, or part of the text
• Resources to help make the book feel more relevant to your 21st-century students
• A note from Shmoop's teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the text and how you can overcome the hurdles

Want more help teaching Teaching I Am the Cheese?

Check out all the different parts of our corresponding learning guide.