Author: Cormier, Robert
Title: The Chocolate War
Plot Summary: "The
Chocolate War" is a novel of one boy's struggle not to follow the crowd.
Jerry Renault decides not to participate in the annual chocolate sale. The
Vigils, a secret school society in charge of the sale, decides that this
is a threat to their organization. Jerry becomes an outcast. He is beaten
and abused but still remains strong.
Review: Many of the characters are the same throughout the entire book. Archie, leader of the Vigils, is a master of intimidation and has no sympathy for anybody. Brother Leon is a twisted teacher who supports the Vigils. However, Jerry Renault, the main character, is just like everybody else at the beginning of the book. By the end he is a boy who is not affected by anybody's opinion. The characters are realistic in the sense that they have flaws, but the realism of their actions is questionable.
Mr. Cormier has a unique writing style. He tells what is happening, and then he explains it. He also uses strong metaphors like "As he turned to take the ball, a dam burst against the side of his head and a hand grenade shattered his stomach." Cormier is writing about Jerry getting tackled. While this is effective, sometimes it gets in the way of the storyline.
This novel deals with standing up for what
you believe in, even when it means you must suffer the consequences. It
also deals with doing what is right. It would have been very easy for Jerry
just to sell the chocolates. He continued to refuse because of his ethical
views.
Interest Level: 4
Genre: Problem
Novel
Quality: 4Q Popularity: 4P
(On a scale of one to five with five being the best.)
Reviewed by: Andrew M.
Grade: 8
Date Reviewed: December 19, 1998
School:Littleton Jr/Sr High School
City, State, Country:Littleton, Massachusetts. USA