Cormier, Robert. 1974. Chocolate War. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN: 0-440-94459-7
SUMMARY:
Freshman Jerry Renault attends Trinity School, a private Catholic all-boy preparatory high school. Jerry plays football and conforms to the rules of the school. But when the annual chocolate fundraiser arrives, Jerry refuses to sell any. Everyone is shocked! Under the command of the Vigils, a secret school society, Jerry is told not to sell the candy for ten days. However, after the teen days, he still refuses to sell. This disrupts the power of the Vigils and of the school. The Vigils harass and bully Jerry. He is even beaten up by the biggest school bully. Still, Jerry won't budge. In a final stance in this chocolate war, the Vigils set-up a boxing match in which the school body chooses the blows.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Written in the third-person and set on a private high school, Cormier characters were vivid and with little chapters devoted to them allows the reader into each personality. There are several themes in this book and they may be reveal to each reader differently: standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, non-conformity. Jerry experiences self vs self conflict, with the quotation in his locker reading, "Do I dare disturb the universe". Jerry also exhibits the self vs. others, by conflicting with the Vigils and with society, with the school.
LITERARY CRITERIA:
The conflict between characters is the whole story of The Chocolate War. The defiance of Jerry, the power-hungry Archie, the teddy-bear Goubert and the others is the whole story. It may the setting also that may to the story, since the story rarely occurs off campus. The theme of self-questioning and Jerry's sexual frustration also add to the story; the reader sees a bit into Jerry's persona. The plot flows as a great story building up to its climax.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:
In the beginnings of the novel, Cormier writes small chapters to reveal the persona of each character, how they interact with other and their happening.
A weakness may be that this is a "boy book". Girls may find it hard to get through it.
AWARDS AND OTHER REVIEWS:
An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Choice
A New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year
"The characterizations of all the boys are superb... This novel [is] unique in its uncompromising portrait of human cruelty and conformity."-School Library Journal, starred review
"The novel is cleverly written with a good sense of the realistic and a good ear for dialogue, qualities which will attract any reader."-Bestsellers
FAVORITE LINES/ PASSAGES:
Freshman Jerry Renault attends Trinity School, a private Catholic all-boy preparatory high school. Jerry plays football and conforms to the rules of the school. But when the annual chocolate fundraiser arrives, Jerry refuses to sell any. Everyone is shocked! Under the command of the Vigils, a secret school society, Jerry is told not to sell the candy for ten days. However, after the teen days, he still refuses to sell. This disrupts the power of the Vigils and of the school. The Vigils harass and bully Jerry. He is even beaten up by the biggest school bully. Still, Jerry won't budge. In a final stance in this chocolate war, the Vigils set-up a boxing match in which the school body chooses the blows.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Written in the third-person and set on a private high school, Cormier characters were vivid and with little chapters devoted to them allows the reader into each personality. There are several themes in this book and they may be reveal to each reader differently: standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, non-conformity. Jerry experiences self vs self conflict, with the quotation in his locker reading, "Do I dare disturb the universe". Jerry also exhibits the self vs. others, by conflicting with the Vigils and with society, with the school.
LITERARY CRITERIA:
The conflict between characters is the whole story of The Chocolate War. The defiance of Jerry, the power-hungry Archie, the teddy-bear Goubert and the others is the whole story. It may the setting also that may to the story, since the story rarely occurs off campus. The theme of self-questioning and Jerry's sexual frustration also add to the story; the reader sees a bit into Jerry's persona. The plot flows as a great story building up to its climax.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:
In the beginnings of the novel, Cormier writes small chapters to reveal the persona of each character, how they interact with other and their happening.
A weakness may be that this is a "boy book". Girls may find it hard to get through it.
AWARDS AND OTHER REVIEWS:
An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Choice
A New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year
"The characterizations of all the boys are superb... This novel [is] unique in its uncompromising portrait of human cruelty and conformity."-School Library Journal, starred review
"The novel is cleverly written with a good sense of the realistic and a good ear for dialogue, qualities which will attract any reader."-Bestsellers
FAVORITE LINES/ PASSAGES:
After slapping Bailey in the face and accusing him of cheating, Brother Leon says this to the class:
"You poor fools," he said. "You idiots. Do you know who's the best one here? The bravest of all?" He placed his hand on Bailey's shoulder. "Gregory Bailey, that's who. He denied cheating, He stood his ground! But you, gentlemen, you sat there and enjoyed yourselves. And those of you who didn't enjoy yourselves allowed it to happen, allowed me to proceed. You turned this classroom into Nazi Germany for a few moments. Yes, yes someone finally protested. Aw, let the kid alone." Mimicking the deep voice perfectly. " A feeble protest, too little and too late." ... He turned to Bailey, touched the top of this head with the pointer as if he were bestowing knighthood. "You did well, Bailey. I'm proud of you. You passed the biggest test of all- you were true to yourself."
"You poor fools," he said. "You idiots. Do you know who's the best one here? The bravest of all?" He placed his hand on Bailey's shoulder. "Gregory Bailey, that's who. He denied cheating, He stood his ground! But you, gentlemen, you sat there and enjoyed yourselves. And those of you who didn't enjoy yourselves allowed it to happen, allowed me to proceed. You turned this classroom into Nazi Germany for a few moments. Yes, yes someone finally protested. Aw, let the kid alone." Mimicking the deep voice perfectly. " A feeble protest, too little and too late." ... He turned to Bailey, touched the top of this head with the pointer as if he were bestowing knighthood. "You did well, Bailey. I'm proud of you. You passed the biggest test of all- you were true to yourself."
BOOK HOOK:
Curriculum themes to be considered: Bullying, self-confidence, self-believing, defiance, "secret societies"and conformity.
BOOK HOOK:
Curriculum themes to be considered: Bullying, self-confidence, self-believing, defiance, "secret societies"and conformity.
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