The Chocolate War

Review: The Chocolate state of war - Robert Cormier.

        Long forwards it was fashionable for publishers to secernate that there was no such thing as a childrens book (just books with a broad appeal) that is, before Harry Potter, I read Robert Cormier and other books designated teenage. One earth was their relative brevity comp ard to adult novels - this appealed to my low boredom threshold. some other reason was that I have always enjoyed seeking pop things that others might non know of or know full virtually to enjoy. It occurred to me then and now, that there is a whole depository library of books untapped by adults where the distinction between adult and callowness fiction is of ten-spot a false one.

        The Chocolate War is set around young people, provided dont let this put you off. It is also plotted around issues and difficulties that punish young people. Adults can read at a in effect(p) distance.

        The story centres on Jerome Renault, Jerry, who is grieving for his mother after her end from cancer. Jerry is desperate to belong. Jerry is keen to be normal, regular, square - prime actual for the school gang, The Vigils.

        The Vigils is no regular gangthey are non bullies and they do not use violence. This is a society of irreverent boys who set challenges other boys must(prenominal) go through to produce themselves strong enough, worthy of cosmos chosen. Boys chosen for assignments are not given a choice, they are not allowed to refuse.

        Enter Archie, the assigner of the Vigils. Archie believed in always doing the smart thing. Not the thing you ached to do, not the driving act but the thing that would pay off later.          thereof Archie and Jerry are set on a collision course. This collision course is set against the backdrop of the annual school coffee tree selling fundraiser. comrade Leon, acting head of Trinity School, has been challenging in his purchase of cocoas, meaning that each boy must sell double the number of coffee trees he would normally pauperisation to sell. chum Leon recruits Archie and the Vigils in an attempt to make the great chocolate sell a success. Brother Leon sees the chocolate sell about more than fundraising; for him it is about school spirit, about standing elevate to shoulder with the other boys, about standing up and being counted.

        Brother Leon is as much a bully as Archie, and it is Jerrys bad luck that Archie does not like Brother Leon telling him what to do.

        Jerry Renaults assignment is to refuse to sell the chocolates for ten days, something no other boy has ever done.



Jerry recognises that life is not pleasant: And he did see - that life was rotten, that there was no heroes really and that you couldnt trust anyone, not even yourself.         It is a bleak view of the world and a particularly acerbic view of the world of boys and men.

        Then Jerrys assignment is over, but he continues to refuse to sell the chocolates. Jerry doesnt know why he does this, but the reader knows it will end in tears.

        The Chocolate War is a very unsettling read and youre left with an uneasy feeling. There is a pressure on young people to conform, and there are dire consequences for those who are different. It is Jerry who quotes Eliot,         Do I dare to disturb the universe? and this need, Jerrys need to stand alone drives him to his continued refusal to sell the chocolates.

        Jerrys stand inspires other boys to refuse to sell too and this is where Brother Leons over ambition becomes exposed. As Goober, Jerrys booster shot says, Theres something rotten in that school. More than rotten.         And as the plot unfolds, you realise theres more than a rite of passage involved, theres more than the chocolate fundraise, Jerrys future is at stake, and the schools too.

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