Kate’s 2¢: “The Chocolate War” and “Beyond The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier

“The Chocolate War” and “Beyond The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

“The Chocolate War”:

   I understand how authors of YA (middle school to high school age students) narratives strive to draw readers into the narrative, to address their inner and outer social and moral issues; however, I am appalled and disgusted on so many levels with this story, I can’t possibly list them all here.

   I also understand that this story is listed as a novel, which means it is fiction, so, why does it upset me?  It bothers me because YA are supposed to read this and identify with the kernels of truth that resonate with the reader.

   In this fictional story, I object to the false role model of Brother Leon, the bully portrayed by Archie, the student body of this fictional Catholic school that enables the bullying to continue, the potty mouth language, and the cruelty of boxing.

   While YA novels may try to reflect reality, I find this novel is lacking in any redemption. Apparently, there is a sequel “Beyond The Chocolate War”, which I’ll read next,  but I’m not looking forward to wasting any more of my time.

BTW:  Whenever our children had school fund raisers to sell, we bought their quota.

“Beyond The Chocolate War”:

   What a horrible story!  I rue to think that teens reading this story take it to heart, that anything in this school is appropriate behavior. I suspect psychologists could have a field day with these characters.  

From Wikipedia:

ISBN 0-394-82805-4

Beyond the Chocolate War 

The Chocolate War is a young adult novel by American author Robert Cormier, published in 1974. It was adapted into a film in 1988. Although it received mixed reviews at the time of its publication, some reviewers have argued it is one of the best young adult novels of all time.[1] Set at a fictional Catholic high school, the story depicts a secret student organization’s manipulation of the student body, which descends into cruel and ugly mob mentality against a lone, non-conforming student. Because of the novel’s language, the concept of a high school secret society using intimidation to enforce the cultural norms of the school and various characters’ sexual ponderings, it has been embroiled in censorship controversies and appeared as third on the American Library Association’s list of the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000–2009.”[2] A sequel was published in 1985 called Beyond the Chocolate War.

Jerry is a freshman attending an all-boys Catholic high school called Trinity, while coping with depressive feelings and existential questions that stem largely from his mother’s recent death and his father’s enduring grief. Jerry is quickly recruited onto Trinity’s football team, where he meets Roland “The Goober” Goubert, a fellow freshman and instant friend.

Vice-principal Brother Leon has recently become acting headmaster and overextends his rising ambition by committing Trinity to selling double the previous year’s amount of chocolates during an annual fundraising event, quietly enlisting the support of Archie Costello, the genesis and leader behind The Vigils: the school’s cruelly manipulative secret society of student pranksters.

Archie arrogantly plans to alternate between betraying and supporting Leon in a frenzied series of power plays. His first “assignment” is to incite Jerry to refuse to sell any chocolate for ten days. However, Jerry, inspired after reading a quotation inside his locker: “Do I dare disturb the universe?” from T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” feels strangely determined to sell nothing even after the ten days have passed, thus estranging himself from both Leon and The Vigils.

At first, Jerry’s refusal to cooperate with the corrupt school culture and fundraiser is seen by many classmates as heroic, but the gesture threatens Brother Leon and The Vigils’ ability to coerce the student population. Leon presses Archie to put The Vigils’ full force behind the chocolate sales, so they set up Jerry as an enemy for the rest of the student body to harass through bullying, prank calls, and vandalism. Only The Goober remains Jerry’s friend but does little to protect him. Ultimately, Archie enlists the school bully Emile Janza to beat up Jerry just outside the school, but, even in the aftermath, Jerry maintains his defiant nonconformity.

Finally, Archie concocts a showdown: a boxing match at night between Jerry and Emile. On the football field, the match is watched by all students, who can select which blows will be laid during the fight through a randomized lottery system; however, the fight ends when a teacher shuts down the electrical power on the field, and Jerry is brutally injured in the ensuing darkness. Half-conscious, he tells The Goober that there was no way to win and he should have just complied, conceding that it is best, after all, not to “disturb the universe.” Though Archie is apprehended as the mastermind of the fight, Brother Leon intervenes on his behalf and privately praises his efforts in the unprecedented success of the chocolate sales. Leon implies that next year, if he is officially made the new headmaster, he will work to preserve Archie’s power.

Critical reception[edit]

The book was well received by critics. The New York Times wrote, “The Chocolate War is masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful; complex ideas develop and unfold with clarity.”[3]

Children’s Book Review Service said, “Robert Cormier has written a brilliant novel.”

Cormier explained in an interview that he was “interested in creating real people, dramatic situations that will keep the reader turning pages.”[4] He went on to say that although some adults dislike the book because of the topics discussed, “the kids can absorb my kind of book because they

According to the American Library Association, The Chocolate War has frequently been banned and challenged in the United States due to concerns about the book’s sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint and violence.[11] The book landed on the list of the top ten most banned and challenged books in 2001 (3), 2002 (3), 2004 (1), 2005 (4), 2006 (10), 2007 (2), and 2009 (10).[12] as well as the top one hundred books from 2000-2009 (3).[13] When the book reached the number one spot in 2004, it marked the first time in five years in which the Harry Potter series did not top the list.[11]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The chocolate war :: a novel DB33593

Cormier, Robert Reading time: 5 hours, 20 minutes.

Bruce Huntey National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Classics

Growing Up

Young Adult

A freshman in a parochial high school for boys discovers the devastating consequences of refusing to join in the school’s annual fund-raising drive. His decision provokes the wrath of school bullies and the revenge of a sadistic teacher. Strong language. For junior and senior high readers.

Download The chocolate war :: a novel DB33593

Beyond the chocolate war: a novel DB23087

Cormier, Robert Reading time: 7 hours, 20 minutes.

Bruce Huntey A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

School Fiction

A few months after the astounding events recounted in “The Chocolate War” (RD 8430), the secret society known as “the Vigils” is still operating at Trinity High. Two of the Vigils’ key members are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the devious mastermind, Archie, and each turns against him in his own way. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. For junior and senior high readers.

Download Beyond the chocolate war: a novel DB23087