“They murdered him.” Any book that opens with such a line is sure to be tense, mysterious and, most likely, violent. The Chocolate War will get your heart pounding and make you squirm in your seat. While it is a suspenseful story of an underground society steeped in the history of Trinity private school, it can also be viewed as an extreme commentary on the cliques and cruelty often present among teens.After examining his father’s monotonous life, Jerry Renault decides he wants a life that stands out, where there are no days that are just “fine.” The high school freshman gets the opportunity to stand out when he challenges the school’s secret society, The Vigils, and their malicious leader, Archie.
While I don’t think girls would necessarily dislike this book, it should be mentioned that there are no female characters in Cormier’s novel; the most prominent female character is Jerry’s deceased mother, who is described through flashbacks. Also worth remembering is that The Chocolate Wars was originally published in 1974. As such, today’s young readers may not fully grasp the contrast between the prep school boys and the free-thinking hippies that pass through his town. However, this book is considered a classic for many reasons. For instance, Jerry’s maxim- “"Do I dare disturb the universe?"- will still ring true among readers. And Jerry’s eventual answer may surprise them....
Cormier, R. (1974). The Chocolate Wars. Alfred A. Knopf:
No comments:
Post a Comment