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Summary: The Chocolate War
Review: This teenage story takes place in a boys-only, private Catholic school called Trinity. The conflict encountered is one that any student in any school around the world could recognize. The Chocolate War, written by Robert Cormier, who has also published such novels as I Am the Cheese and After the First Death, is an excellent book for young adults. The book is written with a style and a vocabulary that would even be understood by a junior high student.
Jerry Renault is an active football player whose mother is dead and whose father is hardworking. Most of the story revolves around Jerry, but also looks at some of his friends like Goober, the receiver for the football team. The Vigils are run by the boxing club president and star football player named Carter. Primarily working for him is the student who makes the assignments, Archie Costello, who comes up with ideas to assign people. When assigned a job, a person must do it, or else they will be tormented by the Vigils.
Trinity is planning to conduct the annual chocolate sale led by Brother Leon. He has placed a large amount of faith in the boys to sell far more this year than they ever have before. He leaves out the fact that he spent more funds than allowed to do so, because the chocolates he bought were on sale. To spook Brother Leon, Archie comes up with what he thinks to be the most brilliant plan yet: to have the years previous top seller not sell any chocolates at all for the first week. That will cause a scare in Brother Leon, and show once again that the Vigils can do whatever they want. Unfortunately for Jerry, he was last year's previous top seller. He learns of his assignment, but will he accept it?
The story in general is to show the lives of ordinary private school boys put to the test. Every day, kids around the world are bullied by those bigger and older, and they constantly have to make the decision if they will continue to take the abuse, or if they will stand up to the group. The Chocolate War shows not only the Vigils encounter with the Jerry, but also with several others including Jerry's friend Goober and a brief encounter with a hot shot named Rollo. Jerry's decisions weave him down a winding road, which leads nowhere but to trouble. At one point, Jerry is jumped by a gang of guys led by Janza, a Vigil "associate" known for his love of fighting. Midnight prank phone calls and fear of being beat up stalk Jerry throughout the whole story. He finally gets his chance to fight back at Janza. Who will triumph, the gang of troublemakers called the Vigils, or Jerry?
There is plenty of material in this book that could be seen as "inappropriate" material to some extent. While understandable, I think much of this is presented in real life by the time a person has reached high school. Also, because not many books touch on this topic, I think it is important for more people to read this, rather than be sheltered from them. It shows a good lesson in life that is not often seen.
Throughout the book, the reader struggles along with Jerry in whether or not he should do as the Vigils say. The decision could affect the rest of his Trinity life, but that's just it. If he decides wrong, it will only affect him for those few years of high school. Those few years could seem long if the Vigils torment him throughout. While most readers probably can't relate to this exact situation, they have most likely encountered something similar. Thus, the relationship makes making it more thrilling to follow Jerry in his struggles with himself and the world around him.
Rating: 
Summary: The Chocolate War
Review: I would give three thumbs up, if I could, To Robert Cormier's novel, The Chocolate War. I believe this is a great, extraordinary novel made for teenagers and told through a teens point of vie. The book contains realistic conflicts and solutions that may occur to any high school student.
A mafia-like student, gang known as The Vigils, rules Trinity High School. The Vigils are the key through the story, since they peeked on other kids. The Vigils often mistreated Trinity school members, but every student admired them and wished to be one of the gang.
Being a Vigil member was something to be proud of, since every new member had a terrible challenge to do. The assignments, as they used to say, were usually tough, but Jerry Renaults is assigned the worst one of all.
The school's new year chocolate sale was big. Brother Leon, a teacher was in charge on the sale. Brother Leon persuaded every student, to sell the boxes of chocolate, He even asked The Vigils for help. Brother Leon wished they could make the chocolate sale this year the best one ever.
Every student was forced to sell boxes. The Vigils, on the other hand, assigned Jerry Renault to refuse to sell any boxes. Jerry accepted his assignment and refused to follow Trinity tradition.
Brother Leon threatened Jerry during class. Jerry was scared of Brother Leon; no one knows were he could stop. Jerry was tough, he was looked as a hero for refusing Brother Leon, but later he became the looser and his life became a living nightmare. How did Jerry become a looser? How can he solve his life at school?
The book becomes intricate once the three; Brother Leon, The Vigils and Jerry, are in the plot. It is a marvelous novel. The author really knows how to make the book lifelike, especially when he uses vulgar language and "private" scenery.
I really like and enjoy the book. I recommend it to other boys. The actions seem to jump around. Every chapter, seems extremely different, nevertheless the book is worth reading it.
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Summary: The Chocolate War delivers truth
Review: When the selected literature for my grade 9 novel studies was presented to the class, my last choice would?ve been the Chocolate War. In fact, I originally chose to read the Chrysalides yet again, but who could stand reading that book after the over analysis forced upon us by our grade 8 English teacher? Reluctantly I chose to read the Chocolate War instead. My first impression was another unrealistic plot, involving melodramatic teenage deficiency. Another example of human prejudice on my part, I was wrong.
After reading the book, I was awed. The tale, so dark and thought provoking was amazingly well written. Cormier?s the Chocolate War was an amazing portrayal of teenage angst and conformity. It was the most accurate portrayal of teenage recession, rebellion and corruption (although a little dramatized) I had ever read. Although many found its dark nature depressing, I on the other hand found its amazing ability to deliver truth, which is one of its characteristics I valued most. The story follows Renault, an insignificant freshman attending Trinity, a catholic prep school. His aspiration of making the football team is foiled when Archie and the Vigils (the school?s source of power and corruption) decide to intervene with his life. His life is dramatically changed when he is forced to refuse the annual chocolate sale, a symbolic tradition and is psychologically damaged. He pursues his own rebellion against the sale and against the power of the Vigils in hopes of change only to come to a tragic fate, and an even eerier conclusion.
Never a dull moment in the book, never a word lacking suspense, the cruelties and harsh realizations of the book were what made the book a masterpiece. I especially was impressed with the realistic characterizations Cormier made. The Vigils (especially Archie) were the kind of realistic villains lacking in other books, with the power to emotionally bruise and control using psychological force. Characters like the ruthless Brother Leon and his pursuit to sell chocolates made us realize the kind of corruption humans posses and the scenery, a catholic prep school composed of order showed us how easily the world is disfigured and corrupt.
The finest aspect of the book Cormier was able to produce though was its climatic ending. Bleak in its nature but so forthright was it delivered. The scene with Renault and Janza is still so fresh in my mind, the general hostility, the savageness of the boys in the stands, the demons we let our selves posses. Though, unresolved in many ways (as Archie doesn?t pick the black marble and does not come to the traditional antagonist end, Jerry receives no justice and everything goes back to the way it was), the ending was true to the nature of the book. It was compared to the cruelties of life and like life, which is not sugar, coated we do not always see our problems resolved, we do not always have a happy ending and we are the ones who suffer while the villains thrive in their corruption.
It is truth that authors have covered with happy endings and unrealistic solutions and I thank Cormier for having the power to be honest to his readers.
In the end I was really impressed with the quality of Cormier?s preaching and I recommend reading this book to anyone who enjoys dark humor and reality based literature. Cormier?s powerful messages will leave you stunned and will force you to look at things with greater perspective and ask, ?do I dare disturb the universe?? However, I do not recommend this book to anyone who does not like depressing endings because, it is in fact depressing. Other than that, give the book a try; I think many will enjoy it. As Archie Costello would say ?beautiful.?
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Summary: The book that kept me reading
Review: The Chocolate War was a book that really keeps you wanting to know what was going to happen next. From Archies obscene assignments he would give, to Jerry and his role in the Chocolate sale. Lots of weird things happen at the all boys school where the book takes place. Brother Leon was a part of this book that actually made me mad, and I wondered how the students could take some of the [stuff] he would pull and not say or do anything. The book was pretty good through out, but when it came to the ending it kind of surprised me. Personally I would have hoped that it could have ended a little differntly but all in all it was a pretty good book. If you want to see it end like you think it should have, watch the movie.
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Summary: Extravaganza!
Review: The Chocolate War is well written in many ways, but it sometimes doesn't meet the standards.
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Summary: A Disturbing Universe
Review: "Do I dare disturb the universe?" T.S. Eliot's J. Alfred Prufrock first asked this question in a poem of beauty and bewilderment. Robert Cormier's Jerry Renault asks the question in a novel of beauty and ugliness. The writing is beautiful, it is the world those words create that makes us want to cover our eyes. Perhaps that is why this is one of the most banned books in America-in the hands of a great writer, ficticious worlds illuminate aspects of our own world that we would rather leave bathed in darkness. Jerry Renault does the right thing-he refuses to blindly succumb to peer pressure, and stands up for something important. We want him to be rewarded. We want to show our children that, in the end, goodness conquers evil and heroes are honored by all. Instead, in The Chocolate War, evil lingers even beyond the final page. Goodness is brutalized and the villains get the final word. The moment of transformation that comes near the end of all heroic journeys usually finds the protagonist discovering an inner strength he didn't know he had, or experiencing an insight about the world that helps her overcome her greatest fears. Near the end of this novel, however, Jerry discovers that "the knowledge, the knowledge"-akin to Kurtz's "the horror, the horror"-is that he had done the wrong thing after all. "Don't disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say" is the only message he can summon from the wreckage. What readers shouldn't miss, however, is the line of hope on the final page, delivered as a warning to Jerry's nemesis: "...maybe another kid like Renault will come along." I can only keep my eyes open if I put my money on that ray of hope.
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Summary: The Chocolate War
Review: Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War is a suspensful fictional novel concerning a high school secret club, its sinister leader, and the one boy who chooses to stand up against it. Jerry Renault is the new kid at Trinity, and he doesn't know the real power of the Vigils, a secret society led by Archie Costello. Costello is a cruel character, who assigns jobs to the members of the group. Renault stands up against the Vigils, and his conflict with Archie comes to a climatic ending. It's a real page-turner, with a crude yet symbolic style of writing. Its chapters follow separate story lines that are all linked to one main plot, concerning the schools chocolate sale, and the Vigils part in these activities. Cormier uses crude language, in a story aimed at young adults, exaggerating high school's cruel hierarchy, and the corruption of the administration. The real conflict is the conflict of the protagonist Jerry, and the antagonist Archie. Look for the sequel Beyond the Chocolate War if you found this novel entertaining.
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Summary: This is the best book I've read!
Review: I really liked this book because it had a very ineresting story, and the characters were developed very well. Some of the part of this book were slow, I don't like slow parts. Other parts of the book were well written. This book was about several kids who had to sell chocolates. There was some conflict about the selling and when they had to do it. Jerry didn't want to sell the choclates. He had a 10 day assignment from the vigils to wait and not sell the chocolates. There was a fight. I would recommand this book to a friend because I think my friends would enjoy this book too. It was a story about conflict between kids and teachers and how they solved the problems. This is how people have to live together and get along in life. We can all learn from a book like this.
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Summary: The Good Guy Finishes Last
Review: The Chocolate War is a novel written by Robert Cormier. This particular book is a perfect example oh how words can keep you on the edge of your seat. The author does a remarkable job of keeping the reader involved as each chapter flows into the next. The main reason readers enjoy this novel is because of the story line. There are many different events all happening at the same time throughout the novel and in the end each event ties together to create a rather ironic ending. Like most movies and books as well the good guy is the hero at the end; however, The Chocolate War has a rather sad ending, disappointing many readers like myself. The protagonist in the novel gives young adult readers a more realistic view on life which makes this novel four stars in my opinion.
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Summary: A review of Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War
Review: Robert Cormier's book, The Chocolate War, is like none other that I've ever read. It is interesting, creative, and truly suprising. What I found most interesting is how Cormier teaches the reader life lessons without boring them. One life lesson is that even when people stand up for what they beleive in, things do not always turn out good. The plot and the characters stay interesting and keeps you wondering what will happen next. The plot is also based around the theme and helps the reader understand what is really being said. How I feel about the characters vary. I really liked Jerry Renault, the young freshman whose mother just died, but I really disliked Archie, the annoying and egotistical main antagonist. Another thing that I liked about The Chocolate War is how subtly the life lessons were shown. Cormier didn't just tell the reader what he was trying to say but let's the reader figure it out on our own. I enjoy being able to think back on the book and seeing something meaningful. There are very few negative things to be said about the book. One was that the points of view change about every chapter and can become confusing. Also, the story did not end happily. That was understantable because the theme couldn't of been shown if the ending was happy like I prefer. The last thing is that it left me wondering what happened and wanting more. All in all, I think that Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War is a great book for young adults and I highly recommend it.
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