The Chocolate War

Title: The Chocolate War

Author: Robert Cormier


ISBN: 978-0375829871

Publisher: Ember

Original copyright: 1974

This Version's copyright: 2004

 Plot Summary: This story follow Jerry Renault, a freshman student at a Catholic school called Trinity. The school is controlled by a secret group of student called The Vigil. They request that certain students complete tasks, to exercise their control over the student body. Jerry is given the task to refuse to sell chocolate bars for 10 days. After pondering the quote in his locker, "Do I dare disturb the universe?", Jerry continues to refuse to sell the chocolate bars after 10 days. This makes the Vigil angry, and Jerry becomes the target of a brutal bullying campaign.

Critical Evaluation:  Robert Cormier writes this story amazingly. The first line of the book is "They murdered him." The entire book feels like a build up filled with foreshadowing and even the way he constructs the sentences feels like foreshadowing building up to a shocking end.

Reader's Annotation: Freshman Jerry Renault does not set out to change the pecking order at his high school, but his decisions about chocolate bars may change his life forever.

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Classic

Author Information:  Robert Cormier has written numerous other works including the sequel to this book, Beyond the Chocolate War.  Much of his work is considered controversial in nature and content. For more information about Robert Cormier visit this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/author.pperl?authorid=5740&view=sml_sptlght

Book talks: Bullying, Violence, Challenging the Norm.


Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-16

Challenge: Violence, profanity.The profanity in this book comes from teenage boys. It is used to personalize the boys and have them speak as real teenagers do. The violence in this book is not violence just to have violence in the story, it propels the story and ends the story in a manner that promotes violence.

Why was this book chosen?:  This is a widely regarding young adult book that I have always wanted to read.