Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Real Chocolate War


"My name is Jerry Renault and I'm not going to sell the chocolates..." (Jerry, p. 168)


The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier Pantheon Books. 1974, 272 pp. $19.95 Realistic Fiction/Young Adult/ ISBN-13: 978-0440944591


Royal Readers, I knew the title was too good to be true. I had a feeling Robert Cormier did not write a story about chocoholics and the last Godiva chocolate left in the store. However, we are asked to "Dare to disturb the universe", with this dark and controversial tale of manipulations, mind games, mental and physical abuse... (this seems to be a recurring theme-remember Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games?). In Robert Cormier's tale, The Chocolate War, we meet Jerry Renault. Here is an average Joe attending an all boys Catholic school circa 1970s. Echoing today's headlines of Catholic schools closing due to funding and low enrollment, Jerry's school-Trinity is also facing this same crisis. What started out as a school fundraiser selling chocolate, takes a dramatic twist as Jerry is caught between the shady dealings of two warring factions. Brother Leon, the fanatic teacher versus Archie- a cult like figure in the school's secret society (gang) The Vigils, known as the Assigner. Brother Leon knows that the school in order to stay open, needs to sell more chocolate this year than any other year in the school's history. He calls on his nemesis (The Vigils) to back up the candy sales-an un-holy alliance if you will. With the assurance of 'cooperation', the sale is about to begin. However, Archie assigns Jerry the task of refusing to sell the chocolates (he is only supposed to do this for ten days) then change his mind. Consequently, Jerry's conscience and sense of justice prevents him from 'selling out' and ultimately selling the chocolates. By the end of this disturbing tale that Cormier brilliantly weaves, we find Jerry brutally broken down in body and in spirit.

Dahlings, the realism of this story still holds true today. Change the year, clothes, music, add technology and a few other culturally relevant facts and you would still have a story. Issues of belonging, peer pressure, justice, conformity, cruelty, morality, sex, just to name a few, will never be outdated. Even though Jerry is the focal point, one cannot help but analyze Archie to find out what makes him tick. What drives him to torment others? Is there any hope for him in the future, after all he is not yet an adult. A character (Obie) tells him that he will get his in the end. He just might in the sequel, Beyond the Chocolate War.

This story deals with issues of multi-aged young adults, however, some of the scenes (sexual in nature) would be more appropriate for older readers (9th - 12th graders). Chapter and character studies are excellent ways to introduce this book to students, as there is so much that could be covered and discussed. The only drawback to teaching this book is the possibility of parental/community censorship. Did I mention that ever since being published, The Chocolate War has always been in danger of being banned (it was temporarily) and pulled from shelves? While I am not a fan of the theme, I can appreciate the literary value and good storytelling that Cormier brings. This multi awarded story will always be known as one of the forerunners of young adult literature.

Moreover, after reading this story, I recommend that you compare Cormier's The Chocolate War to William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Next, read the sequel-Beyond the Chocolate War and Kevin Waltman's Learning the Game. For an in depth look at the author and his writing style, skim Patty Campbell's Robert Cormier: Daring to Disturb the Universe.







Click on the book jackets above for more information.










Queenie

No comments: