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Original Essays | November 9, 2009

Jesse Bullington: IMG Abash'd the Devil Stood

0 comments By Jesse Bullington

I don't believe in evil. It's a word I use, certainly, because words are shortcuts and we all take the short way round from time to time, but that's... Continue »
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    The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

    Jesse Bullington

The Chocolate War

by Robert Cormier

The Chocolate War Cover

ISBN13: 9780440944591
ISBN10: 0440944597
Condition: Worn Condition or Underlined
All Product Details

Only 1 left in stock at $2.50!

Awards

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Choice

A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year

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Review-a-Day   (What is Review-a-Day?)

"The Chocolate War is number three on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most banned/challenged books — it even beat the gay penguins! — proving that the story retains its dangerous edge after these many years." Chris Bolton, Powells.com (read the entire Powells.com review)

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker — "Do I dare disturb the universe?"

Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school society — the Virgils — and master of intimidation. Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event — a chocolate sale. When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school. In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable.

Review:

"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." The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"The characterizations of all the boys are superb....This novel [is] unique in its uncompromising portrait of human cruelty and conformity." School Library Journal (Starred Review)

Review:

"Robert Cormier has written a brilliant novel." Children's Book Review Service

Review:

"Vicious and violent mob cruelty in a boys' prep school is not a new theme but Cormier makes it compellingly immediate....Mature young readers will respect the uncompromising ending..." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Synopsis:

A high school freshman discovers the devastating consequences of refusing to join in the school's annual fund raising drive and arousing the wrath of the school bullies.

Synopsis:

A high school student is first a hero and then a victim in this novel of intimidation and the misuse of power. "Masterfully structured and rich in theme. Well crafted, well timed, suspenseful." The New York Times
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About the Author

Robert Cormier (1925 — 2000) received the 1999 Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring his lifetime contribution to writing for teens.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 7 comments:
Judith Fech, February 4, 2008 (view all comments by Judith Fech)
When this book was chosen for book group discussion and I was skeptical. After I started reading I could hardly put it down. I could relate to it as I am an alumni of a parochial school. I heard that it was banned at one time. Can't imagine why?
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famousaimous, November 14, 2007 (view all comments by famousaimous)
The Chocolate War has a boy Jerry, the main character, who decides to try out for the football team. Once making the team, he has his first assignment, not selling the chocolate for 10 days. Goober, his friend, comes into the story and he has an assignment as well, undoing all the desks in room 109. But they both yet know what it will cost them. At Trinity High School, the principle has left for awhile and so now one of the teachers, Brother Leon, is in charge. Brother Leon, however, has dipped into the schools money and now has a deadline to pay it all back. So now he has doubled nearly everything about the school’s annual chocolate sale. But there is this gang known as The Vigils, ran by Archie, and they are a very dark hearted group trying to ruin everything. The only one who can stand up to The Vigils and Brother Leon is Jerry and he doesn’t know that is the least of it. I didn’t really like this book because it became very confusing at parts. When I didn’t get it, I would read it over a couple times and finally understand. Many part of this book made no sense at all, but once I got to the end it all made sense. The author’s message is telling you what can happen a high school if one thing goes wrong. Once a problem has started, you have to finish it before it is to late. If you leave it alone, it can come back and get worst. I would recommend this book to all readers who are ready for a surprise. This book is great for teenagers, young adults, and adults. You should read it once you hit high school. It explains so much about different things that can happen when things go wrong. (words 324)
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ackmed the dead terrorist, November 14, 2007 (view all comments by ackmed the dead terrorist)
Awesome! It starts out with a teenage (freshman) kid. He’s skinny, tying out for football (quarterback), and can take many a hit. So after the coach says he might make a quarterback (code for come back tomorrow) he gets off the field and as he is walking the “camera” shall we say switches to a senior with a devious mind and the power to use it. This guys’ name is Archie, and he is the Assigner for the vigils a notorious school gang that holds nearly all the power. Of course The Vigils have a president and many members but they’re like moochers, sucking up Archie’s glory. Archie chooses who gets what assignment, however there has to be some kind of “control”, something to prevent Archie from going over the top and assigning something insane. This “control” is the Black Box, in the box is five marbles. Four of them are white and one is black. After an assignment is given, the assigner must stick his hand in the box and draw one marble. If the marble is white then the assignment is carried out by the chosen student. However if the marble is black Archie loses and must carry out the assignment himself… I’d tell you more but I don’t want to spoil the book for you! I personally enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everybody and anybody who has even basic abilities to read. Yes it is that awesome.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780440944591
Author:
Cormier, Robert
Publisher:
Laurel Leaf Library
Location:
New York, N.Y. :
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
Children's fiction
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General
Subject:
Social Situations - Adolescence
Subject:
Schools
Subject:
High schools
Subject:
Juveniles
Subject:
Juvenile
Subject:
Schools -- Fiction.
Subject:
Gangs -- Juvenile fiction.
Subject:
Preparatory school students
Subject:
Social Issues - General
Copyright:
c197
Series:
Laurel Leaf Books
Publication Date:
August 1986
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
272
Dimensions:
6.92x4.18x.73 in. .29 lbs.
Age Level:
12-17
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