The Chocolate War

Cormier, R.  (1974).  The chocolate war.  New York, NY:  Delacorte.  Jerry Renault goes to a Catholic School.  In this school, there is a gang called the Vigils.  They leader, Archie Castello, gives out assignments to different to students that will cause some king of trauma.  Jerry’s friend, Goober, is assigned to take out all the screws from chairs, desks, and everything in Brother Leon’s classroom.  After he completes his task, he is not the same.  Jerry gets assigned to sell chocolates at the annual candy sale but he refuses.  He does this for many days.  The Vigils make him pay by having him beaten up, trashing his locker, and taking his homework.  As other students begin to refuse to sell chocolates, Brother Leon accuses Archie of messing up his candy sales.  Archie and the Vigils make extra efforts to sell the candy and when only Jerry’s candy is left, Archie devices the plan for a raffle.  Jerry is to get into a fight with Emile Janza, and the whole school shows up to see it.  Brother Leon is also watching everything from the beginning but does not report it and keeps Archie from getting into trouble.  Unexpectedly, Emile beats Jerry severely to the point he has a broken jaw and other injuries.  I find myself admiring Jerry’s strength as he stands up to the Vigils even after they make him pay.  I think that some of the topics in this book are a bit risque, so I would not read aloud to students.  I think it could be assigned to students to read on their own.  I think this book fits the elements of a contemporary realistic fiction novel, especially with the completely unexpected ending.  I was hoping for a happy ending, but found none at the end.