Beyond the Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert CormierEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1986-08-01
ISBN: 044090580X
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Book Reviews of Beyond the Chocolate War
Book Review: Beyond the Chocolate War
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Cormier herein revisits the scene of his initial Young Adult literary triumph, The Chocolate War. Readers will recall the setting of Trinity High, a Catholic all-boys school set in fictional Monument, MA, and the downbeat ending, as Jerry Renault, the only boy to defy the corrupt powers-that-be, is seduced and destroyed by the false promise of vengeance (Familiarity with The Chocolate War is not a prerequisite, although helpful; Beyond stands on its own).
The Chocolate War posited a claustrophobic world run by fear, where adult authority was indifferent (Jerry's father) or weak (Brother Eugene); women were more or less nonexistent. Violence, and the threat of violence, was the only currency; conformity the only defense against it. In Beyond the Chocolate War, Cormier has broadened his scope; the larger world intrudes, with its adults and girls.
The central character of Beyond is Obie, the assistant to Archie, the undisputed leader of the Vigils, Trinity's secret student organization. The Vigils rule Trinity with an unquestioned quiet reign of intimidation; Brother Leon, the oleaginous headmaster, accepts the Vigils as a sort of unofficial Hitler Youth. The stage is set when Obie finds an interest outside the confines of Trinity and the Vigils: a girlfriend. Obie's relationship with Laurie is all-consuming to him, in the manner of first love. Unfortunately, rumor of his membership in the Vigils, and their awful antics, cool Laurie's interest, leaving Obie crushed and bent on revenge against Archie as the perceived author of his fate.
Archie also faces other challenges. Alarmed by Archie's plot to embarrass Trinity's faculty and bishop, Carter, the Vigils' nominal president, secretly tells Brother Leon. Graduation looms; will Archie have sufficient time to indoctrinate the next generation of Vigils? His protégé, Bunting, is willing enough, but is more brute than Machiavelli.
Meanwhile, Jerry Renault must face his own fear: how does one live in dignity when violence is threatened at every turn? Cormier deftly handles these complex themes. Personal responsibility, ambiguity and the transience of human relationships are explored. Violence still exists, but not to the exclusion of other means of communication. As in life, Cormier provides no easy answers or certainties, only the possibility that hope exists (in equal measure to violence) if one has the moral courage to reach for it.
Summary of Beyond the Chocolate War
The school year is almost at an end, and the chocolate sale is past history. But no one at Trinity School can forget The Chocolate War.Devious Archie Costello, commander of the secret school organizationcalled the Virgils, stall has some torturous assignments to hand out before he graduates. In spite of this pleasure, Archie is troubled by his right-hand man, Obie, who has started to move away from the Virgils. Luckily Archie knows his stooges will fix that. But won't Archie be shocked when he discovers the surprise Obie has waiting for him?
And there are surprises waiting for others. The time for revenge has come to those boys who secretly suffered the trials of Trinity. The fuse is set for the final explosion. Who will survive?
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