The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
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Book Reviews of The Chocolate War
Book Review: Sick, bleak and disturbing
Summary: 1 Stars
Poor Jerry Renault. He's a teenager--his mom has died, his father and him have no connection and he's trying to fit in at a new school. There's a chocolate sale at the school where students are forced to sell chocolates. A group of school thugs who call themselves the Vigils tell Jerry NOT to sell chocolates. He doesn't...but then they tell him to sell them and he refuses. Jerry's life quickly becomes a living hell and it leads up to a revoltingly violent and sick ending.
I had to read Cormier when I was in college. I read "I Am the Cheese" (which I thought was pretty good) and I read this on my own. This book depressed me to an incredible degree. For days afterwards I was like a zombie--I couldn't get the finmal sequence out of my mind. Even now over 20 years later it STILL bothers me. Seriously--what is the point of this book? The message for teenagers seems to be--conform. Don't fight back cause it could get you killed. Jerry ISN'T killed, as the sequel tells us, but he's beaten to a point where he's near death and Cormier describes it in loving detail. It's actually suggested that Jerry has an eye crushed when he's hit and his face is covered with blood. Seriously--WHY??? Sick and pointless. One of my friends read it and said it could never happen so it didn't bother him--but that's not how I felt. I would never allow a kid to read this book. Avoid. The sequel "Beyond the Chocolate War" is more of the same. And Jerry is beaten up AGAIN!
Book Review: Too Much Hype
Summary: 1 Stars
After reading some recommendations for young adult novels, I chose to read this novel. I was sorely disappointed. The characters are not believable, neither is most of the plot. If you want to talk theme, the theme of "disturbing the universe" by not selling chocolates falls flat when Jerry says he doesn't know why he won't sell the chocolates. He does say, "It's personal," but we never get a good reason. Oh, sure, we can guess, but isn't the point to make a stand for something you actually believe in rather than "just because"?
Most, if not all, of the characters are static. They don't go through any changes, except for MAYBE Jerry. In the end, the school and the characters are no better than they were before. I'd even argue that they are no worse than before.
The theme of "disturbing the universe" becomes moot when Jerry tells Goober, "Don't disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say." In the end, Jerry's refusal to sell chocolates becomes pointless.
The novel was a complete waste of time, even though I read it within a day. I doubt I'll read anything else from this author.
Book Review: I Put it Down
Summary: 1 Stars
My book review website: [...]
In only the first chapter and a half, there is numerous cursing, a reference to masturbation, and a character outright tells another that he does not believe in Jesus because He was "just a popular figure who caught people's eye" more or less. I put it down after that.
Research on the book uncovered that, because of the novel's language, the concept of a high school's secret society using extreme violence to enforce the cultural norms of the school, and the protagonist's sexual ponderings, it has been the frequent target of censors and appears at number three on the American Library Association's list of the "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000-2009."
Book Review: I'd give zero stars if I could
Summary: 1 Stars
Hands down this was the worst book I have ever read. All the characters are detestible, the plot is cynical, the language filthy, the behavior of the characters repulsive. Do yourself a favor and do not waste a precious minute of your life on this trash.