Module 1 - What is YA? Classics & Awards
"Read one of the following YA classics (that you’ve never read before):"
Plot Summary
The Chocolate War takes place at a Catholic boy's school. Within the school exists a secret society of boys, "The Vigils," who formulate "assignments" for potential initiates. This year they have assigned to Jerry Renault the task of refusing to sell chocolates during the annual school fundraiser for the first ten days. An unexpected side-effect of this refusal is that other boys at the school stop selling chocolates. Because this is a huge fundraising effort, the leader of the school asks the leader of the Vigils to pour their support into the sale. They begin to promote the sale farther than before. And when Jerry Renault continues to refuse his role as salesman beyond his assigned ten days, the society and the greater school body begin to mete out punishments.Critical Analysis
I'd heard about and seen this book for years and always intended to read it, so I finally did. I was unimpressed. The third person omniscient narration left no secrets to discover. When we can see into every character's inner thoughts, we're not surprised by anything; it gives away the story. I didn't mind the quantity of characters, I minded knowing what every single one of them was thinking and what their motivations were. I prefer a little more mystery. It feels as though there's no "main" character, since we're inside the heads of so many of them. The characters and setting are an interesting and somewhat compelling blend, but the lack of mystery negates the novelty of the plot.As far as the plot goes, it felt a bit contrived with the Vigils and the instructors pulling all the strings. There are very few unexpected surprises that arise; it mostly follows along as the characters intend. Even the uncontrolled gathering at the end isn't unexpected.
"Do I dare disturb the universe?" appears on Jerry's poster and is asked a few times throughout. The consequences of disturbing his "universe" end poorly for him, so the resulting message there is "don't stir things up." If things are allowed to continue as the ones in power intend, then you won't get hurt. The teachers and the vigils use bully tactics to get what they want. Fancy brain-work is only practiced by Archie, the leader of the Vigils, and it never goes wrong and it is always in coming up with intimidating assignments for the other boys.
There are some controversial issues brought up in the narrative. Masturbation appears in the first chapter and makes a few appearances throughout. The treatment of girls within the story is minimal, and they are always a sexual interest. None of them appear with anything to say. Even Jerry lacks a mother, due to illness and death.
Personally, I would not recommend this novel to modern day teens unless they had a prior interest. Maybe a teen who likes to explore classics, or is interested in the era in which this one was written and set would appreciate it. I just didn't find it compelling in the least. It might be useful in a classroom for introducing a discussion of bullying, but I would probably seek out a more accessible title for that purpose.
Connections
- Watch the 1988 film adaptation and compare the two.
- Read the sequel and reflect on whether it is what you expect.
- Read more books that involve bullying.
- Read more stories about secret societies.
- Read more books set in boys schools.
Old School by Tobias Wolff
- Try another book with boarding schools.
Everything Sucks by Hannah Friedman
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
- Read T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" - the source of Jerry's poster quote
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock on wikisource.org
Awards/Reviews
ALA Notable BookFrom Kirkus:
In strong, staccato scenes that shift from one boy to another Cormier tells about Jerry's persecution when he decides spontaneously to go on saying no after his ten days are up and Brother Leon induces Archie to see this as defiance of the Vigils. No underworld gang closing in on a victim is more menacing than this teenage army led by a Leon-Archie alliance against one boy whose locker poster reads "Do I Dare Disturb the Universe." Mature young readers will respect the uncompromising ending that dares disturb the upbeat universe of juvenile books.
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