The Chocolate War
Jerry Renault ponders the question on the poster in his locker: Do I dare disturb the universe?
Refusing to sell chocolates in the annual Trinity school fundraiser may not seem like a radical thing to do, but when high-school freshman, Jerry Renault challenges a secret school society called The Vigils, his defiant act turns into an all-out war. Now the only question is: Who will survive?
Cormier's chilling look at the insidious world of intimidation and the abuse of power in a boys' boarding school is no less relevant today than it was in 1974. This ground-breaking novel is an unflinching portrait of corruption and cruelty which has become a modern classic.
School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year (1974); American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults (1974); ALA's Best of the Best Books for Young Adults (1974); New York Times Notable Books of the Year (1974)
About the Chocolate War Series
Books in series order
- 1.The Chocolate War(1974)
- 2.Beyond the Chocolate War(1985)
Reading age: 13+ years
This series should be read in order.
One of the most controversial YA novels of all time, The Chocolate War is a modern masterpiece that speaks to fans of S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and John Knowles’s A Separate Peace.
After suffering rejection from seven major publishers, The Chocolate War made its debut in 1974, and quickly became a bestselling—and provocative—classic for young adults. This chilling portrait of an all-boys prep school casts an unflinching eye on the pitfalls of conformity and corruption in our most elite cultural institutions.
“Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful.”—The New York Times Book Review
“The characterizations of all the boys are superb.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review