The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is a novel about a teenage boy, Jerry Renault, who defies the authority of his school by not engaging in a chocolate sale. The novel has underlying themes of nonconformity and rebellion. The book was banned because of its excessive violence, sexual content, and profanity.
Is The Chocolate War appropriate?
Parents need to know that The Chocolate War remains one of the best books for teens when it comes to examining moral issues. … It’s brilliantly written and examines some serious moral problems that are very age-appropriate and relevant for teens.
What does The Chocolate War teach us?
Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War is a an engaging but complex read that introduces students to a variety of topics, such as peer pressure, bullying, corruption, conformism and resistance, mob mentality, and abuse of authority.
Where was The Chocolate War been banned?
Archie becomes the classic villain of the novel because although he seems powerful for Jerry’s destruction, he is still following the footsteps of everybody else in the Vigil gang. In other words he is a clone of his surroundings in that he is just other gang member.Why did it take so long to publish The Chocolate War?
There had been a nine-year gap between his last adult novel and this, his first book published for teenagers. The delay was occasioned by considerable publisher resistance to the book and also by Cormier’s own initial resistance to his agent’s suggestion that the book should be submitted as a young adult novel.
Why is The Chocolate War challenged?
Challenges. According to the American Library Association, The Chocolate War has frequently been banned and challenged in the United States over concerns about the book’s sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint and violence.
What age is the chocolate war for?
Book Review The Chocolate War is written for ages 12 and up.
Who challenged The Chocolate War?
In 1988, “The Chocolate War” was challenged by a middle school principal in West Hernando, FL, who recommended the novel be removed from the school library shelves for being “inappropriate.” Published in 1974, Cormier’s novel tackled the problem of bullying at a time when this issue was not widely discussed.Did The Chocolate War win any awards?
Recognition and awards for The Chocolate War include being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a New York Times Outstanding Book for Young Adults, and a School Library Journal Best of the Best.
What does Room 19 symbolize in the chocolate war?Room nineteen The students help the assignment come to fruition just as they help the boxing match and raffle come to fruition. The collapse of Room nineteen also signals the collapse of The Goober and Brother Eugene—two people that might have been strong allies for Jerry had The Vigils not taken them out first.
Article first time published onWhy does Brother Leon manipulate his students?
Both Archie and Brother Leon are experts at manipulation. Manipulation encompasses and utilizes the power of fear. Brother Leon manipulates students when he feels like it, or just for kicks. … Archie even manipulates people such as Emile Janza, lying to get Janza to do whatever he wants.
How does Archie feel about Brother Leon?
Archie is surprised by two things in this meeting. First he realizes that Brother Leon is sweating and nervous. When Archie sees this a bit of insight falls into place for him regarding Brother Leon and most adults – “they were vulnerable, running scared, open to invasion.”
Why did Robert Cormier write The Chocolate War?
It was inspired by the experience of his son, Peter, who with Cormier’s approval refused to participate in his high school’s candy sale. “He was the only kid in the place who didn’t sell the chocolates,” Cormier once told an interviewer.
What reading level is the Chocolate War?
Interest LevelReading LevelATOSGrades 9 – 12Grades 3 – 65.4
What was interesting about Robert Cormier?
Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925 in Leominster, Massachusetts, USA as Robert Edmund Cormier. He was a writer and actor, known for Lapse of Memory (1991), The Assignment (2012) and Tenderness (2009). He was married to Constance. He died on November 2, 2000 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Why did the chocolate war start?
Refusing to sell chocolates in the annual Trinity school fund-raiser may not seem like a radical thing to do. But when Jerry challenges a secret school society called The Vigils, his defiant act turns into an all-out war.
Who are the vigils in the chocolate war?
The Vigils is the secret organization at Trinity high school. Everybody actually knows about it, but they pretend not to. Other than Carter, Archie, and Obie, we don’t meet the members.
What is Jerry's assignment in the chocolate war?
Jerry gets called to carry out an assignment and he is to refuse selling chocolates at the annual school chocolate sale. Archie gives him this assignment despite the fact that Archie told Brother Leon, the teacher in charge of the sale, that he and The Vigils would support the sale and make sure it is a success.
How many pages are in The Chocolate War?
ISBN-13:9780375829871Pages:272Sales rank:45,412Product dimensions:5.56(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.66(d)Lexile:820L (what’s this?)
Who is Trinity in The Chocolate War?
The main setting of Robert Cormier’s 1974 novel The Chocolate War is Trinity, an all boys high school in an unnamed New England town. As we discuss in “Writing Style” and “Genre” the various locations in Trinity are Gothic spaces. The students are trapped inside them, and only bad things seem to be happening.
What happened in the chocolate war?
New boy at strict Catholic High School, Jerry Renault, is bullied into selling boxes of chocolates for the school’s annual fund-raising event. The sadistic headmaster, Brother Leon, and ‘The Vigils’, a viscious gang of school thugs, make Jerry’s life hell when he decides he won’t be pushed around anymore.
Why is The Chocolate War movie rated R?
The parents’ guide to what’s in this movie. Very strong language. Smoking by teens.
Is there a sequel to The Chocolate War?
Beyond the Chocolate War is the sequel to the award-winning book The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. The sequel received an Honor List citation from the Horn Book Magazine in 1986.
Why is the chocolate sale so important to Brother Leon?
And what about this whole chocolate sale thing? We learn that he’s so concerned about the sale being a success because he didn’t get school approval before spending twenty thousand bucks on leftover Mother’s Day chocolates. If they don’t sell, he owes the school that money.
Who is the protagonist in The Chocolate War?
Jerry Renault The protagonist of the story. Jerry decides that he dares to disturb the universe.
What does the poster in Jerry's locker say in what way is this symbolic of Jerry's situation?
The poster, however, symbolizes that Jerry has thought long and hard—each time he opens his locker—about what it means to be a “disturbance,” and what it means to “dare” to disturb a longstanding order.
Why might Jerry's decision make him feel as if he is being buried alive Why might it make him feels he is coming to life?
Why might Jerry’s decision make him feel as if he is being buried alive? … Jerry may feel buried alive, because he probably knew that he’d get so many questions asked to him that it would burry him alive.
What will be the quota of chocolate sales for each Trinity boy?
Brother Leon puts on quite the show, talking about “school spirit,” the Headmaster’s recent hospitalization, all the great programs and resources Trinity offers, and the need for funds to keep it all going. He tells the students that they’ll each need to sell twice as many boxes as last year – fifty boxes each.
What help does Brother Leon want from the vigils?
Soon, Archie learns that Brother Leon, the sadistic teacher, has ordered twice as many chocolates as last year, and he wants Archie and the Vigils to make sure they get sold as part of the school fundraiser. Archie is a bit reluctant, but agrees to help him make the sale a success.
What information does Archie learn about Brother Leon?
Archie has information that could hurt Brother Leon, so in essence he has the upper hand. Now, he has information to blackmail Brother Leon, and he has the motivation to go after Jerry.
How does Brother Leon abuse his power?
The teachers at Trinity—all men—are referred to as Brothers. Though this title implies an equality and sense of fraternity with their students, many of the Brothers abuse their power—namely Brother Leon, who uses psychological violence (and indeed physical violence) as a means of maintaining power over his students.
