Tolog Review: The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier
reviewed by Krista Celo

Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War is a young-adult fictional novel that brings you into the life of a young teenager named Jerry Renault, who battles his way through the internal conflicts he faces following the death of his mother, and his constant fear of oblivion. The Chocolate War is often set in Trinity School where a megalomaniac priest resides, and where a cunning, and fearful school gang known as The Vigils are present. Cormier shifts the narrative between several characters, giving readers insight on their different outlooks and inviting them to see each character’s feelings as the book progressively presents more conflicts.

The novel generally revolves around a young freshman with the name of Jerry Renault. Jerry is a student at Trinity school who is itching to challenge the universe around him in an attempt to escape the boring and routine life that he believes he resides everyday. The Vigils are a school gang that often delegates “assignments” to students in an attempt to disrupt the daily school routine. When the annual chocolate sale commences, Jerry chooses to defy all odds and refuses to sell the chocolate when his Vigils assignment to reject the sale for ten days is completed. Through several perspectives from different characters, readers see how each character undergo personal struggles pertaining to this newfound problem involving the chocolate sale. Not only does Jerry struggle with his own personal conflicts, but Jerry faces problems with a power hungry Priest (Brother Leon), and the sly, deceptive leader of the Vigils (Archie Costello) who are both intent on taking Renault down for their own selfish desires.

Cormier is able to brilliantly focus of the ugly truth of the deceptiveness, cruelty, and violence hidden in Trinity School. He skillfully brings each character to life, by putting readers in their shoes. Once I picked up this book I was unable to stop reading. I found myself enthralled by the story line, and descriptive sentences Cormier included in each chapter. At times, I often found myself cringing at the cruelty and violence to a point where I found it slightly displeasing. Overall, I found this book very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who seeks a good read pertaining to character development through independence.