Common Sense Note
The intensity of emotion and high level of the vocabulary will challenge readers. This brilliantly written book examines serious moral problems. Older readers often find the intensity and realism fascinating, while others, often under age 15, may find the book too disturbing.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Monica Wyatt
How do good people succumb to evil? Can one person's defiance make a difference? Teenagers wrestle with such moral issues as they mature. This book, dealing with life's cruelty, often gets mixed and extreme reactions from high school students. Older readers often enjoy the stark reality and honesty, but those not yet ready to grapple with the book's themes frequently dislike it. One sophomore found it too disturbing, saying, "It just hit too close to home for me."
That boy's reaction reflects the book's intensity. Evil in all its ugliness pervades the story. By setting the story in a private Catholic school, Cormier presents evil as something that can invade even our own protected lives. Only a few villains cause all the mayhem, and the book exposes them early. Archie declares his opposition to religion and authority in his first scene. To intimidate his class, Brother Leon accuses an innocent boy of cheating. Readers root for Jerry as he defies the fierce intimidation directed against him.
When he finally fights back and then fails, readers may feel betrayed. However, Cormier won't spare us from life's nasty truths. Throughout the book good boys agree to the demands of Archie and Brother Leon. Readers wonder, "Would any of us have done better? Or would we make the same easy compromises as Cormier's characters?" This book remains relevant for a reason: It forces readers to face the reality of evil, and examine how to confront it.
Plot Summary:
Evil stalks the halls of Trinity High. A vicious student and the corrupt temporary headmaster control the school, targeting freshman Jerry Renault when he quietly resists them. With the whole school against him, Jerry stands alone. This dark, disturbing novel towers as one of the true classics of Young Adult Literature.
Related Books:
Jerry and Archie's story continues in Beyond the Chocolate War. Two other books that speak about life's reality in a strong teenage voice are Walter Dean Myers's Monster and Edward Bloor's Crusader.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual ContentSeveral frank references to masturbation and to boys' fantasies about girls. |
 |
|
|
|
ViolenceFight scenes realistically and graphically described. |
|
 |
 |
|
LanguageConversations between teenage boys contain frequent use of moderate, and occasional extreme, sexual, bathroom, and religiously themed profanity. |
|
|
|
|
Message |
|
|
|
|
Social BehaviorThe Vigils order boys to vandalize a classroom and defy teachers. A bully steals gas, and forces a student to buy cigarettes. Brother Leon deliberately embarrasses students, hits one student with a pointer, ignores violence, and encourages the Vigils. |
 |
 |
 |
|
Commercialism |
|
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
|
|
