Parents' Guide to

The Chocolate War

By Monica Wyatt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

A kind of "Dangerous Liaisons" for teenagers.

Book Robert Cormier Literary Fiction 1974
The Chocolate War Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Carolen
Carolen Adult
May 20, 2019
age 16+

There's so much bad in the world, I don't understand a book that adds to it.

I guess I'm Sally Sunshine, but I don't care for books that are negative throughout. I didn't see anything redeeming in this book. Its message seems to be: Bullies gonna bully, and if you stand up to them you'll get beaten. Violence, manipulation, disrespect, unhappy kids and adults throughout the book. There's enough of that in the world, why do kids more of that? No thanks.

This title has:

Too much violence
Sug Nut
Sug Nut Adult
May 6, 2019
age 10+

I love this book and so will your 10 year old.

this is one of the best books I have ever read and I know your child will love it as much as i did, its such a good book I cant even express it.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When high school teen Jerry Renault refuses to sell chocolate during his school fundraiser, his decision kicks off a stream of events that cause the school to unravel. Is he a hero or a scapegoat? The school divides on the subject. The book has some terrifying characters including a vicious student and the corrupt temporary headmaster who controls the school, targeting freshman Jerry Renault when he quietly resists them. With the whole school against him, Jerry stands alone. The book raises deep questions of good, evil, independence, and compliance. All serious grist for a developing teen's mill. This dark, disturbing novel towers as one of the true classics of Young Adult Literature.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (23 ):

This difficult read deals with life's cruelty, and deals with complex issues with intensity. Evil in all its ugliness pervades the story, which Robert Cormier sets in a private Catholic school, presenting 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. However, Cormier won't spare us from life's nasty truths. Readers might wonder, "Would any of us have done better, or would we make the same easy compromises as Cormier's characters?" For that reason, this book remains relevant: It forces readers to face the reality of evil, and examine how to confront it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the significance of the quote on a poster in Jerry's locker -- "Dare I disturb the universe?" -- and how it relates to the book as a whole.

  • What take-away do your teens have about whether Jerry's actions are positive or negative?

  • If you wantedto "disturb the universe" in your own way, how would you do it?

  • Who arethe most powerful characters in Cormier's book?

  • What does that sayabout the very nature of power itself?

Book Details

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