Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books.
It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.
Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf
Published: 1986
Pages: 191
Genre: realistic-ya-fiction
Topics: betrayal, blackmail, violence, rebelling
Summary: Jerry Renualt is attending a new school with very different rules. Archie has his eye on Jerry and very tight grip on the school.
The Vigils rule the school with little acknowledgment from the staff. THe Vigils (mostly Archie) make other students do crazy assignments in order to keep the school fun and little chaotic. However, when Jerry Renault refuses to sell the chocolates everybody’s lives, including Jerry’s, gets out of control.
This was one of my favorite YA books that I read in college. Cormier’s portrayal of “real” boys is impeccable. The characters are not just on the page; they become apart of the reader’s world or vice versa. Cormier’s style is catchy, raw and leaves the reader wanting more. The best part about The Chocolate War is there is a sequel. I strongly recommend this book to everybody but especially male readers.
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