To devour one's spirit and feed on their grief......"I am Archie"

books:

	• The Chocolate War (Readers Circle) Robert Cormier Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2004 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 386 reviews view larger image
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The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War is about a freshman at an all boy high school called Trinity, where a poster hangs reading,"Do I Dare Disturb The Universe?" hanging in a student's locker named Jerry Renault. This school is no ordinary school, because it has a secret society called the Vigils. The Vigils is run by a boy named Archie, who is the leader and assigner of the tasks they give. Every year at Trinity, the boys have to sell chocolate to earn money for the school. Jerry gets an assignment from the Vigils that he is not to sell the chocolates; like everyone else who is assigned a task by Archie, he follows orders. This makes the teachers anrgy and the other students question whether they should be selling the chocolates too. One of the teachers, Brother Leon, orders Archie to make Jerry sell the chocolates as one of his assignments. When Jerry is told this by Archie, he disobeys by still not selling the chocolates while encouraging other students to do the same. Jerry changes the way the school works under Archie's watch. Jerry takes a huge risk, whether that risk will bring him danger or fame, the question is: Did He Dare Disturb The Universe?

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To devour one's spirit and feed on their grief......"I am Archie"

Imagine a tale of fiction that portrays real life. Could such nonsense really exist? Well you don't have to search too far. Robert Cormier has converted such nonsense into a creation of genius. Cormier's famous title, The Chocolate War, filled the shelves of bookstores in 1974. As its popularity skyrocketed, so did the controversies. As usual, language, sexual content, and a mature theme push this novel to the edge of the banishment plank. However, the uproar is only as loud as the book is true. Life is not a fairy tale; there isn't always a happy ending. Cormier wanted to express the darker side of life and depict its reality. In an interview, Cormier states, "'I'm very much interested in intimidation...the way people manipulate other people. And the obvious abuse of authority.'" ([...]). His interests in what may seem immoral to some have painted this novel's true colors.
Cunning, nefarious, browbeating, and savage, Archie Costello is the spawn of violence at Trinity High School. As a prime member of the notorious Vigils, Archie gets his kicks from shattering the spirits of students and dwarfing the authority of the school staff. And with this clandestine plethora of power which Archie possesses, he manages to control the entire school body. Teachers become his puppets and students become his army. If his victims are not eating out of the palm of Archie's hand, he is crushing them with it. His sly tongue and apace thinking only compliment his genius. In the act, Archie will adeptly configure not just one atrocious scheme, but a fiasco of chain reactions. He seeks out the weak points and fears of a victim and strikes hard in their moment of vulnerability--destroying them emotionally and physically. And because Archie could easily be the most feared yet respected character in this novel, he is alone. It is likely that Archie will never have allies, friends, or love--only minions. Archie Costello would be titled as no less than a vicious bully at its worst--despite nothing.
An author whom can collide the art of fantasy with the truth of reality and give birth to a masterful story is nothing short of a genius. Robert Cormier has done exactly this. I can think of no better term to describe this book than pure originality. It is a triumph that completely denies the laws of fiction. After every chapter I read, I would repeat to myself, "I cannot believe what just happened". And though you always seem to know the story's final destination, you never know exactly where Cormier will lead you next. It is a labyrinth of epic events and characters that will stop you at a dead end. There is no telling what type of twist Cormier will follow up with. I can only hope that this new breed of literature will be a successful archetype for future generations.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

IN 1974, AFTER SUFFERING rejections from seven major publishers, The Chocolate War made its debut. An uncompromising portrait of conformity and corruption, it quickly became a bestselling?and provocative?classic for young adults.

?Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful.??The New York Times Book Review

?The characterizations of all the boys are superb.??School Library Journal, Starred

?Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.??Kirkus Reviews, Starred

An ALA Best Books for Young Adults

A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Choice

A New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year

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