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The Chocolate War
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
One of the most controversial YA novels of all time, The Chocolate War is a modern masterpiece that speaks to fans of S. E. Hintons The Outsiders and John Knowless A Separate Peace. After suffering rejection from seven major publishers, The Chocolate War made its debut in 1974, and quickly became a bestsellingand provocativeclassic for young adults. This chilling portrait of an all-boys prep school casts an unflinching eye on the pitfalls of conformity and corruption in our most elite cultural institutions. 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 review Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.Kirkus Reviews, starred review An ALA Best Book for Young Adults A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Editors Choice A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Ruthiella
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Other than Nancy Drew, I haven‘t really read any middle grade since I was middle grade myself. However, this one came to mind. It‘s a brutal story about boys and violence. Some adults have a problem with it but kids don‘t, in my experience. They get it.

“MiddleGradeMonday

Thanks for the tag @Eggs

dabbe 🖤 this one! 3mo
Karisimo Sounds hard but good! Thanks for sharing! 3mo
Eggs YW! I remember this book 3mo
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
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dabbe
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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#LuckyInLove
#chocolate
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This reminds me how much I love Robert Cormier. I need to go back and revisit his books. 💜

Eggs Agreed 👍🏼 (edited) 9mo
dabbe @Eggs ❤️💜🩷 9mo
54 likes2 comments
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WildAlaskaBibliophile
Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Happy National Chocolate Day!

To play, tag a book with a chocolate theme or the word “chocolate“ in the title, answer the questions, and then tag and share!
I'll go first:
Favorite chocolate: Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut
Favorite Halloween chocolate: Reese's peanut butter cups/pumpkins

#NationalChocolateDay
Wanna play, @tiedyedude?!

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DivineDiana
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Read this a few years ago. Wishing all the Litsy teachers and students a successful year of learning! 📚

#darkacademia #bookbinge

Eggs Great book! 1y
39 likes1 comment
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dabbe
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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#SummerSpecial
#ChocolateDay
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Another highly banned YA novel from the 1970s. Love his books. 💙💚💙

Eggs Re-Read this recently - great choice👏🏻👏🏻 1y
dabbe @Eggs 😍 1y
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Jenken1998
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

I do not like Lord of the Flies. I did like this. 🤔 Im not sure why bc they give me the same vibes. Peer pressure, conformity, under dogs, good people unable/ unwilling to stand up to bullies.

mjtwo This was one of my favourite books as a tween! You have reminded me to read it to my kids. 2y
RebL Back in the day, this one was frequently challenged. What if all the kids decided not to sell chocolates?! 2y
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DivineDiana
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

The annual Trinity boy‘s prep school fundraiser involves selling chocolates. This year the school‘s secret society,The Vigils, is asked by Brother Leon to make certain it is a success. Sadistic Brother Leon has misappropriated school funds. New student Jerry Renault decides not to participate,and the school is in an uproar. #bullying #facultycorruption #bannedbook
#darkacademia #booked2022

BarbaraTheBibliophage Sounds like a good choice for this chocolate-centric time of year! 🍫 🧺 3y
DivineDiana @BarbaraTheBibliophage I do love chocolates! ❤️ 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @DivineDiana Me too! I always grab up a bunch after Easter and Halloween because of the sales. LOL 3y
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Cinfhen Nice choice 👍🏽 a classic 3y
Cathythoughts Oh yum ! 3y
DivineDiana @Cathythoughts I‘m surprised there are still a few left in the box! 😂 3y
62 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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DivineDiana
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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New audiobook combined with old paperback that is sitting on my shelves unread. #libby #mttbr #booked2022 #darkacademianovel

Alfoster Oooh, I used to teach this book and kids loved it too!❤️👊 3y
DivineDiana @Alfoster How wonderful! I just discovered that it was a banned book. 3y
Alfoster @DivineDiana What?? It‘s been so long! Why was it banned? I don‘t remember anything that controversial…😱 3y
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DivineDiana @Alfoster “excessive violence, sexual content and profanity” 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y
Alfoster @DivineDiana OMG! Now I‘ll have to re-read and see. I‘m shocked though! 3y
DivineDiana It‘s mild so far. Cruelty/ violence from Brother Leon. I can definitely see that this would make for great discussion with teens. (edited) 3y
51 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Eggs
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Powerful book (banned at some point) with great characterizations; did not know there was a sequel…

#chocolate 🍩🍫🤎 #ItHadToBeYou @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

59 likes1 stack add
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Butterfinger
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

Brilliant. Upsetting, but brilliant writing. Bullies use psychological and physical abuse to entertain themselves. Ugly. Even the teachers can't be trusted. Just as relevant now as it was in #1974.

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Staci
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Mehso-so

I know its a metaphor but I cant help to think, damn, all that for some chocolates! 😂

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Just.Linds
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier

“No I‘m not going to sell the chocolates.”
Cities fell. Earth opened. Planets tilted. Stars plummeted. And the awful silence.
#112

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behudd
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️This book was given to me by a friend who had read & loved it in high school. And honestly, if I had read it in high school & had gone through it with a teacher, I think I would have liked it a lot more. There‘s tons to unpack in this book, & it could lead to really interesting classroom discussions. But I didn‘t like it at all. So I can see this being a good book to use in class, but it‘s not one I enjoyed reading on my own.

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Bono394
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Panpan

This was my second read-through of this book and I'm still not a fan. Maybe it's just that it's a very "boy book" but there are very few female characters, and those that are mentioned are not done so in a positive light.

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Lchnessmnstr
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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She chews while I read. Perfect snowy day activities! ❄️ 🍫 🦴

Nute Love love love this photo!🐶💚 4y
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JustinW
Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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“To give him a chance. A chance to get rid of his chocolates, old buddy“

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Susanita
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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My coworker went to #Switzerland and didn‘t bring me back any chocolate! The nerve! In his defense, though, he had a travel nightmare and barely got to the conference in time for his presentation. #letstravelaugust

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww 🇨🇭❤️ 5y
OriginalCyn620 😂🇨🇭🍫 5y
34 likes2 comments
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CrowCAH
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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LiterRohde I love this book! 6y
Cinfhen Me too!!!! Constantly!!!!!!!! 6y
cristalito Hab ich auch gelesen! Geiles Buch 6y
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book_princessBritt
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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1). I hated every moment of reading The Chocolate War. The misogyny and toxic masculinity constantly made me want to throw the book. 2). In grad school I bought lunch a lot cause too busy. 3). Getting pushed off my surfboard by a manatee and thinking it was a shark 4). Coffee 5). Green Wolves! #friyayintro

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kthlnmscrl
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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The bus can represent a lot of things in life depends on how someone would interpret it. It can mean opportunities long been waiting for you and yet you missed the chance or purposely chose something you thought the easy way out but at the end of the day, you realized you're wrong.
#sadtruth

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RebeccaRoo7
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Mehso-so

This book is probably the first book I've read recently that didn't end the way that I needed it to. It broke my heart and gave me despair. Even though I will never read this book again, I really believe that it is an important piece of literature. #read #chocolate #realistic #fiction #life #robertcormier

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LiterRohde
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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A favorite when I was growing up. I‘m still a fan now. I‘m sensing a theme here - I gravitate toward really dysfunctional books. Makes sense. I‘m pretty dysfunctional. To wit, it really bothers me that I used the word dysfunctional twice (thrice now) and that they line up one above the other. That‘s the less harmful kind, but I have plenty of dark kind too.

#QuotsyMay18 | 15: #Chocolate

CatLass007 The same author wrote a wonderful book called 6y
LiterRohde @CatLass007 Enjoyed that one too! 6y
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Ncostell
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

I never read this in school so now I‘m making up for lost time. I didn‘t really know much about it going in, including its controversial history somehow. The courage to stand up for what you believe in the face of evil is a message that still resonates today. I‘ll be thinking of this book for a long time to come.

Ingerella Wow, I haven't thought about this book in a long time! I remember really liking the movie when I was young. 7y
Ncostell @Ingerella I just picked it up at a book sale at the library. I‘ll have to watch the movie now too! 7y
68 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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I thought of these two from my YA TBR for #war. I read a few Robert Cormier as a teen, and have heard a lot about The Chocolate War... someday I‘ll finally read it! #readingresolutions

In other news, we got a piano today!! A sweet friend has been wanting to get a new piano, and she kindly gave us her old one. My musician husband is so excited to finally have a piano at home. 😊 🎹 🎶

TheBookgeekFrau I‘ve read others of his but never these; and yet, I remember everyone reading The Chocolate War in middle school, which is probably why I never read it🤔 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful!!! Congratulations 🎹☺️ 7y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Oh my gosh, haven't heard the name Robert Cormier in about 20 years and it takes me right back to 9th grade? 10th? and reading I am the cheese as a set work 7y
BarbaraJean @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you!! @C.Perone Yeah, I read several others by him but never this one... don‘t even remember hearing about it until a children‘s lit class in grad school! @MommyWantsToReadHerBook I Am the Cheese!! I think that‘s the first one I read by him! 7y
55 likes1 stack add4 comments
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JessicaThunstromNelson
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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I originally grabbed this for my kids from a bunch of books a friend was giving away, but they weren't interested, so I'm going to give it a go.

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chelreads
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Finishing this up tonight for my YA Lit class. ☕️ #80in18 #YALit #YA

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Jeg
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

Saw this in a display at our local library. It has been a banned book. I‘d never heard of it. Written in the 70s , I found it a good read with plenty to think about even now. Seems it is often read at high schools. I was wondering if anyone read it as a set book and what did you think?
I enjoyed reading the new introduction by the author.
@MrsMalaprop

CarolynM My son, who has never been much of a reader, read it in year 10 and really enjoyed it. I'll be interested to hear your opinion 7y
Jeg @CarolynM I thought the book was very good. There would be so much to discuss with kids . Actually made me think of Trump and his tactics. Well worth a read. I think it could be a book that would be okay for a book club discussion. Your son was at an Aussie school? (edited) 7y
CarolynM Yes, a school in Melbourne. He's now studying politics at uni, so maybe this book had some serious influence! 7y
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ness
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
Panpan

I have not read fiction that made me feel so awful, that was so unremittingly terrible, in a very long time. Had it not been for a class, I would not have finished it. Just, Jesus. #inls530

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ness
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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First book for my YA lit class! #gradlife

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Chelsibno
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Is it just me, or do a lot of children and YA novels feature #workaholics as parents? I suppose it's a common enough trait in real life that it wouldn't illicit any raised eyebrows from readers. Plus, if parents are always at work, it leaves the kids alone to experience adventures or drama. In The Chocolate War, we rarely see Jerry's dad, who's always at work. Granted, after his wife's death, it may just be his way of coping. #JubilantJuly

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DivineDiana
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Just bought this because of someone's post!?! Radical teens. Defiance. Secret School Society. #tbr #smellsliketeenspirit #junetunz

Cinfhen I read this a few years back with one of my kiddies...it was pretty good 😊 7y
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Brie
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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A childhood classic. Who knew the teenage candy business could be so cutthroat? #war #maybookflowers

batsy That stack of Flavia de Luce books is making me very happy 📚 7y
Brie Flavia is great 😀 @batsy (edited) 7y
manifestsanity Keith Gordon directed a movie adaptation of Chocolate War that is really amazing. Great synth pop soundtrack. It's a wonderful forgotten film. 7y
Brie @manifestsanity Oh cool, I knew there was a movie but didn't know if it was any good. 7y
73 likes4 comments
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KGlibrarian
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

Cormier's often challenged book is as poignant today as it was in 1974. Exploring the themes of conformism, power, and evil, the novel highlights the price the protagonist pays for staying true to his ideals. I was bothered by the many allusions to females as objects and the overused male self-pleasure references. The well-crafted characters and fast-paced plot, however, make it worth the read.

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Rebonkula
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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I absolutely love the antics of The Assignments in this book. I laugh every time.

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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Mehso-so

Meh. I can see how this is a classic YA and an important book in the 70s before the YA market emerged, but I found it a bit underwhelming. It was just too cynical for my tastes or rather too uncomplicatedly cynical. I get that people are obsessed with power, but the two key figures were pretty one-dimensional. Boring! I also never felt like I understood Jerry, the character standing up to the bullies. #Audiobooks

Notafraidofwords This was one of my favorite books growing up. I reread it a few years ago and couldn't understand why. LOL 8y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @Notafraidofwords Ha! Maybe it has some specific appeal for teens. Although it was originally written for adults! 8y
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Shmemilina
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier

Not the brightest start to the #24in48 weekend, but a pick nonetheless

Sue Oh, good old Robert Cormier. I am the Cheese destroyed me. 8y
26 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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emtobiasz
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Do I dare disturb the universe?

There's a reason this is the oft-quoted line from this book. By the time you get here, things are getting pretty heavy.

Still slowly working my way through the classics of YA lit.

Notafraidofwords I loved this and his follow up. 8y
25 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Redwritinghood
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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#bookssetinschool #booktober This classic book set in a school deals with one student trying to decide whether to take on the bullies or go with the flow. As he ponders this question featured on a poster in his bedroom, he decides to take them on. It is a rough road ahead. #setinaschool

40 likes3 stack adds
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pierceam102
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
Mehso-so

I didn't hate this book, but I don't think I'd read the second part of this series. I didn't feel particularly attached to the characters and while the plot sounded interesting, it just didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked. I think I may have liked this more if this was the first Cormier book I'd read, but it's nowhere near as fantastic as "I Am the Cheese."

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Cydster61
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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In honor of a middle school English friend who had to unassign The Chocolate War to an entire class because two parents were uncomfortable with a reference to masturbation and didn't want their sons to "get ideas". She assigned Huckleberry Finn in its place. No complaints. #somethingforsept @RealLifeReading

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desertbibliophile
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

Haven't read this since I was a little kid, still love it. Still won't sell chocolate.

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Literati86
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier
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Pickpick

I'd never read this before and I have to say I'm so happy I waited until now to do so. This story is truly timeless and horrifyingly apropos when you consider the current state of the world. Cormier's commentary on humanity, power and corruption is so astute, it's almost a shame this is considered a YA novel, only because that category will prevent others from reading what is a great, clever, and terrifying view of human life. This book man. Wow.

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MelissaSeacrest
Chocolate War | Robert Cormier

"They tell you to do your thing but they don't mean it. They don't want you to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too."

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Litlover
The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier

I get that this book was revolutionary in the young adult genre because of its unconventional ending, and I can appreciate the realism but that doesn't make my heart hurt any less for Jerry.