THE CHOCOLATE WAR

Thirty years ago, Cormier wrote a powerful tale of conformity, mob rule, and moral weakness that has become a classic. Jerry Renault, freshman at Trinity Academy, hangs a poster with the question “Do I dare to disturb the universe?” in his locker. The school, run by Archie Costello and his disciples in the secret Vigils club, is a place of cruelty and brutality. Costello manipulates students and faculty alike with impunity, and the silent majority is just grateful not to be targeted. Frank Muller narrates the story with an intensity that makes all the events feel like a matter of life and death. In this anniversary audio production, the universe is again disturbed, and we realize that not much has changed in the last thirty years. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]