Beyond the Chocolate War
Beyond the Chocolate War
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1979
Book Brief
288
Novel • Fiction
Trinity High School • 1970s
1979
YA
15-18 years
Super Short Summary
Beyond the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, a sequel to The Chocolate War, follows students at a Catholic high school as they contend with a dangerous gang called The Vigils, who coerce students into bullying and inflicting psychological harm on non-conformists to consolidate power, addressing themes of innocence, intolerance, cruelty, and socialization central to adolescence. Triggering topics include violent bullying and psychological manipulation.
Dark
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Challenging
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
2,884 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviews of Robert Cormier's Beyond the Chocolate War highlight its compelling continuation of the themes from the original novel. Critics praise its deep exploration of power and manipulation in a high school setting. However, some find its dark tone unsettling and the ending unsatisfactory. Overall, it's seen as a thought-provoking but divisive read.
Who Should Read Beyond the Chocolate War?
Readers who enjoy intense and thought-provoking stories, particularly those who liked S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders or J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, will appreciate Beyond the Chocolate War. The novel delves into themes of power, manipulation, and the darker aspects of human nature in a high school setting.
2,884 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
288
Novel • Fiction
Trinity High School • 1970s
1979
YA
15-18 years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!