The Chocolate War - Robert Cormier
This book was considered quite controversial when it was first published (and for some time afterwards) and was banned in many schools. Given the current bullying and 'fight club' problems in schools, I think it should be compulsory reading for high school students. I read it a few years ago as uni subject in child/youth literature. It is a very challenging and confronting read about the dynamics of bullying and peer pressure in a boys school. I thought that it highlighted the different aspects of peer pressure and the impact of adult involvement in teen conflicts very well. Can't say too much about the story without giving it away for those who haven't read it, but it is about one boy's decision to stand up to the 'in' crowd of students. He is an emotionally vulnerable boy (his mother has recently died of cancer), but he decides to make a stand against the manipulative head of a 'dare' club and against the demeaning and intimidating head of the school. Not an easy read in the sense that it was quite emotionally confronting and it doesn't have an "all's right with the world" ending.
This book was considered quite controversial when it was first published (and for some time afterwards) and was banned in many schools. Given the current bullying and 'fight club' problems in schools, I think it should be compulsory reading for high school students. I read it a few years ago as uni subject in child/youth literature. It is a very challenging and confronting read about the dynamics of bullying and peer pressure in a boys school. I thought that it highlighted the different aspects of peer pressure and the impact of adult involvement in teen conflicts very well. Can't say too much about the story without giving it away for those who haven't read it, but it is about one boy's decision to stand up to the 'in' crowd of students. He is an emotionally vulnerable boy (his mother has recently died of cancer), but he decides to make a stand against the manipulative head of a 'dare' club and against the demeaning and intimidating head of the school. Not an easy read in the sense that it was quite emotionally confronting and it doesn't have an "all's right with the world" ending.