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Robert Cormier’s 1974 novel The Chocolate War has become a litmus test for school librarians

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Summary
Nutrition label

59% Informative

The Chocolate War , a young-adult novel by Robert Cormier published in 1974 , has come to be regarded as a litmus test of sorts for school librarians.

The New York Times article described Cormier 's most famous novel as “one of the country’s most challenged books”.

The novel ends with a boxing match between Jerry Renault and Emile Janza .

The set-up of this match is convoluted and ridiculous.

With the lone exception of Jerry Renault , the young boys in The Chocolate War are cowardly, cruel, stupid, easily coerced.

The story is bleak and the ending is bleaker—Cormier at least had the courage of his convictions.

The Chocolate War would probably have passed into obscurity long ago had it not become a cause célèbre in America ’s ongoing culture wars.

The novel's cultural references are unlikely to resonate with young readers unfamiliar with Jimmy Cagney or Sammy Davis .

It is unlikely contemporary liberals would defend something so white, male, straight and otherwise.

VR Score

58

Informative language

58

Neutral language

43

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

43

Offensive language

offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

detected

Known propaganda techniques

detected

Time-value

medium-lived

Affiliate links

no affiliate links

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