Beyond the Chocolate War

I actually think this is just as good as the first. Maybe even better. ( )

Well, not to complain about Robert Cormier, the sequel to 'The Chocolate War' was disgusting.
It's' plot needed to be bigger, and better too. You have to try to introduce more characters, all the while while following the main plot, which circles around Jerry Renault and the Virgils. You must understand that this is stil happening. However, all this book is about is Obie getting back at the Archie and the Virgil's for ruining him.
Honestly, I wanted to see more of a conflict through Jerry and the Virgils. Instead, I got Archie trying to set up his boys with a kidnapping, which almost turns into a rape. Truth be told, the book did have. It's strong points, but it needed to have more about what the first book was, which yet said, was and always will be about Jerry Renault and the Virgils.
For my last as you would say, rating issue, the reason I gave it only three stars was because the book needed to have more action. Sure, Obie did try to kill Archie in the end, but the plot of the attempted murder was too weak. I would say, to make a strong murder scene, you would need to make Obie smuggle in a gun, or what not. Anyways, I was impressed that this book reached amazing sales, and I have to say congratulations to Mr. Cormier. Anyways, if Robert came out its another book, I would be positive that the plot of the book would circle around something other than the Virgils, but yet I digress. ( )

RGG: More of the same; lust, violence, and suicide.

RGG: More of the same; lust, violence, and suicide.

Exploring the aftermath of the chocolate sale and various participants plans for revenge, as well as the continued dominance and cruelty of Archie and Brother Leon. As much as one hopes and prays for the villains to get what they deserve, it seems that Cormier's overarching lesson is that there will always be evil and cruel people in the world and that it's up to the so-called "good guys" to decide how to deal with them. Will they turn traitor, stand strong and take it, end it all, or become what they despise? Each victim takes a different track and the reader is compelled to identify with the choice made and wonder how he or she would behave in that situation. Excellent in-class learning tool, but I would be wary about younger teens reading this without guidance. ( )