From: Jo Ellen Bogart <joellenbogart>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 08:17:32 -0400

I had never read Cormier before this discussion and was glad to finally be looking at and talking about this provocative author. I grabbed The Chocolate War and two smaller volumes from the library. The Chocolate War was definitely painful to read. I don't like to think of such cruelty in the world, but can't deny that it exists, very obviously. The Lord of the Flies type mob atmosphere in the final scene is certainly gruesome. I think that the reader has a chance to think on the subjects of coercion, graft, cruelty, personal values and determination and to form moral judgments and that there is great value in that.

POSSIBLE SPOILER As for hope, one of the smaller books I checked out was Tunes for Bears to Dance To. The young main character is manipulated by a very evil man who has power over the boy and his family. The boy struggles with the alternatives and chooses the honorable one, even with some difficulty in the beginning. I found this story to be very hopeful as the old man was still working on his project, the boy's family seemed to be righting itself after tragedy and the young boy was set to help the evil man's daughter.

The third book is a group of short stories, 8 Plus 1. The first story was touching and insightful. Cormier's own comments as to the origins of the stories are very interesting.

So, that is my Cormier adventure so far.

Jo Ellen Bogart
Received on Wed 22 Aug 2001 07:17:32 AM CDT