Peer Pressure in Robert Cormier’s the Chocolate War

Jerry Renault, the protagonist of Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War, finds himself at the center of bullying efforts conducted by his high school’s secret society when he refuses to comply with a school-wide chocolate sale. Cormier’s 1974 novel remains a popular point of discourse in schools and academia for its effective rendering of peer pressure, bullying, corruption, and individuality. This compelling edition presents essays that examine the treatment of peer pressure in The Chocolate War, discussing such topics as pessimism, high school, activism, and standing against evil. The book also offers contemporary perspectives on modern-day peer pressure, urging readers to compare and contrast the themes of the novel with the issues of the today’s world.