Brutal

The Chocolate War is a brutal book.  As I've mentioned again recently, as a born and raised Presbyterian, even though I'm a Baptist now, I still believe that human nature is basically evil.  There is no good without God.  We are all, as Calvin said, totally depraved.  The behavior of the students in The Chocolate War, well it isn't surprising.  It is horrifying.  It is just another reminder that we need God and His love in this lost world.

I listened to this book and in this edition, the author, Robert Cormier, gave an introduction.  Not only did the guy have an amazing Boston accent, but he made you really want to read the book!
TCW is gritty and real and heart-breaking.  A bit dated, of course, but it is so good and real that it doesn't matter.