Chocolate War

In the list of banned books in school libraries. I chose to research a little about the Chocolate War. I found a review of the book on commonsensemedia.org. Here is what I found:

How do good people succumb to evil? Can one person's defiance make a difference? Teenagers wrestle with such moral issues as they mature. This book, dealing with life's cruelty, often gets mixed and extreme reactions from high school students. Older readers often enjoy the stark reality and honesty, but those not yet ready to grapple with the book's themes frequently dislike it. One sophomore found it too disturbing, saying, "It just hit too close to home for me."That boy's reaction reflects the book's intensity. Evil in all its ugliness pervades the story. By setting the story in a private Catholic school, Cormier presents evil as something that can invade even our own protected lives. Only a few villains cause all the mayhem, and the book exposes them early. Archie declares his opposition to religion and authority in his first scene. To intimidate his class, Brother Leon accuses an innocent boy of cheating. Readers root for Jerry as he defies the fierce intimidation directed against him.When he finally fights back and then fails, readers may feel betrayed. However, Cormier won't spare us from life's nasty truths. Throughout the book good boys agree to the demands of Archie and Brother Leon. Readers wonder, "Would any of us have done better? Or would we make the same easy compromises as Cormier's characters?" This book remains relevant for a reason: It forces readers to face the reality of evil, and examine how to confront it.
Plot Summary:
Evil stalks the halls of Trinity High. A vicious student and the corrupt temporary headmaster control the school, targeting freshman Jerry Renault when he quietly resists them. With the whole school against him, Jerry stands alone. This dark, disturbing novel towers as one of the true classics of Young Adult Literature.