by Spark Notes
First published 2007
This study guide tackles Robert Cormier's novel about Jerry Renault, a freshman at Trinity, a Catholic boys' school. Jerry faces pressure to participate in the annual chocolate sale that funds school activities. When he refuses to sell the chocolates, he defies both the school administration and The Vigils, a secret student society that runs unofficial power games. His act of rebellion starts small but grows into something that threatens the established order. The administration and student leaders unite against Jerry, turning his classmates into enemies. What begins as a simple refusal becomes a test of individual will against institutional control. Jerry must decide whether standing alone is worth the brutal consequences that follow.
Genres: american-fiction, contemporary, adolescence, academic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, rebellion
Setting: Trinity, Catholic Boys' School
Period: 20th-Century
80 pages · Downloadable Spark Note · Barnes & Noble