内容简介
Theschoolyearisalmostatanend,andthechocolatesaleispasthistory.ButnooneatTrinitySchoolcanforgetTheChocolateWar.DeviousArchieCostello,commanderofthesecretschoolorganizationcalledtheVirgils,stallhassometorturousassignmentstohandoutbeforehegraduates.Inspiteofthispleasure,Archieistroubledbyhisright-handman,Obie,whohasstartedtomoveawayfromtheVirgils.LuckilyArchieknowshisstoogeswillfixthat.Butwon'tArchiebeshockedwhenhediscoversthesurpriseObiehaswaitingforhim?Andtherearesurpriseswaitingforothers.ThetimeforrevengehascometothoseboyswhosecretlysufferedthetrialsofTrinity.Thefuseissetforthefinalexplosion.Whowillsurvive?
作者简介
WithTheChocolateWar,anunsparingstoryofcorruptionandbrutalvengeanceataCatholicboysschool,RobertCormierturnedwhathadbeenthesunnyworldofyoungadultfictionupsidedown.ThebooklaunchedCormieronahighlysuccessfulandoftencontroversialcareer,inwhichhetackledthedarkerissuesofadolescenceandAmericansuburbanlife.LiketheanonymouslyauthoredGoAskAlicein1975,anattimesharrowingstoryofdrugabuseforyoungadultreaders,theChocolateWarandothersoftheauthorsbooks--ranintotroublewithparentgroupswhofoundthewriterssubjectmatterinappropriateandhisapproachtooexplicit.(AccordingtoHerbFostalsBannedintheUSA,TheChocolateWarwasfifthonalistofthemostfrequentlybannedbooksinAmericanpubliclibrariesandschoolsinthe1990s.)Reviewers,however,praisedhiswriting.Ajournalistformuchofhislife,Cormierbalancedhischaractersgrimsituationswithadeft,vivid,lyricalstyle.ReviewingTheChocolateWar,acriticforTheNewYorkTimesBookReviewdescribeditasmasterfullystructuredandrichintheme;theactioniswellcrafted,welltimed,suspenseful;complexideasdevelopandunfoldwithclarity.Whenitcametothemes,Cormierwasunromanticandunflinching.InIAmtheCheese,Cormierevokedtheuneasyandelusiveworldofaboywhosefatherhastestifiedagainstorganizedcriminals;inTheBumblebeeFliesAnyway,thestorypivotsaroundterminallyillteenagers;inTendernessCormierintroducedaserialkillerandasexuallymanipulativeteenagegirl.Everytopicisopen,howevershocking,hetoldareporterforTheGuardianinNovemberof2000,inwhatwouldbeoneofhislastinterviews.Itsthewaythetopicsarehandledthatsimportant.InCormiersworldtherearenoeasyanswersandfewhappyendings,butthereisextraordinaryinsightintotheworldofadolescence:thecruelties,theisolation,andtheoften-bruisingsearchforidentity.Despitehisreputationasadisturberoftheliterarypeace,Cormierwasasmall-townwriter,whospentnearlyhisentirelifeworkingasajournalistfortheFitchburgSentinelinMassachusetts;hepublishedamemoirofhiscareerin1991titledIHaveWordstoSpend:ReflectionsofaSmall-TownEditor.Inadditiontofournovelsforadults,Cormierwroteonelastnovelforyoungadults,FrenchtownSummer,thestoryofayoungteenagersarrivalinanewtowntoldentirelyintheboyspoetry.HediedonNovember2,2000.
