The Chocolate War, a young-adult novel written by Robert Cormier and published in 1974, has come to be regarded not only as a classic work of fiction but also as a litmus test of sorts for school librarians: Make the book available to students and you are a hero; fail to keep a copy on your shelves and you are a book-banning reactionary.
I read the book before I entered high school, and probably did not understand it. I was the sort of child who roamed around the local library, finding books, and I had a habit of reading books for someone a few years older than me. The title drew me in, I think. As I recall, I had some identification with Jerry, being an outsider in school myself. And I think I respected it for having a surprisingly depressing ending- I read so many kids books with improbably happy endings that they began to feel fake. I was ready for an unhappy ending just for the variety. But I didn't really understand a lot of what was going on. There are many books from my childhood that left an impression, and which I am very glad to have read. That was not one of them. It wasn't horrible; it was just sort of- there
I am against censorship, but some days I require a definition of it. When people are required to pay taxes for public schools, whether they wish to or not, and required to send their children there, or go to considerable effort and expense not to, then there will be questions raised about what it in them. Is objecting to certain books censorship? Or reasonable disagreement about educational philosophy and the best use of tax dollars? It will depend on the context, on whether the objection is to something being there, or if it is required.
A year or so ago, I read The Ransom of Russian Art, by John McPhee, a nonfiction account of underground art in the Soviet Union, and an American professor who smuggled out a lot of it. It convinced me of two things. First, there is no point in censoring artists, as they will find a way to create anyway. Second, just because the Powers-That-Be do not approve of an artist, does not mean that he is actually any good.
I agree with you and have no desire to defend censorship. But school libraries are generally pretty small, holding a few thousand novels at most, probably fewer. School librarians can’t stock every book they would like to. And they shouldn’t be accused of censorship if they choose not to shelve any particular book. The Chocolate War isn’t horrible but it hasn’t exactly aged well. I doubt that many contemporary high school students would be able to relate to it. But anytime a school drops it from their shelves they are accused of censorship, which is just silly.
I read the book before I entered high school, and probably did not understand it. I was the sort of child who roamed around the local library, finding books, and I had a habit of reading books for someone a few years older than me. The title drew me in, I think. As I recall, I had some identification with Jerry, being an outsider in school myself. And I think I respected it for having a surprisingly depressing ending- I read so many kids books with improbably happy endings that they began to feel fake. I was ready for an unhappy ending just for the variety. But I didn't really understand a lot of what was going on. There are many books from my childhood that left an impression, and which I am very glad to have read. That was not one of them. It wasn't horrible; it was just sort of- there
I am against censorship, but some days I require a definition of it. When people are required to pay taxes for public schools, whether they wish to or not, and required to send their children there, or go to considerable effort and expense not to, then there will be questions raised about what it in them. Is objecting to certain books censorship? Or reasonable disagreement about educational philosophy and the best use of tax dollars? It will depend on the context, on whether the objection is to something being there, or if it is required.
A year or so ago, I read The Ransom of Russian Art, by John McPhee, a nonfiction account of underground art in the Soviet Union, and an American professor who smuggled out a lot of it. It convinced me of two things. First, there is no point in censoring artists, as they will find a way to create anyway. Second, just because the Powers-That-Be do not approve of an artist, does not mean that he is actually any good.
I agree with you and have no desire to defend censorship. But school libraries are generally pretty small, holding a few thousand novels at most, probably fewer. School librarians can’t stock every book they would like to. And they shouldn’t be accused of censorship if they choose not to shelve any particular book. The Chocolate War isn’t horrible but it hasn’t exactly aged well. I doubt that many contemporary high school students would be able to relate to it. But anytime a school drops it from their shelves they are accused of censorship, which is just silly.
I got through high school without ever having to read Cormier- probably that was a good thing.