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Couldn't agree more- - I had dinner with Bob several times and he related the story to me... It always makes me smile when people call the novel anti-Catholic. Bob and his family were staunch Romans. I love the novel - and always used it with The Lottery - it was fun to find all the religious reference in the book and point them out to the complainers. Allan Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo (Brother Donogh Allan, MGC) Bishop Kearney High School Library 125 Kings Highway South Rochester, New York 14617 585-342 - 4000 x231 585-342 - 4694 (FAX) acuseo@bkhs.org Education in the tradition of the Christian Brothers and the School Sisters of Notre Dame FAC OMNIA BENE (Do all things well) PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: The information contained in this electronic transmission, and any documents attached hereto, may contain confidential information that is legally privileged and confidential. The information is intended only for the use of the recipients (s) named above. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify the sender and delete the electronic message. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of the information received in error is strictly prohibited. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brisco, Shonda" <briscos@TRINITYVALLEYSCHOOL.ORG> To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 12:06 PM Subject: Re: [LM_NET] TARGET: Specifics against banning Chocolate War I met Robert Cormier in 1995 and he told me that the book "The Chocolate War" was inspired by his son's school-wide project of selling chocolates every year to raise money. While his son didn't disagree with the practice and wanted to participate (and Robert and his wife had no problems with the program), the "seed of the idea" came when Robert thought, "what would be the ramifications to the student who did NOT want to participate in the school-wide activity?" From that he started telling about how he developed the characters based upon their need to create a power-situation over the students and how one student's defiance against the "system" and those who were corrupt ended up causing his own destruction. Although rather pessimistic (as all his novels), the thoughts and actions of the characters became clear to me as the reader once I realized where he had gotten the idea; his comparison of simple situations that we are all involved in each day, to more complex situations that spiral out of control when power becomes the ultimate game played by those who are in control of weaker individuals, still rings true. Thus the reason why "The Chocolate War" has become a contemporary classic. Shonda Brisco, MLIS Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX 76132 817-321-0100 ext. 410 briscos@trinityvalleyschool.org "Those who have the highest expectations for the web in terms of student research, are those who work with it, and students, the least." -- LM_NET librarian ________________________________ From: School Library Media & Network Communications on behalf of Kathy Mee Sent: Fri 4/1/2005 7:48 AM To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Subject: [LM_NET] TARGET: Specifics against banning Chocolate War Hi, As this is my 1st year running a high school library, and my 1st experience defending a challenged book, I thought I would ask for a little help! A parent is challenging the book "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier which is part of our 9th grade curriculum. The English department would like to go in armed to the teeth with specific arguments that have been used in the past to win this little battle. We know many of the broad arguments, Freedom of Speech, etc, but would like some specific arguments that relate to this particular book. Do any of you know of websites that get into detailed points? I've searched the archives, and haven't found anything, and also done some internet searching. I will continue my quest, but thought that some of you might have already experienced this, since the book has been controversial for so many years! Many thanks, Kathy Mee Milan High School Media Center Milan, MI -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. 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