The head of Trinity College asks Archie Costello the leader of The Vigils a secret society that rules the school to sell 20 000 boxes of chocolates in the annual fund-raising effort. Archie sees the chance of adding to his power but newcomer Jerry Renault refuses to sell them. Enormous mental & physical pressure is put on him but he will not give in
- the result is an inevitable explosive tragedy. The story continues in Beyond the Chocolate War". As the school year closes many students look forward to leaving but Carter & Obie leading members of The Vigils cant contemplate the future until they have destroyed Archie Costello. Robert Cormiers hard-hitting novels make compulsive reading."