2014, first published 1974
The story is set in a Catholic boys’ school. In the introduction
to this edition Robert Cormier describes tis as “a metaphor for the world” (vii).
Certainly he offers the reader much to think
about in how power shifts within society. The Vigils control both the masters
and the boys and yet establish a type of harmony. This isn’t always easy and in this case ends
in violence.
The language is quite sophisticated in this novel so readers
may need to study the text rather than read it for pleasure. Nevertheless Cormier establishes a good
narrative balance and gives a strong voice to the young adults involved.
The text isn’t that easy to read. It has a huge cast. The boys
are known by their first or their second name or both and it is easy to think
that one character is three people. The masters are sometimes named just by their
name and sometime as Brother. Where the name alone is used one can mistake them
for students.
The point of view shifts frequently, often mid-chapter.
The book is 274 pages long with most of the chapters being short
though there are one or two longer ones.
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