Robert Comier is a master at writing teen fiction. So detailed is his writing that he manages to capture almost all elements of a teenager's life. This often leads to conflicting paragraphs - isn't a teenager's life by nature conflicting? - but his observant style makes up for it. He turns his trained eye onto the story of a New England prep school for boys known as Trinity. Trinity is controlled behind the scenes by an underground society known as The Vigils, who manage to keep everyone under their thumb through an odd mix of psycological guerrila warfare and violence. The leader of The Vigils? A student by the name of Archie Costello, he's known as The Assigner and it's his job to dole out the tasks that make sure everyone, including the staff, know that The Vigils see all.
The annual chocolate sale comes under the watch of The Vigils and Archie plans to derail it for a few days (who really likes school spirit?) by having one freshman - Jerry Renault - refuse to sell them for 10 days. 10 days go by and he is still refusing. Suddenly not only is the school thrown into doubt (as is the temporary headmaster Brother Leon) but people begin to question the all controlling influence of The Vigils. Archie can't have that so he destroys Jerry's life. He starts with harrasment in the form of continuous late night phone calls then gets even Jerry's best friend, The Goober, to desert him. Finnally it all leads to the point of a very climatic boxing match full of triumph and bloodshed.
Cormier's beautifully written story is a real downer but also sheer joy to read.
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