The Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger

Hartinger, Brent (2003).  Geography Club.  New York: HarperTempest.

ISBN: 0060012234 /978-0-06-001223-6

Summary: In a high school where the jocks torment one outcast with relentless bullying, Russel views his survival at high school as dependent on hiding that he's gay.  Keeping his self-knowledge from all of his friends, he turns to gay chat rooms on the Internet at night. When he encounters another student at his high school and meets him in the park at night, his life at high school changes drastically as they form "the Geography Club", which is secretly a support group for gay students.  

Additional Comments:  A moving portrayal of the lengths teens take to fit in and feel "normal".  Normally nice, good people can cave in to extreme peer pressure.  Russel joins in the mocking of Brian Bund because he is afraid to take a stand and risk ostracism.  Russel's friend, Gunnar, lies to his best friend because of his pressure to find a girlfriend and to have sex.  What's right and what's wrong can get complicated and confused.  This is a moving book about how difficult life can be for a queer or questioning youth in a close-minded and volatile place like a school.  

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Cormier, Robert (1974, 1986). The Chocolate War. New York: Laurel Leaf Books.  

Summary:  The Vigils, an underground association that bullies underclassmen at Trinity High School into performing risky pranks, demand that Jerry Renault, a freshman, refuse to participate in the legendary, annual chocolate sale.  Jerry's non-involvement in the sale results in the scorn of the fundraiser's leader, a sinister and abusive teacher, Leon. Jerry must make decisions about whether to resist or comply with physical and psychological pressure and coercion exerted by Leon, the Vigils, and the rest of the school.   

Additional comments:  A dark and twisted story about resisting peer pressure, coercion, and oppression.  Jerry wonders "Dare I disturb the universe?", a question that will persist in the readers' mind after finishing the story.