The Contender

The Contender was a book of suspense and making decisions for yourself. It was thrilling through the whole book, and kept you on the edge of you seat. You could relate the characters to people in real life . For instance, the friend who turns against you, the bully, and the person who never gives up. I would recommend this book to any person who enjoys the adventure of reading, though I think the themes of the book were directed more toward teenagers. Boys that read this book will be more interested in the boxing part of the book and the girls that read it will be more interested in the relationships in the book. This is definitely a book that everyone should pick up and read!

The Contender is a good novel for people who like sports and like to read. I gave this book four stars because it had an awsesome plot. It also was very detailed. Also, I liked how the book ended. The Contender is about a dropout student named Alfred Brooks that lives in the suburbs of Harlem, New York.

He is trying to support his aunt and himself, but his druggy friend keeps on taking his money. Then, he started to box and work out at a gym called Donatelli's Gym, so he would be ready to box in an amatuer boxing tournament. Now you have to get the book to read the rest of the book. I just think the book, "The Contender" is an all around good book.

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is an amazing book. The story involves a teenager named Alfred Brooks who is having a tough time in his life. His friend is addicted to drugs, he is a high school dropout, and he has a dead-end grocery store job. So, he decides to enter the world of boxing. He makes friends, learns great lessons, and makes his life a little better. The book is fantastically written and the character study is outstanding. The way Lipsyte develops Alfred is writing at its best(at least for me I'm only twelve). If you ever see this book in the library, bookstore or at school, check it out or buy it right away. I loved it and i think anyone else will.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I really enjoyed how it dealt with many different topics. It had a little bit for anybody. The details of Robert Lipsyte really make you feel like a part of the book. The characters were very well planned and thought out. I liked how Robert put in some funny characters to make the story not seem so dramatic. I think the ending was excellent, although I personally wish that it would have gone on longer. I really got into this book after a couple of chapters and when it ended, I was very upset. I hoped that it woudn't have kept you guessing as to what happened to the characters. I give this book for out of five stars.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I really enjoyed how it dealt with many different topics. It had a little bit for anybody. The details of Robert Lipsyte really make you feel like a part of the book. The characters were very well planned and thought out. I liked how Robert put in some funny characters to make the story not seem so dramatic. I think the ending was excellent, although I personally wish that it would have gone on longer. I really got into this book after a couple of chapters and when it ended, I was very upset. I hoped that it woudn't have kept you guessing as to what happened to the characters. I give this book for out of five stars.

In the beginning of The Contender, I was not amazed. I wanted to read a book about slavery and hard times so that I could learn about my ancestors. Boxing is not something I really like and don't usually hear about. I really like basketball, baseball, kickball and other sports that people my age play. But as we got more and more into the book, I noticed that the book was about making the right choices in your life and hanging out with the right crowd. THe only part that was not good to me was when Alfred's friend gets on drugs. And when he takes money from ALfred to get a fix. If Alfred was ever jumped again by Major, Alfred would probably kill Major!

This book is a great read for anyone mature enough to handle it. Alfred's struggle to understand the world around him delights the reader. With his best friend in jail, and running from the town bully, Alfred searches for his place in the dark, segregated times in Harlem in the 1960's. Somehow Alfred winds up in a new territory in the ring. Boxing leads Alfred away from the troubles of Harlem and into the world of pain and suffering under new circumstances. The book shows how Alfred strives to be a contender, something everyone should take away from this book. This book is truly a masterpiece that should be enjoyed by adolescent and adult alike.

The Contender is a good book by Robert Lipsyte .
Did you ever want to achieve a goal? That is what Alfred Brooks what's to do.Alfred is 17, who lives in Harlem New York, with his aunt and cousins.In Alfred life nothing is going right,until he found boxing.Now, Alfred tries to be a Contender in Mr. Donatili gym.This book was a good book, however th beginning was slow.The end of the book leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Alfred's best friend James as another important character.He and James were about the same age.He and James played and hung around Harlem.The Contender is a good sports book with a lot of conflict.

Robert Lipsyte's "The Contender" is a great book and makes you feel like your really there. In the book Alfred the main character is a troubled young man that is a high school dropout. Alfred lives in Harlem with his aunt Pearl, and works at a grocery store. Which is owned by the Epstein's, a wealthy Jewish family. Alfred's best friend James is into drugs, and robbing stores. His friend Henry told him about a gym called Donatelli's Gym. Alfred decided to see what he could do to become a boxer. Alfred then meets the owner of the gym Mr. Donetelli, who is a skilled and trained boxer. Mr. Donetelli wants to help Alfred figure out what he would like to do with his life. Donetelli said, "Everybody wants to be a champion. That's not enough. You have to start by wanting to be a contender..." Alfred would get out of bed every morning have a healthy breakfast next go off run for a while. Even while his Aunt Pearl asked where he was going each morning, he simply just said, "I'm going running". Aunt Pearl then figured out what Alfred was doing, and did not get mad because she wanted what was best for Alfred. Everyday Alfred is dedicated and runs everyday and goes to the gym to work out to try to become a Contender. Later on in the book Major pushed Alfred and others around roughly. Major has two buddies named Sonny and Hollis. In the rising action of the book Hollis and Sonny jumped and beat up Alfred. After that Major, Sonny, Hollis, and James go to rob Epstein store. When they are robbing the store the police came by and caught only James. All in all I really enjoyed this great book, which is great for teenagers. I thought the book was very inspirational and motivating.

The Contender was very informing on the different tactics and strtagies there are in boxing. It also desplays a vast array of different characters, and depicts them using a flowing story line. the book is about a young high school dropout that lives in the Bronx. After his best friend is arrested he needs to seek refuge from his troublesome world. This refuge is boxing. It tells about his progress and distractions from temptation. the fight seens are well portraited to give you an inside look at what Alfred (the main character) is thinking. The Contender is a great book and should be commended for its many strong points!

The Contender is a pretty good book. It talks about a person in his late teens who takes up boxing. This book takes place in Harlem, New York in the 1960s and it is very realistic in the atmosphere of Harlem. The 17 year old, Alfred lives with his aunt in a rough neighborhood with many drug addicts and rough people, and has to deal with racism. However, Alfred becomes a boxer and that is what the story talks about, his training and experiences. The book shows how hard it is to become a contender. My favorite parts are the fights that Alfred takes place in. They are very realistic and are unpredictable.

The Contender by Robert lipsyte is a great story. It is about a young african-american boy who decides he wants to box. His best friend is imprisoned for attempted theft because of the boys lapse of thinking for he knew that the store owner had installed a silent alarm. Alfred, the prisoner's friend, fights in a couple boxing matches and decides that boxing is not what he wants to do; or at least inflicting injury on another. His friend is released and gets hooked on drugs. Now it is Alfred's moral duty to put his friend in a rehabilitation. Can Alfed do it? Well I guess you should read the story!

The Contender was a good book. It started off kind of slow, but later in the book, it gets more and more interesting. Some parts of the book were boring, while others were very exciting. It took me a while to read the book, because at first it wasn't very interesting, but once I got to chapter 12 I finished the book in one night.Robert Lipsyte used great detail in order to make the book interesting and realistic. This book describes the troubles of a 17 year old boy going through adolescence and maturing, in a rough neighborhood. The Contenderis very realistic, and turned out to be a joy to read.

I really enjoyed the book. It's very realistic about how you have to train to become a boxer. I didn't know how much strain and pain you have to go through to become a boxer. Here is a little synopsis of the book. There is this black boy named Alfred who wants to become a boxer. He goes to this gym owned by Mr. Donatelli a trainer for boxers. He tells Alfred what he has to do every morning and what it's going to take to become a boxer. He teaches Alfred what it takes to become a contender. That's why I gave the book four stars. You should get it and read it it's very good.

The Contender
By Robert Lipsyte
Your life isn't as bad as you think, comparing it to Alfred's you're really like lucky. Alfred tries to avoid his bad friends because they all do drugs and commit crimes. His best friend James was thrown in jail for robbing a grocery store that Alfred works at. And some street kids are after him and blaming him for a crime they committed. In this dramatic action story you won't stop turning pages till your done with the book.
Alfred is beaten by the street kids and now he fells weak, scared, and he fells as if he's nobody. So Alfred goes to Donatelli's gym the neighborhood-boxing club to train and be stronger. At the gym he trains to be a boxer. He tells Donatelli the man who runs the gym that he wants to be a somebody and a champion at boxing some day, Donatelli tells him that before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender. Donatelli also tells him that he must train hard every day at his gym, get a nutritious selection of food every day, and to get a good amount of sleep every night. Alfred begins training as soon as he possibly can. He is motivated to be boxing champion because he wants to have more street credit and to be a somebody.
Alfred even starts to work better at the grocery store, which is his job. But one thing he doesn't understand is what Donatelli said. He said effort is what makes you a man, winning is just a reward. Alfred soon finds out what Donatelli means and now he fells stronger and he fells like a somebody finally. But he still wants to win and be a champion so he continues to train at the gym.
Will Alfred claim the spot for champions or will he return to his old life but as a somebody. You will have to read The Contender to find out how this great story ends.

I thought that The Contender was a great book that helps you tell if a friendship is a good one like Alfred's and James', because in the end Alfred was what James needed to help him. I thought Alfred was a great friend to James and a friend who doesn't want James to get hurt. If you like boxing this would be a great book for you to read. Alfred, the main character, wants to make something of himself because he was a highschool drop-out that was headed down the wrong path. Overall, I thought this was a great book that taught me to value my friendships even more than I already do.

This story is about a teenager named Alfred Brooks, and in the book he is simply trying to make a life for himself. He dropped out of High School, and he's working at a grocery store. To make things even worse, his friend is turning to drugs and he is getting harassed by a group of guys. Alfred decides to go to Donatelli's gym, because he wants to become a champion, a boxer.

My english class read this book, and I enjoyed it. I think you should read the book, and maybe it'll make you think about reaching the goals of becoming a champion.
[...]

The Contender
The protagonist, Alfred Brooks is hanging out with his best friend, James, and James's friends Major and Hollis. The three of them want to break into the Epsteins' grocery store where Alfred works. Although Alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the Epsteins just installed. James gets caught by the police, and later that night, Major and Hollis beat Alfred up. A man from the neighborhood, Henry, takes Alfred home. Henry mentions that he has been working for Mr. Donatelli, who owns a gym where he trains some famous boxers. Alfred goes to check out the gym and tells Mr. Donatelli that he wants to be special-he wants to be a champion. Donatelli tells him that first, he has to be a contender-someone for whom it is in the realm of possibility to be a champion.
The next night, Henry, Spoon, Jelly Belly, and Mr. Donatelli take Alfred to a boxing match at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Donatelli's most promising boxer, Willie Streeter, is competing in an important match. During the match, Streeter gets hurt, and Donatelli eventually concedes. Although Streeter is angry, Spoon says that Donatelli is the best manager around.
Alfred goes to Coney Island with Major, narrowly missing a run-in with the police for Major's possession of a stolen car. The next few days Alfred is in a stupor and eventually goes back to the gym to get his clothes and equipment. While there, he asks Mr. Donatelli if he could have been a contender. Mr. Donatelli answers that he does not know and that he never knows the answer to that question until he sees how a boxer reacts to getting hurt. Needing to know the answer to that question himself, Alfred begins training again.
During his second fight, Alfred hits his opponent so hard that his opponent gets knocked unconscious. Alfred is sickened by the scene and is upset at the brutality of his own actions. Mr. Epstein, proud and impressed, pays for Alfred's lessons. Spoon tells Alfred that he should consider going to night school, and Alfred later reveals that he is planning on getting his high school diploma.
After his third fight, Donatelli tells Alfred it is time to retire. He says that Alfred does not have the requisite killer instinct. Alfred protests and says that while that may be true, he still doesn't "know," yet, because he has never been injured in the ring. Donatelli eventually lets Alfred persuade him into fighting one more match. Alfred faces an opponent who is bigger, stronger, and better in his final match, but he lasts through all the rounds. Although he loses by majority decision, he knows that the strength and bravery he displayed in the round is something of which to be proud. Satisfied, he retires.
With this information I have given you then you can decide whether you like the book. I personally rate it a 4 and hope you will read it. It is a wonderful book.
Sincerely,
Jason Reilly

This book kept me interested as well as taught me a lot about boxing. I wanted to keep reading even after I was supposed to stop (I read it for school)! I thoutht the ending stunk since it kinda left you hanging, but it was a good book overall. It taught you a lot about boxing and it was fun to read. I had lots and lots of fun sitting on my couch reading it when I had to get through a number of chapters by the next day. Parts if the book were really boring and some make you shudder but when the book was good it stayed good for a long time! "The Contender" was a great book!

This book kept me interested as well as taught me a lot about boxing. I wanted to keep reading even after I was supposed to stop (I read it for school)! I thoutht the ending stunk since it kinda left you hanging, but it was a good book overall. It taught you a lot about boxing and it was fun to read. I had lots and lots of fun sitting on my couch reading it when I had to get through a number of chapters by the next day. Parts if the book were really boring and some make you shudder but when the book was good it stayed good for a long time! "The Contender" was a great book!

The Contender was a little above average book by Robert Lipstye. The characters seem to fall into place just right, but they left a little short
in description. Although it abruptly stopped, it left room for a
second book tha continues the whole story.
Alfred Brooks, the main character seems to develop confidence and knowledge. He is a regular no body on the streets,
until he meets Donatelli up at the neighborhood gym.
Anyone will read on and on with this touching story of a boy that becomes a special person that he has always wanted to be.

I give the Contender 4 stars because I think that it is a very good book for people on the street and those who've dropped out of school. It has a moral and gives good examples of street life and ghetto towns. It helped me understand how tough life really is, and inspired me to stay in school. If you are dropped out of school and feel lonely or trapped, you should read this book. If you do read this book, you will have a new perspective of some things. It also helps you understand life as a boxer better and understand that you have to be very devoted and strong.

I think the book, The Contender by Robert Lipsyte, was really good. The author shows that it does not always matter if you live in the getto or if u live in a manision, you can find friends anywhere even if you are totally different. A downside to the book was that the characters were a little fake to me especially Spoon. He seemed he was always doing the right thing all the time. I think The Contender is helpful in my everyday life, so overall I thought it was a good book. I recommed it to everyone out there that enjoys sports, such as boxing like Alfred.

The Contender is a great book. It deals with many different problems that were faced by African Americans in Harlem back then. It had many good things that happened, but it also had a balance of bad things. This book also had a great ending that was a complete suprise to me. I thought that the details used were very good because they helped you picture everything and they gave you a background of what was happening. The Contender is a great book for children to read because it can teach them about many historical facts, and it is also an enjoyable story.

The Contender is a great book. It deals with many different problems that were faced by African Americans in Harlem back then. It had many good things that happened, but it also had a balance of bad things. This book also had a great ending that was a complete suprise to me. I thought that the details used were very good because they helped you picture everything and they gave you a background of what was happening. The Contender is a great book for children to read because it can teach them about many historical facts, and it is also an enjoyable story.

"Everybody wants to be a champion. That's not enough. You have to start by wanting to be a contender..." -The Contender
In Growing up, you make decisions that affect your future and identity. The Contender tells a story of a boy, Alfred Brooks, and his struggles and triumphs in his life. Alfred gets help along the way and learns from others. I enjoyed reading this book because if was very intriguing. I disliked the fact that it was mainly about boxing, something I'm not very interested in. As an overall, the book had a unique theme and was fast-moving.

The book The Contender is a catching and motivational story. It is about an African American boy who grows up in Harlem, New York. He has a hard life in an impoverished area. A lot of things go wrong for him, so he decides he wants to do something important with his life. That is when he gets involved with boxing. Boxing and his mentors, Donetelli, Spoon, and Henry, teach him how to succeed in life. He also learns how to try hard and work for what he believes in. This book is inspirational and keeps the reader interested with the main character's life.

The Contender was a very good book, except I felt that it would have been more enjoyed if the reader was male. I don't have a lot of interest in boxing, drugs, and illegal actions, so i found this book a little scary. It really made me upset when I saw that James would leave his best friend in the "dust" just to rob a store. I hope that Robert Lipsyte's sequel to this story is as interesting as the first. I would recommend this book for any boy who thinks that drugs will make things better, because it proves that the drug way is the wrong way!

If you are in to violent action packed books then this is the book for you. It is about a young boy named Alfred Brooks. His mom died and his father left him. Now he lives with his aunt Pearl and he is trying to help out by working at the grocery store. Things suddenly takes a slope down hill. I'm not going to tell the rest but I definetly suggest this book to anybody willing to read it. This book teaches how hard life was for a young African American in that area at that time. The time was in the sixteys, and he lived in Harlom,and it dosent help if your mom and dad, and you dont even know yoour dad. If you read this book I promise that you will hear a new peropect on life.

I wouldn't recommend reading this book. It is hard to follow because they speak so much slang and they go from one thought to the next with the snap of a finger! It seems as if they talk to much about prejudice, too; whether it be blacks against the whites, or the opposite. I reccomend that if you really like sports, that you should read this book. If not, than it will seem really uneventful and pointless to read. Overall, the book had a good message: "The past means nothing- concintrate on the future and you will succeed."

Alfred has truely changed he went from quitting high school, to working at Epstein's grocery store, then he had been a boxer till Donetelli had him quit. ButAlfred gave his all so technically in this book he is a contender he worked hard and when he gave up he went back in and tryed boxing again. It helps though if you like boxing though. It was a positive good book. So if you like boxing it makes it all the better when you read it. Especailly to visualize the parts/scenes in the book so all in all I would recommend to read it.

The Contender
By Robert Lipsyte
Your life isn't as bad as you think, comparing it to Alfred's you're really like lucky. Alfred tries to avoid his bad friends because they all do drugs and commit crimes. His best friend James was thrown in jail for robbing a grocery store that Alfred works at. And some street kids are after him and blaming him for a crime they committed. In this dramatic action story you won't stop turning pages till your done with the book.
Alfred is beaten by the street kids and now he fells weak, scared, and he fells as if he's nobody. So Alfred goes to Donatelli's gym the neighborhood-boxing club to train and be stronger. At the gym he trains to be a boxer. He tells Donatelli the man who runs the gym that he wants to be a somebody and a champion at boxing some day, Donatelli tells him that before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender. Donatelli also tells him that he must train hard every day at his gym, get a nutritious selection of food every day, and to get a good amount of sleep every night. Alfred begins training as soon as he possibly can. He is motivated to be boxing champion because he wants to have more street credit and to be a somebody.
Alfred even starts to work better at the grocery store, which is his job. But one thing he doesn't understand is what Donatelli said. He said effort is what makes you a man, winning is just a reward. Alfred soon finds out what Donatelli means and now he fells stronger and he fells like a somebody finally. But he still wants to win and be a champion so he continues to train at the gym.
Will Alfred claim the spot for champions or will he return to his old life but as a somebody. You will have to read The Contender to find out how this great story ends.

This story takes place in Harlem ,New York in the slums of the
projects. A young black male named Alfred Brooks faces peer
pressure, trust, and the desire to win. Alfred dropped out of high
school and start to work at the Epstiens. The Epstiens store is a
family business of a white, Jewish, and rich family. Alfred has
been best friends with James who is starting to hang around with
the wrong crowd. James is into drugs and alcohol. Alfred Brooks
has an aunt who took him in after his father left and his mother
died. He calls her Aunt Pearl. His friend Henry told him about a
gym called Donatelli's Gym. Alfred decided to see what he could
do to become a boxer. Once in the gym, Alfred meets Mr.
Donatelli who is the owner of the gym. Mr. Donatelli is a white
and experienced trainer in boxing. Mr. Donatelli helped Alfred to
discover his goal in life. Alfred will have to get up and run each
morning and eat healthy meals. Even though he knew it would be
tough he was up for the sacrifice and hard work. Alfred didn't
explain to Aunt Pearl his decision to become a boxer. Each
morning when she asked where he was going he just said "I'm
going running." Even after she found out that he was boxing she
didn't get mad because she remembered when her parents wouldn't
allow her to follow her dream. Major on the other hand bullied
Alfred and others around. Major has two sidekicks named Sonny
and Hollis. In the middle of the book Sonny and Hollis, along with
Major, jumped and beat Alfred. Major talked Sonny, Hollis, and
James into robbing the Epstiens store. The police came but only
one of them got caught in the robbery. Later on in the book the
suspense ends and we find out that James is the one that got
caught. Major haunts Alfred for the rest of the book. After three
ametuer fights in the ring Donatelli suggested that Alfred stop
boxing. Alfred took his advice and contemplated on what to do.
After talking to his cousin Jeff, Alfred decided to quit boxing and
go back to school and work with the children in the community.

The Contender was a great book. The descriptions from Robert Lipsyte always kept me hooked on what was next after every event. I loved the in-depth coverage of the boxing. There were many lessons that I learned from the book. The main character, Alfred Brooks, attempted to pursue his own dreams ignoring racism and striving under all sorts of peer pressures from alcohol to drug addiction. He possessed a drive and determination to get away from the bad influences around him. He becomes very successful later in the book and his decision-making improves. With all the past bad mistakes that occurred to Alfred, it was time for him to rebuild his life. Thus, he goes to a gym to box. As a contender in boxing, Alfred finally challenged himself and was determined to be a champion. It was the first time Alfred had worked and tried to accomplish a goal. This book really inspired me to go out and try to accomplish the dreams that I have even though they may be far-fetched. This book was very interesting. I read it in less than a week because I was so intent in finishing the book. The Contender raised my level of awareness that nobody should stop believing that their dreams and accomplishments. I recommend this book for people of all ages and backgrounds to read. This book was well written and is something that everyone should read because it shows them to set their goals and to strive until they reach them. It was inspiring to read how a kid who was not given much, could make something out of his life and not succumb to the life of an underprivileged kid in a bad area. Alfred went against the odds and made something of himself. Anything is possible if a person believes in himself or herself and puts their mind to it.

The book The Contender was a wonderful story of hope, friendship, and determination. I loved this book because it showed the meaning and difficulty of growing up. I feel this book is important for readers around the age of 12-16 to read because at these times, kids are bullied and experience peer pressure just as Alfred ,the main character, did. The book shows a positive way to stay away from bad decisions even though they are all around us. Mr. Lipsyte has created a masterpiece that I feel everyone should experience.

I thought the book was okay. I liked the dramatization. The book was a little boring in the beginning but it got better in the end. I would summarize it as a boy with courage who stood up for himself. I would reccomend it to anyone who likes drama and sad stories. Alfred was willing to become a boxer but he quit. Because Donatelli his boxing manager tells him he doesn't have "killer instinct". James was Alfreds friend but he started using drugs badly. In the end James and Alfred become best friends.

I would recamend this book to people. It was very interesting. The author knew what he was doing when he was writing the book. He explained the characters well. The story starts out when Alfred wants to be somebody , so he becomes a boxer under the eyes Mr. Donitelli and his new best friend henry. His old best friend is now a drugy. Alfred was fighting one of the best boxers at a club one night. Mr. Donitelli siad no ,but Alfred said he wanted to fight Hubbard to prove to Donitelli thst he could go all the way.

The author of the Contender is Robert Lipstye. The book the Contender is about a male boxer named Alfred. The book also talk about a guy who was influenced by his friends. And the book talks about the way the guy lead himself to victory as a boxer. The book talks about when he dropped out of high school and what he did when he dropped out of high school.The book mainly talks about Alfred's life as a boxer. I recommend the ages 12 year and up should read this book because this book uses big vocabulary that kids under 12 will not know understand.

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte was a excellent book. At first I didn't want to read it because it was about boxing. It seemed like a regular book about a boy learning to box. It was interesting. I learned a lot about boxing, and the life in Harlem. It was a page turning book once you got into it. I couldn't put it down until I finsihed it. Because they just left you there wondering what was going to happen to James and Alfred. I started to read the sequeal "The Brave." This was a really great book.

The Contender is and okay book. Alfred has to make lots of decisions. He doesn't always make the best decision. He also has to deal with troublesome people like Major and his friends. Mr. Lipsyte creates a vivid description the entire book. I felt like I was with Albert the entire time. The beginning is boring at first, and the ending leaves you kind of hanging. The overall story is pretty good, however. I got so hooked on it, I couldn't stop reading until the end. This book is why I gave it a four.

The Contender is and okay book. Alfred has to make lots of decisions. He doesn't always make the best decision. He also has to deal with troublesome people like Major and his friends. Mr. Lipsyte creates a vivid description the entire book. I felt like I was with Albert the entire time. The beginning is boring at first, and the ending leaves you kind of hanging. The overall story is pretty good, however. I got so hooked on it, I couldn't stop reading until the end. This book is why I gave it a four.

Whether you are in Disney World or the suburbs, you won't like this book unless you like boxing. All it is about is a kid, Alfred, who wants to become a boxer. Although, the author does throw in a bit about friendship and making decisions. Furthermore, I would probably rate this book a two on a scale of one to five. The Contender did not interest me, but I'm not particularly fond of boxing either. So, for all of those boxing fans out there, you will probably like this book. I wouldn't recommend to others.

First thing I want to say: Excellent book! I think Lipsyte did a wondrous job portraying a young, scared boy growing into a determined, mature man.
Alfred Brooks is scared. He is a high school dropout with a job at a grocery store that is going nowhere, and fast. His best friend is sinking more and more into drugs. The neighborhood thugs want him, to either beat him up or to join them. After one of these beatings, Alfred decides to start going to Donatelli's Gym, a boxing club in Harlem that is notorious for champions. While training, he learns from Donatelli that it's the effort, not the win, that makes the man. It's if you can be hit and hurt, but still struggle to stand on your feet when everyone thought you were done. I loved the book. I think it would make an excellent movie and should be done so soon.
While reading this book I was inspired to start working out and feel better about myself. After reading this book I understood the importance of determination, discipline, and dedication when trying for your goals. I learned that if you have what it takes to become a contender, then you can do anything you want to.

First thing I want to say: Excellent book! I think Lipsyte did a wondrous job portraying a young, scared boy growing into a determined, mature man.
Alfred Brooks is scared. He is a high school dropout with a job at a grocery store that is going nowhere, and fast. His best friend is sinking more and more into drugs. The neighborhood thugs want him, to either beat him up or to join them. After one of these beatings, Alfred decides to start going to Donatelli's Gym, a boxing club in Harlem that is notorious for champions. While training, he learns from Donatelli that it's the effort, not the win, that makes the man. It's if you can be hit and hurt, but still struggle to stand on your feet when everyone thought you were done. I loved the book. I think it would make an excellent movie and should be done so soon.
While reading this book I was inspired to start working out and feel better about myself. After reading this book I understood the importance of determination, discipline, and dedication when trying for your goals. I learned that if you have what it takes to become a contender, then you can do anything you want to.

The Contender is a wonderful book filled with mystery and suspense. I felt as though I was right there with Albert (the main character) through his struggles and triumphs. Through the book I felt what it was like to live during segregation and what it was like to have a friend on drugs. The Contender is a real tearjerker with real life situations. Albert trains to become a boxer with his coach Donatelli. Will he turn pro.? I recommend this book to every one who has a passion for reading.

The novel, The Contender, strives to inform you of life in the 1960's! Robert Lipsye, the author, chooses the express the novel through three point of views, the first being in the life of a drugee amd his tolerance for a certain drug, the second being the fight between two friends to overcome and defeat this tolerance, and the third being in the life of a young man, Alfred, that had set his goals higher than any other in order to fulfill his dream of being a well-respected fighter in the great city of Harlem. Of course, writing such a great story came as no shock to me based on the fact that Robert Lipsyte had graduated from Columbia University, one of the top schools in the Ive-League, and then went on to be an author for the New York Times, constantly writing about such stars as Muhammad Ali, the boxer that is responsible for Robert writng The Contender in the first place. I enjoyed this book because it has the ability to keep your attention every step of the way. Reading about the ups and downs in Alfred's life made me feel like I was actually right there in Harlem when all of this took place back in the 60's! On a scale from 1 to 5, I'd have to give The Conteder an easy 4 because of everything that had happened in the book that had had me laughing at one point, mad at another, and then sad, and then right back to laughing. The Contender is definately a winner!

A Reader's Review to The Contender

The Contender, by Robert Lipsyte, is about a young boy and his struggles inside the boxing ring and in life. He is confronted with the challenge of drugs, alcohol, and theft. He must also struggle with the physical challenges of becoming a top contender. This book was slow and did not focus on boxing as much as I would have expected.

This book lacked action. It did not go into detail about his boxing career. The title implied that it would be about his career. A reader on the store.com stated that fight scenes were too rare and not in much detail. I, who happen to be a sports fan, was disappointed about this. He only fought four guys! He never had a chance to be a real boxer. A reviewer stated that "the ending was trashy and needed help" and I happen to agree.

This book dragged on much too long. The writer put too much work into parts of the story that weren't exciting. I really think the author needed to focus more on boxing than Alfred's struggle to help hi friend. Some of the scenes where he is just sitting at home are unnecessary. A reader stated "it is way too slow and not self-directed." The fight scenes were not detailed enough and unimportant scenes are put into too much detail.

The focus of this book was off. I think it should have been written to be more about boxing. The book's action was not in enough detail, and there were too many scenes that were unnecessary. That is only my opinion. What is your opinion

I gave this book four stars because I enjoyed reading it. It was exciting and descriptive, yet frustrating when you knew that he could be making better decisions. I enjoyed reading this book because it was a good story about a kid working hard to achieve his goals and succeed at life. I was glad when he decided to finish school and pleased with the type of trainer that he had. I think that he would be a good roll model for any young athlete trying to achieve their goals.

The Contender is about a boy named Alfred. Alfred lives in Harlem in the 1960's. He is 17 years old, quit school, lives with his aunt and works at the grocery store for the Epsteins. His best friend James hangs out in a club with Major, Sonny, and Hollis all three people are bad and try to break into the grocery store where Alfred works. James goes too and they trigger a silent alarm when they break in. The police come and catch James but Major, Sonny, and Hollis get away. Alfred had been talking to them before they broke into the grocery store and slipped up and said that there was still money in the cash register. (Alfred forgot about the silent alarm and didn't mention it.)
A few days later Alfred was walking down the street and got jumped by Sonny, Major, and Hollis.
Alfred goes to a boxing gym on top of a dentist's office to learn how to become a fighter. The manager Mr. Donatelli said that he would train him but it wouldn't be easy and that if he ever wanted to be a champion he would first need to be a contender.
I liked the book because it showed what it was like in real life Harlem and about the amount of prejudice there is in the world. I would recommend this book to anyone even if you aren't into the Realistic Fiction genre.

The Contender
The book is set in Harlem, New York with a teenage African-American boy who is struggling to survive and prove that he can be someone. His childhood friend falls victim to drugs and he sees what it has done to him. He decides he does not want to go down that road too. He chooses to start boxing to stay out of trouble. He becomes a good fighter that everyone in town knows but his manager doesn't think he has what it takes so he pulls him out of boxing. The boy also decided that he doesn't have what it takes. He however has gained the confidence and drive needed to go back to school to get his diploma. He also ends up getting his friend to drug rehab. I liked the book because it really makes you think about being able to reach your goals. It gives you reassurance. The reason that I didn't like it is it was very basic and run of the mill. I learned some things from this book. I learned that you should also try things before you say that you don't like it or can't do it. I am usually the kind of person that does not try new
things very often. This book may give me a reason to start now. I would recommend this book more toward younger kids because of the way the text is set up and the kind of writing that it is seems geared more toward them.

The book the Contender was considerably well-written, but Robert Lipsyte's style isn't my favorite. Boxing fans would probably enjoy this book,but I'm not into boxing. This book is probably more for boys. The ending wasn't great-I expected more. However, a good point of the book was the well-developed characters. I enjoyed reading about Alfred, Major, James, and Henry. It was interesting to watch Alfred throgh his struggle to be a contender.(and stay out of trouble)

The contender iss about a troubled young boy growing up in Harlem. Drugs,violence and gangs are all around him. School is a word that dosent apply to him since he is a drop out.In this book the author takes you throgh the eyes of Alfred. Where his life becomes you.This compelling novel is one you won't forget.Alfred's struggle to find himself and something he's good at is what makes this book so realistic.If you want to find out how he finds something he's good and how he finds himself read The Contender.

I would recommend this book to someone. The only part I didn't like was the end. It left you hanging and wanting to know what happened.
The book sounded so real, like you were right there watching everthing happen. Alferd worked at a goal and succeed. He learned how to work hard and never give up.He helped Henry forget about his leg, he helped james to the hospital, and he showed himself he could do anything that he put his mind to. This was over all a good book.

Alfred, the high school drop out working at grocery store, get harassed By Major and his gang member. Alfred was asked to rob the grocery story with gang and Alfred's best friend, James, went to the robbery with the gang. Alfred forgot to tell James about the new buglar alarm in the grocery store so James was cought by a cops. To be someone special, Alfred went up the stare to the Donettelli's gym to start boxing. He get physically and mentally stronger. (...)

I personally loved the novel The Contender by Robert Lipsyte. It has the main character fighting for what he believes in even when his best friend won't help him. Without any support, he turns to boxing and begins an epic adventure down the path of life, teaching both himself and others. He must resist temptation and succeed at any cost in his dual lives as an African-American in Harlem and as a boxer. I recommend this book for anybody who needs anything to read.

In this novel The Contender written by Robert Lipsyte the main character is named Alfred Brooks lives in Harlem N.Y. He lives with his aunt and two cousins. Alfred did not go to college because of being too poor, so he works at a supermarket. Alfred has a friend named James. One night Alfred and James go to major's clubhouse, Major is a boy who is a couple years older then Alfred and James. One night Major and James broke into the supermarket; Alfred knew it wasn't a smart idea so he did not go.

After a accident Alfred had with some one, He decides he wants to be a contender. He talks to Mr. Donnatelli and Mr. Donnatelli says that he must be a contender to become a champion. So Alfred agrees and starts training and becomes a fighter.

I would recommend this book to some one who enjoys reading about fighting and boxing. I would also recommend this book if you would like to read about life in the city for Alfred Brooks. I didn't like how the book went kind of slow and it takes forever to finish.