The Contender Summary and Reviews

The Contender
by Robert Lipsyte

The Contender
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Book Summary Information

Author: Robert Lipsyte
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1987-04-01
ISBN: 0064470393
Number of pages: 176
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
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Book Reviews of The Contender

Book Review: The Contender Loses Steam Along the Way!
Summary: 3 Stars

Robert Lipsyte's novel, The Contender, is written for pre-teens and struggling students. The story is about Alfred Brooks, a young Harlem teen who works at a grocery store and discovers boxing through Donatelli, a successful coach. Until then, Alfred has dropped out of high school at 11th grade to work a dead-end job at family owned supermarket in Harlem. It's not until his friends Henry and James get in trouble that he decides to take up boxing with Donatelli who sees a contender much like the film, On the Waterfront starring Marlon Brando as a man who could have been a contender. Alfred's story can relate to the youth today and it's not so much about winning as it is about getting in shape and striving for something. Alfred begins his journey to be a boxer by training himself with Donatelli's help and belief in him to be the next contender despite all the risks of physical damage. It's not until Alfred starts striving to become a boxer that he becomes more alive in character and somebody to root for in life.

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