Contender

The Contender

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is an exciting, action packed novel about Alfred Brooks, a black high school dropout from Harlem, New York who lives with his Aunt and works at a grocery store for a Jewish family, the Epsteins. But the store is leading nowhere. Alfred's best friend, James is suddenly taken over by drugs and singer further and further into his addiction. On top of all this, a group of kids are after him because he did not want to help them rob the grocery store. These group of kids are led by Major, a big bully who is not a big fan of Alfred. Alfred decides to start going to Donatelli's gym, a nearby gym for boxers and all kinds of different fighters. All kinds of boxing champions have trained in this gym including Willie Streeter, a very talented boxer. Alfred makes a lot of new friends at Donatelli's gym, including Jelly Belly, a heavyweight boxer that becomes quick buddies with Alfred. Alfred starts training heavily to become something for once in his life. His passion for boxing will get him back on his feet if he keeps trying as hard as he can.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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very Inspiring! Worth every page!

The Contender is an excellent novel to read with a touching storyline to go along with it. The contender is mainly about the protagonist, Alfred Brooks, wanting to succeed in life. While adding to that subject comes into the play of the art of boxing. After Alfred is jumped he finds a boxing gym where he talks to the coach; Mr. Donatelli, to tell him that he wants to be a champion which leads to the wise words of Mr. Donatelli that outlines the whole story. Mr. Donatelli’s response: “You have to start by wanting to be a contender, the man coming up, the man who knows there's a good chance he'll never get to the top, the man who's willing to sweat and bleed to get up as high as his legs and his brain and his heart will take him.” is very important involving various themes of the story. One of the significant parts to this theme of not giving up is that’s what Alfred has been doing before signing up at the gym which emphasizes Mr. Donatelli’s powerful words that if he wants to be a champion most importantly a contender he has to not give up and have determination to achieve his goals in life, not just in boxing. In the way I saw the novel going the author; Robert Lipsyte, likes to put obstacles into the protagonists life that gave him the option of falling into peer pressure, another ongoing theme, which leads to him going back to his regular life as a grocery boy going nowhere or to refuse the bad temptations and obtain the dream of being a contender. The level of suspense was just a little more than average with the constant choices and problems Alfred had to go through with, but it would still be more than enough to keep me highly interested and wanting to finish another chapter after another. Another aspect to the novel would be the fact that Alfred was just a regular guy that you could relate to, a guy trying to fit in the world, trying to chase his dreams. The fact that everything was so realistic and visual kept me going page after page. There have also been moments in the novel where I felt like Alfred was a role model in a way with that determination to stay above and not quit on what he enjoys and believes in. To add to that Alfred was at his lowest point having his best friend, James, leave him more and more often for his addiction of drugs, having no immediate family, living in the ghetto part of Harlem with his Aunt Pearl, depression, and being a dropout; so you got to give some sort of recognition to Alfred wanting to come up on top. Overall the plot is very simple to follow having an exposition, rising and falling action, a climax, several complications, and a resolution. The Contender is a book that has impacted my life in such a positive way.

Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!

I think this book was very good. I liked that he needed to work up to the pro level. This was interesting to me because i had to work up to get something i wanted.

Best Boxing Book Ever!

Book title and author: The Contender by: Robert Lipsyte


Alfred Brooks is the main character in this story. He has gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd. This book teaches you to not give into peer pressure and stand strong in what you believe in. I would recommend this book to middle school and high school kids because it keeps you interested the entire time. You cannot stop reading it because it is so suspenseful.
Alfred never wants to be in big trouble so he always goes to the movies on Friday nights. He usually wants James to go with him, but James has started hanging out with Major, Sonny, and Hollis; the guys James and Alfred were afraid of when they were younger. When Alfred accidently slips out that the Epstein's leave money in the cash register on Friday nights, Major was all for stealing it. Alfred forgot to mention that the Epstein's had just inserted a new silent burglary alarm.
I think this books purpose was to teach teens a main goal in life. Since Alfred dropped out of school there were not any good options for him. He got stuck being a bag boy at a local grocery store and not getting enough pay than he should get. The day after the grocery store was robbed the Epstein's did not leave him in the store alone and they did not let him do errands or ride their bikes to the bank.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I am glad I had to read this book because otherwise I would never choose this type of book. I also enjoyed when Alfred started boxing in the book. When he got into the ring the book was very descriptive. It painted a big picture in my mind. I would read this book again because it was great.

good story

The contender is about a boy named alfred brooks. this book is good because it tells about the troubles of a young boy who lives in harlem and is trying to become a boxer. He must fight the people who want him to do drugs and crime. He also meets plenty of helpful people as he becomes a boxer though and they are probably what save him from becoming nothing.
Alfred must fight to help his friend james who fell in with a bad crowd. The kids left him at his house to go rob the mr. epsteins store which is where alfred works. Alfred forgets to tell them theres a silent alarm and gets james cought. This angers the people james went out with which were major, hollis, and sunny and now they are after alfred to ruin his life.
Alfred survives the troubles of the three people who now hate him and his training. He meets people who help him and teach him many things and even gets to help james who becomes addicted to drugs.

great book

I read this book in 9th grade. It was fun reading this book because the story can happen in real life. It tells us the life a teenager that grew up in Harlem, New York. I liked this book because I picked up a lot of good things like, using drugs can ruin one's life, also working hard can lead to success and finally having a long patience can have good results. This book really concentrates on Alfred's life and tells us how he handles his decision makings. The main theme of this book is how Alfred progress through life and guide his friend James back to right direction. I recommend this book to everyone because i think anyone can enjoy this book because of its thrilling moments and its lessons that everyone can get

The Contender book review

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is an immense novel. It is about a boy named Alfred who lives in a bad neighborhood but stays out of trouble by boxing and influences the people around him by doing so. I read this book last year and enjoyed it tremendously. Robert Lipsyte does a great job with characterization, you can picture the characters in your mind when he describes them. The setting of the novel Harlem, New York is expressed in vivid details. The conflicts in the book are extremely realistic. For example; Theft and drugs. I would recommend this best seller to anyone who likes reading a book where someone is determined to be a champion.

giovanny rodriguez Mrs hill 2nd period review

this book is interesting and has me drawed in.I definately recomend this book to boxers and people who don't quit.I am alost through the whole book but soon i should finish!

The Contender

The Contender by Robert Lypsyte is about a teenage boy, Alfred, who has many problems in life. Alfred is an African American high school dropout from Harlem, NY who lives with his Aunt Pearl and his three little cousins. He works at a grocery store for a Jewish family, the Epsteins.
James was Alfred¿s best friend ever since they were very little. They did everything together. Alfred and James used to be best friends until they had a disagreement. Alfred still wanted to be friends again and hang out, but James wanted nothing to do with it. Alfred cared enough to try and help James stop drinking and taking drugs. James wanted to quit but he never did. Alfred wants to become someone, so he gets courage to go to Donatelli¿s gym, like other famous boxers did from his town. Alfred makes a lot of new friends at Donatelli¿s gym, Henry, Jelly Belly, Dr. Corey, Mr. Epstein, Spoon, Bud and even Mr. Donatelli. Alfred Starts training with Henry, and Alfred gets on a precise schedule. He fights and wins some, but loses some too. Even though he loses some he is still very good at boxing. He enjoys it and has fun with it. When Mr. Donatelli lets Alfred know it was time for him to retire, he stayed and finished his last fight. Mr. Donatelli believed Alfred had more in him than boxing. Alfred struggles with his decision but then decides to continue on with his education.
In my opinion this book was one of my favorites. I loved this book¿it made you want to keep reading on. The struggles and decisions of the teens in this book seems very realistic to teens today. I had to read it in my Language Arts class and I enjoyed it very much. Robert Lypsyte, the author, is also a very good writer, I enjoyed the way he wrote the book and made the story flow!

the contender

This book is a very inspiring book, about a boy named Alfred who is trying to stay safe and stay away from drugs and the party life. It shows what really madders in life and keeping positive people around you. It shows the hard life of this young teen. It was on of the best books I've read.

The Contender

The Contender is about a 17 year old boy who decides to try to change his life for the better. The flashbacks and characters are unique and interesting. This book can easily teach anyone about what the true meaning of friendship is and where hard work and determination can lead you, and the negative affect of intolerance, discrimination and ignorance, and also how the world has changed. In all I feel that this book is an excellent read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a great example of achievement in life

this book is a really good example of todays generation it inspired myself to give a little push on lifes goals plus i like boxing it be nice to see what its like and all the things you have to train for

uuh.. ok i guess

this book wasn't terrible but i wouldn't pick it up on my own. i was forced to read it during school and i was dreading my ela class because i didnt want to read it. i also didnt like the authors style of writing

best book ever read!

Alfred Brooks is a young black male who is going through many struggles in the Chicago streets. He is a drop out from high school with a job at a local supermarket. His best friend struggles with drugs, alcohol, and tuff decisions. All of these problems and anger have just about taken a toll on him. Alfred sees a local boxing gym and takes a leap of faith. He trains and works out everyday while still keeping his job with a bundle of well known boxers but will this help out his best friend and block out all of the bad memories? This book will take you on amazing experiences that are 100 % real and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Read this book to find out more and to have a crazy ride.

Novel Anthology

The Contender by Robert Lipstyle is a great book for teens that has an outstanding meaning. It starts with Harlem teenager Alfred Brooks, a high school dropout living with his aunt. Although he is growing up in Harlem, Alfred is a good kid with a job at a market owned by the Epsteins, three Jewish brothers. Unfortunately, Alfred's best-friend James has been going down a different path. When James gets caught robbing the Epsteins store, James' friends blame Alfred for not telling them about the alarm system. They mug him on the streets and leave, but Henry, a cripple who works at a gym, finds Alfred and takes him home. When Alfred awakes at home, he decides he wants to take up Henry's offer of working out at the gym and becoming a boxer to learn to defend himself. Alfred then meets Mr. Donatelli, a boxing coach, and tells him he wants to box and become 'A Contender.' From here, Alfred trains night and day at the gym, waiting for his fight, his moment to shine. I will not reveal the ending of this story to anyone who is interested in reading this extraordinary book of friendship and determination. For parents, this is a great book for teens and yourself, because it teaches everyone a lesson about never giving up. Only then can you be 'A Contender.'

A teenage boys challenge to make a boxing dream come true.

Alfred Brooks is a 17 year old African American boy who has dropped out of high school. His childhood friend James is involved in street violence and drugs. Throughout this book Alfred has to stay focused on a dream of becoming a champion while his friends continue to make bad choices around him. Alfred meets a trainer named Mr. Donatelli who owns a gym that trains famous boxers. Alfred tells Mr. Donatelli his dream to be a champion. Mr. Donatelli tells him he has to be a contender first, ¿someone for whom it is possible to be a champion.¿ Alfred has never been injured in the ring. So he is never sure if he has what it takes to become a champion. Alfred has few matches and destroys his opponents. Alfred¿s struggles with the feeling that until he can hold his own in the ring while being hurt, he¿ll never know if he has the true courage and bravery needed to be a contender.

Great book

Alfred Brooks is a 17 year old Black boy who has dropped out of high school. His friend James is involved in the streets with violence and drugs. In this book Alfred has to stay focused on a dream of becoming a champion while his friends continue to make bad choices around him. Alfred tells Mr. Donatelli(who is his trainner) his dream to be a champion. Mr. Donatelli tells him he has to be a contender first, Alfred has never been injured in the ring. So he is never sure if he has what it takes to become a champion. Alfred has few matches and destroys his opponents. Alfred¿s struggles with the feeling that until he can hold his own in the ring while being hurt, he¿ll never know if he has the true courage and bravery needed to be a contender. But he has great tallent.

The contender

If you liked the book the outsiders by S.E. Hinton youre most likely to like this book too!!This book is about a seventeen year old boy named alfred who lives in harlem with his aunt. HIs best freind suffers from drug addiction and hangs out with the wrong crowd when these freinds of james try to get alfred for something he didnt do he stumbles into Mr.Donatelli's gym were champion boxers are changed it opens a whole new door for this highschool drop out.

A reviewer

This book is awsome i never wanted to put it down! i belive that anybody who likes to read that this a awsome book. i did not like the ending though but i still think it is awsome i defintily reccomend it!!!!