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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
I surprised myself by REALLY liking this book. It's nothing I would've ever picked up if I hadn't had to read it for class; it's about a young black man who becomes a boxer as a means to escape the pressures of his inner city life. If I found it in the library or a bookstore, I would've read the back, said, "Eh, sports novel, ech" and put it back. But it's so good! It's a very slim little novel, but there's a lot going on there, and Lipsyte pulls it all off: family relationships, race relations, dropping out of school, drug abuse... Yet it never comes off as terribly heavy-handed.
Another inner-city-kid overcomes the odds story.
Gangs, shootings, drugs, etc. The protagonist fights (ha, pun intended) his way out with the help of caring mentors at a boxing gym.
Gangs, shootings, drugs, etc. The protagonist fights (ha, pun intended) his way out with the help of caring mentors at a boxing gym.
I enjoyed reading this book a lot more than I thought I would, being that it was published in the 1960's and the plot centers around boxing (one of my least favorite sports). I was able to make a connection to Alfred's character, and I think that his determination to overcome his environment and the pressure from his so-called friends is something that many teens today could still relate to. Also still relevant today is the fact that Alfred, despite his determination, still slips up occasionally, but works to overcome his mistakes. These were probably some groundbreaking themes at the time that this book was originally published, and although they are not anymore, with flawed heroes and heroines in lots of YA lit, this is still an extremely relevant story. I do think it would appeal to only certain groups of students, most likely, but necessarily in larger cities or students who enjoy the sport of boxing. Because of its age, it may take some convincing and enthusiastic recommendations on my part as the librarian, but in the hands of the right students it is an essential read for adolescence.
I had to read this book for school and hated it. Some have compared it to the Karate Kid, but the Karate Kid is waaaaay better. Maybe it is more of a boys book. I really did not get the ending where he insisted on fighting the guy. Can you say stupid? So yeah, just really not my thing.
This story started out really strong for me. Alfred Brooks decides he wants to learn to fight after his friends are involved in a robbery gone awry. Brooks trains with a local trainer at a local gym. However, eventually drugs and alcohol become a part of the story. That's where my interest dropped off. It seemed an unnecessary addition to an already interesting story.
This was an easy to read/devour book. The main character, Alfred, is easy to like and to root for. The ending is real, not everyone lives happy and problems solved ending. Lately that has been my biggest thing to notice/care about in a book. Does the ending satisfy or does it fizzle?
Even more important, my junior boys devoured this book and begged for the next in the series. 'Nuf said.
Even more important, my junior boys devoured this book and begged for the next in the series. 'Nuf said.
This book's main problem is that is so obviously and blatantly advertises its morals. Don't do drugs! Go for your goals! Try until you succeed!
I'm retching already. If you actually edit out the ethical tripe, it's a pretty good story.
Alfred is fed up with his life, his lowlife job, his best friend is doing drugs, and he's a high school dropout, so he starts boxing. He gets better and better until he realizes that he doesn't have the desire to fight. While most boxers have a thirst for blood or whatever (my go-to image is Max in The Book Thief, who imagined he was pounding Hitler's face in whenever he fought), Alfred really doesn't want to hurt anyone. . I actually liked this part the best, because it was the only non-generic part of the book-there wasn't really a happy ending.
I didn't like Alfred. He wasn't a stereotype, but he wasn't much of anything else, really. I thought he was going to be this tough-guy that had to take out his anger in fighting or something, or this nice-guy-with-a-bad-rep, but no. He was just sort of...there. As his trainer, Donatelli, correctly points out, he doesn't really want to be a fighter. He just wants to take his mind off of his troubles.
Actually the only thing he really wants is his best friend, James. The whole book, he has this weird obsession with his ex-friend, now a druggie who spends his time in jail cells, while Alfred sails upwards on the sea of success. Why. I honestly didn't get it. I mean, the ending of the book is about him too, for some weird reason. They shouldn't even have called this book The Contender, they should've called it "Saving James". It has a nice ring to it, and it suits the book better. For the love of Pete, the book ended with good ol' Al fireman-lifting James to the hospital. It didn't even include boxing.
This isn't a book I'd recommend, but I can see it being read at middle schools, even though it's not really a classic and is written in the 70s or 80s, I think. Be aware of drowning in a fondue of cheesiness, or being subjected to the weirdest bromance ever. You have been warned.
I'm retching already. If you actually edit out the ethical tripe, it's a pretty good story.
Alfred is fed up with his life, his lowlife job, his best friend is doing drugs, and he's a high school dropout, so he starts boxing. He gets better and better until he realizes that
I didn't like Alfred. He wasn't a stereotype, but he wasn't much of anything else, really. I thought he was going to be this tough-guy that had to take out his anger in fighting or something, or this nice-guy-with-a-bad-rep, but no. He was just sort of...there. As his trainer, Donatelli, correctly points out, he doesn't really want to be a fighter. He just wants to take his mind off of his troubles.
Actually the only thing he really wants is his best friend, James. The whole book, he has this weird obsession with his ex-friend, now a druggie who spends his time in jail cells, while Alfred sails upwards on the sea of success. Why. I honestly didn't get it. I mean, the ending of the book is about him too, for some weird reason. They shouldn't even have called this book The Contender, they should've called it "Saving James". It has a nice ring to it, and it suits the book better.
This isn't a book I'd recommend, but I can see it being read at middle schools, even though it's not really a classic and is written in the 70s or 80s, I think. Be aware of drowning in a fondue of cheesiness, or being subjected to the weirdest bromance ever. You have been warned.