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1. Lipsyte, R. (1967). The
Contender. New York: Harper & Row.
2. (The Classics Category) Plot Summary: Alfred Brooks, a bright
African American boy growing up in 1960s Harlem, New York, feels as though his
life is heading nowhere. He has been a grocery store stock boy for as long as
he can remember and has dropped out of school due to life circumstances. Living
with his aunt and nieces in a run-down part of the city, Alfred struggles to
make ends meet and to find his calling in life. His best friend James falls
into the darkness of drug and alcohol addiction, and Alfred is faced with the
struggles that come with trying to save a friend while trying to save himself.
Alfred decides
he would like to become a boxer, partially because he is tired of being bullied
by Major and Hollis who attempt to drag him into their dark worlds, along with
James. He meets Mr. Donatelli who not only becomes his trainer but also a
father figure and mentor who helps Alfred figure out the true meaning of what
it takes to be not only a champion but a contender in both the sport of boxing
and in life.
3. Critical Analysis: The
Contender is the
predecessor to The Brave and The Chief. The latter two books continue
the story of Alfred Brooks and what he chooses to do with his life after
boxing. The continuation of his story gives readers a sense of closure and of
hope for the struggling coming of age story in The Contender. The novel has won such awards and honors as “ALA
Best of the Best Books for Young Adults,” “Library of Congress Children’s
Books,” “ALA Notable Children’s Book,” and the “New York Public Library Books
for the Teen Age.” Lipsyte also won the Margaret E. Edwards award for lasting
contribution to young adult literature in 2001. ALA Booklist states it is, “A novel filled with hardships and
hope.” The School Library Journal writes, “An exciting premise, short
chapters, and plenty of action make this a good choice for reluctant readers.” I
agree that the book’s chapters are short and fast-paced allowing teen readers’
attention to be held. Even though the book discusses the sport of boxing, the
book’s themes reveal the world of teen struggles – relationships, (both
friendships and the opposite sex), how to fit in the adult world, family
struggles, inner-struggles of doubt and confidence, and the list goes on.
Robert Lipsyte truly delves into the mind and heart of a teen, and even though
the novel was published in 1967, teenagers in 2014 will still relate.
This book is
suited best for ages 12 (7th grade) and up. The subjects of drugs
and other “young adult/adult” topics may not be suitable for anyone younger
than the junior high years. The language is simple enough for middle school
aged students to read, and the book would also be a great addition to a
struggling readers’ or special education high school class. The topics and struggles
in the novel, such as peer pressure, friendships, and socio-economic status in
society, should bring about some interesting and deep conversations in the
classroom. The rich history of the novel – 1960s Harlem, the rights of black
Americans, sports during this time period – will help aid a teacher or
librarian in planning meaningful activities during a novel study. At 227 pages,
this novel is fairly short but will hold readers’ attention due to the action
packed subject matter. Even the slowed down portions of the novel are
interesting and thoughtful because the novel is written from the third person
limited viewpoint, allowing the reader to hear the thoughts of Alfred the whole
time. I did wonder at times why Lipsyte decided to write in that point of view
versus the first person point of view.
I found that the
character Alfred Brooks is very believable and relatable. Even if a reader has
not gone through some of the challenges that Alfred goes through in the work of
fiction, he or she will still be able to relate to his thoughts and feelings of
inadequacy and the need to be more all the while struggling with trying to hold
on to a friendship Alfred believes is worth fighting for even if his friend may
not believe that at many times throughout the story. Alfred’s Aunt Pearl and
trainer, Mr. Donatelli, both play an integral part in Alfred’s character
development and his decisions throughout the novel. These characters break the
typical stereotype that a teen without biological parents struggles till the
end. The relationship between Alfred and James is also believable in the sense
that friendships that begun in boyhood can go through ups and downs and can
still survive but not remain unchanged. The other characters in the novel, such
as Spoon, Henry, and Mr. Epstein are symbols of encouragement, perseverance,
and hope for Alfred just like many of the “characters” in every day people’s
lives.
I truly enjoyed
reading this book. Of course, my English teacher mind was constantly thinking
about how I could use this in my struggling reading class at the high school
where I teach! However, if I were to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 just based
on pleasure reading, I would rate it at around an 8. I would recommend it to
anyone who asked. I found the figurative language and imagery in most places,
especially when describing Alfred’s observation of people and events, to be
simple but visually appealing. I could picture everything and everyone in my
mind clearly. I felt myself empathizing with characters, and that is something
I crave in a book. I wouldn’t say I found myself not being able to put the book
down, but that is probably because I am an adult reader and found portions of
the book to be not as relatable to me as they would be to a teen. However, from
a reading teacher’s perspective, this book would be a great addition to any
English classroom for teen readers as well as many history classes.
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