The contender is a 1967 novel by american writer and sports journalist robert lipsyte. For donatelli, and for lipsyte, sports are not realistic escapes from poverty. The protagonist of the novel is a black seventeenyearold man. It follows black teenager alfred brooks, who lives with his aunt pearl and her three daughters in the harlem borough of new york city.
The contender by robert lipsyte, is one of my favorite books that i have read because it deals with real life situations, and a struggle to fight an addiction. Lipsyte does a good job describing the characters and showing their emotional and physical feelings. His friends were sinking into trouble and other kids are after him. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story. Pick 10 books and well guess whether youre an introvert or an extrovert. The contender is a comingofage novel, and its major themes are universal. This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of.
Lipsyte has also worked for the new york post, cbstv as a sports essayist for sunday morning, nbctv as. Hes a high school dropout and his grocery store job is leading nowhere. A short summary of robert lipsytes the contender this free synopsis covers all the. In the novel, alfred brooks is a black 17yearold high school dropout living in harlem in the mid1960s. The contender is the story of alfred brooks, a 17yearold africanamerican high school dropout who is torn between the street life of his harlem neighborhood, and his dreams of becoming a champion boxer. It stars gary oldman, joan allen, jeff bridges and christian slater. Robert lipsytes the contender is a great book and makes you feel like your really there. Ala best of the best books for young adults ala notable childrens book new york public. Robert lipsyte is the author of the contender and its two sequels, the brave and the chief. The contender, the brave, the chief, and warrior angel. If you own this book, you can mail it to our address below. This is a sports fiction novel that tells a story of alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold high school dropout, living in harlem, finding his way in the world and in boxing. The contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte.
The contender the protagonist, alfred brooks is hanging out with his best friend, james, and jamess friends major and hollis. Jan 01, 2020 i just started reading robert lipstye, and its clear that he knows how to write a story. The protagonist, alfred brooks is hanging out with his best friend, james, and. See the complete the contender series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. In this chapter, lipsyte portrays alfred choosing to resist peer pressure and refusing to participate in the burglary of his employers grocery. When alfred was hitting the peanut bag it sounded like a machine gun. Lipsyte uses this chapter to chart alfreds progress, primarily in the ring but also with the epsteins. Ala best of the best books for young adults ala notable childrens book new. Robert lipsyte robert lipsyte was born on january 16, 1938 in new york city. Buy a cheap copy of the contender book by robert lipsyte. Donatellis point from the moment that he first talks with alfred. Lipsyte was in las vegas to cover a heavyweight championship fight between muhammad ali and floyd patterson, scheduled for november 22, 1965. The novels of robert lipsyte are excellent for use in a middle school or secondary school classroom. Robert lipsyte was a sports writer before he published his first work of fiction.
The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. The themes of the contender inform all of us about life, which is mr. There he learns its the effort, not the win, that makes the boxerthat before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender. The contender by robert lypsyte timeline timetoast timelines. If you like a book that is slow paced with great meaning and life lessens, then this is the book for you. The contender by robert lipsyte, 1987, abcclio edition. After attending public schools, lipsyte went to columbia university, where he studied writing and graduated in 1957. The main characters name was alfred and he lives in the city. This is a sports fiction novel that tells a story of alfred brooks. Alfred learns by sparring with angel, denny, and jose, each of whom presents a different challenge. You can also purchase this book from a vendor and ship it to our address. Lipsyte 25 donatelli telling alfred that everyone wants the be a champion but thats not good enough you have to want to be a contender and this makes alfred want to show donatelli that he is a contender so he wants to be a boxer to show donatilli. The three of them want to break into the epsteins grocery store where alfred works.
The contender by robert lipsyte, 1987, abcclio edition, in english large print ed. Alfred, a young black man in harlem, has recently dropped out of high school and works full time at a small. The contender the contender by robert lipsyte is an exciting novel with each chapter having something new to learn about the book. The contender was one of the first novels to take a realistic look at teenagers and has been required reading in many american school systems for more than thirty years. The contender harpercollins harpercollins publishers. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero this acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. Jan 26, 2010 the breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. They do not apply just to alfred or to boxing or to harlem. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning. Donatellis code applies to all of life, not just to boxing. Recognizing the importance of that book as well as his other works, ala honored. Robert lipsytes the contender is a great book and makes you feel like your really. The contender by robert lipsyte, june 1992, harpercollins childrens books edition, in english.
His best friend is drifting behind a haze of drugs and violence, and now some street punks are harassing him for something he didnt do. The characters, buildup, and the conveying of the book s themes made it really well put together. The contender by lipsyte, robert, mass market paperback. Internet archive open library book donations 300 funston avenue san francisco, ca 94118. It follows black teenager alfred brooks, who lives with his aunt pearl and her three daughters in. Edwards award honoring the whole of his contribution to literature for young readers.
In his excellent critical biography, presenting robert lipsyte, michael cart repeats lipsyte s account of how the sports journalist first got his idea for the contender. This powerful story is recommended to sportsminded young adults and reluctant readers. Alfred struggles with angels style until he learns to apply bud martins advice. The contender is the debut novel by american author and sports journalist robert lipsyte. The film focuses on a fictional united states president played by bridges and the events surrounding his appointment of a new vice president allen. Robert lipsyte is an awardwinning sportswriter for the new york times and usa today and is the author of a number of acclaimed books, including the contender and raiders night. Written by acclaimed sports author robert lipstyle, the contender is an ala best of the best books for young adults, an ala notable childrens book, and is. The contender by robert lipsyte, 1987, harpercollins edition, in english. Major themes in the contender book summaries, test. The major themes of the contender center around alfreds growth from a somewhat lost high school dropout to a young man with discipline and realistic goals.
Jan 01, 2011 robert lipsyte biography robert michael lipsyte was born on january 16, 1938, in new york city. He graduated from columbia university in 1957 and almost immediately began his writing career with the new york times as a copyboy and later a sports reporter. Robert lipsyte books list of books by author robert lipsyte. This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. Although alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the epsteins. The contender has 9 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte. The protagonist, alfred brooks is hanging out with his best friend, james, and jamess friends major and hollis. Written in english before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender.
The contender summary the contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte. Robert lipsyte has 41 books on goodreads with 36373 ratings. Although alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the epsteins just installed. Alfred is dissatisfied with his job and confused by the changes he sees going on around him, and begins training at donatellis gym to become a boxer. Jan 01, 2020 the book the contender robert lipsyte is a book about a hard working teenager that goes through many problems in life. One of the best young adult books i have ever read. Teachers pet publications litplan teacher pack for the. James attempt to escape reality is the most destructive of all. Lipsyte explores a number of issues especially those that confront teenagersthrough alfred. Read the contender online by robert lipsyte books scribd. A modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, supersummary offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Former sports journalist robert lipsyte makes the boxing scenes vivid and realistic, but he is equally successful at depicting life on the streets and alfreds inner struggle to find within himself the man he would like to be.
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