The Contender (1967)

by Robert Lipsyte

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A Harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang of punks into a boxing gym, where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work, but that you don't know anything until you try.

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lcslibrarian | Aug 13, 2020 |

00008764

lcslibrarian | Aug 13, 2020 |

Quick and easy read that is enjoyable and provides a good message. Through hard work and determination, the main character Alfred (literally) fights his way to the top and along the way, learns more about the world and himself from his trainer Donatelli. (

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dbaltrus20 | Nov 8, 2018 |

older students, 4-6th. Its a book about sports, so it brings in boys and those who normally wouldn't read, but have an interest in it.

ChelseaBell | Apr 23, 2013 |

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I don't normally read sports fiction and I would never have picked this up if I didn't have to read it for school. I found the training scenes to be really interesting although I have no sense of how accurate they are because I know nothing about boxing. I did find some of the actual fight scenes to be difficult to follow, but that didn't bother me at all. Alfred's journey to manhood (with boxing as the metaphor of choice) was engrossing and sympathetic. If I can find the time, I think I would actually be interested in reading the rest of Lipsyte's works. (

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JenJ. | Mar 31, 2013 |

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Has as a student's study guide

CliffsNotes on Lipsyte's The Contender by Stanley P. Baldwin

A Study Guide for Robert Lipsyte's "The Contender" by Sara Constantakis

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Child Study Association of America/Wel-Met Children’s Book Award (1967)

Josette Frank Award (Winner – 1967)

Margaret A. Edwards Award (2001)

Notable Lists

Library of Congress Children's Literature Center Children's Books (Stories for Older Boys and Girls – 1967)

Library of Congress Children's Literature Center Children's Books (1964-1978)

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Canonical title

Original title

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Original publication date

1967

People/Characters

Important places

Harlem, New York, New York, USA

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

For my mother and father

First words

He waited on the stoop until twilight, pretending to watch the sun melt into the dirty gray Harlem sky.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

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Original language

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▾Book descriptions

A Harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang of punks into a boxing gym, where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work, but that you don't know anything until you try.

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Book description

After a successful start in a boxing career, a Harlem high school dropout decides that competing in the ring isn't enough of life and resolves to aim for different goals.(from the publisher)

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