The contender, by robert lipsyte rising action 3 resolution alfred goes to the gym, and meets mr. The contender is a comingofage novel whose protagonist, a black seventeenyearold high school dropout named alfred brooks, lives with his aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, a predominantly african american neighborhood in manhattan, new york city, in the mid1960s. As illustrated in the contender, lipsyte values the process more than the result. A vocabulary list featuring the contender by robert lipsyte, chapters 7. Is there a movie based on robert lipsytes the contender. My mom, fanny finston lipsyte, died in 1998, at 90. Robert lipsyte s most popular book is the contender.
Grade of the novel, the contender, will visit with students. The contender by robert lipsyte a harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang of punks in to a boxing gym, where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work, but that you dont know anything until you try. The protagonist of the novel is a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her 3. The contender by robert lipsyte and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. The contender lipsyte novel, a 1967 novel by robert lipsyte. Raiders night robert lipsyte e book 4 quotes from robert lipsyte. Lipsyte, was a principal and eventually director of all the new york city schools for emotionallydisturbed kids. The contender, the brave, the chief, and warrior angel.
This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of the contender. Robert lipsyte has 41 books on goodreads with 33977 ratings. Alfred brooks feels restless in his harlem home as he waits for his friend james to arrive and go with him to a movie. The themes of the contender inform all of us about life, which is mr. She asks him about the events of the previous evening. Its about a young man named alfred who dropped out of high school and works. I would recommend this book to my friend because it is a high paced book and its about sports. Jan 26, 2010 the breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. He undergoes many changes, both physical and emotional, and grows significantly throughout the length of the text. Henry can sense italfred is looking at a book upside down and asking what time it is.
The contender free book notes summary by robert lipsyte. The contender by robert lipsyte is a novel about the hard life on the streets of harlem, and boxing. 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. Hes not an avid reader and often complains about the book hes been assigned to read. Donatelli, an excellent, nononsense, managermentor. This book is based on fiction and the setting takes place in harlem,new york. The books plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. A baseball field in the middle of an iowa cornfield is the setting for this book about dreams. He is a member of the board of contributors for usa todays forum page, part of the newspapers opinion section. Robert lipsyte s book, the contender, explores the story of a young teen who rises against all odds. Robert lipsyte books list of books by author robert lipsyte.
In the beginning alfred is working at a shop sweeping, he gets bullied and picked on all the time. James and alfred were part of a gang that alfred didnt wanna be in but james leads him into it. His best friend is drifting behind a haze of drugs and violence, and now. He waited on the stoop until twilight, pretending to watch the sun melt into the dirty gray harlem sky.
This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. Holes book discussion featuring the princess and the scrivener cc duration. 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. The contender, however, he really liked and said it was one of his favorites. The contender free book notes summary chapters 2 3 summary. Alfred brookss life is going nowhere until he joins a renowned boxing club in harlem. Sep 05, 20 the contender by robert lipsyte kendra cline. Buy a cheap copy of the contender book by robert lipsyte. This is our monkeynotes downloadable and printable book summarybooknotessynopsis for the contender by robert lipsyte in pdf format. When james fails to show up, alfred goes to look for him at the club. The contender the contender by robert lipsyte is an exciting novel with each chapter having something new to learn about the book. 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.
Hes a highschool dropout working at a grocery store. The contender shows the harlem of midtwentieth century, when the blacks were becoming restless. 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. Alfreds father deserted the family when alfred was ten years old.
He then wants to learn how to fight and get stronger so he starts boxing, this turns his life aro. Aunt pearl informs him that henry and his father had brought him home when they found him walking in a semiconscious state. Donatellis point from the moment that he first talks with alfred. They do not apply just to alfred or to boxing or to harlem.
The book the the contender by robert lipstye was a decent book. Alfred pushes his body to the limit by training under him. Robert lipsyte biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Major themes in the contender book summaries, test. I found it very interesting, i thought it was kind of annoying at the end how they left it on a huge cliff hanger and didnt bother to add another book or at least tell us how it ends. The contender by lipsyte, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The gemini contenders, a 1976 novel by robert ludlum. Find the complete the contender book series by robert lipsyte. The contender is a 1967 novel by american writer and sports journalist robert lipsyte.
The contender is a comingofage novel whose protagonist, a black seventeenyearold high school dropout named alfred brooks, lives with his. In the novel, alfred brooks is a black 17yearold high school dropout living in harlem in the mid1960s. Oct 27, 2015 the contender by robert lipsyte in epub, rtf, txt download e book. Having left the indian reservation for the streets of new york, seventeenyearold boxer sonny bear tries to harness his inner rage by training with alfred brooks, who has left the sport to become a policeman. This powerful story is recommended to sportsminded young adults and reluctant readers. In the contender, alfred is a high school dropout, with only his best friend, james, and his aunt supporting him.
Is there a movie based on robert lipsyte s the contender. Lipsyte has written several books from an edited collection of his sports columns, to a biography of muhammad ali, to young adult fiction. See the complete the contender series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Sep 16, 2009 is there a movie based on robert lipsyte s the contender. Sportsworld, as lipsyte points out in the book by that name, is a grotesque distortion of sports. Before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young boxer in harlem who overcomes hardships and finds hope in the ring on his path to becoming a contender.
Created by cooperative childrens book center ccbc univ. Alfred is in bed and is being attended by his aunt. Lipsyte was among the first to accept and respect the unconventional prizefighter muhammad ali. 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. Free the contender worksheets and literature unit for.
The contender, by robert lipyte, is a book that takes place in harlem, in the times of segregation. Alfred brooks alfred, the protagonist, is the most dynamic character in the book. He is the author of twelve acclaimed novels for young adults and is the recipient of the margaret a. The contender was about a highschool dropout named alfred brooks.
Some street kids are after him for something he didnt even do. Robert lipsyte was an awardwinning sportswriter for the new york times and the emmywinning host of the nightly public affairs show the eleventh hour. The contender by robert lipsyte monkeynotes summary. Robert michael lipsyte born january 5, 1938 is an american sports journalist and author and former ombudsman for espn. The contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte. With proper training, he actually has some professional fights. In 1978, robert lipsyte was diagnosed with testicular cancer. A summary of themes in robert lipsyte s the contender.
Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. Alfred finds james in the cave, their childhood secret. The novel is set in harlem, new york, the same place that forms the background for many of the novels of reputed black writers like richard wright and james baldwin. Edwards award honoring his lifetime contribution in that genre. In the beginning of the book, alfred teeters between two different destinies. There are black nationalists in the book, representing the nation of islam. Alfred brooks is a grocery worker, but is tired of that and wants to be a boxer.
The contender is a comingofage novel, and its major themes are universal. The contender is a novel by robert lipsyte that was first published in 1967. I think my parents were happy i was a reader and too fat to get into trouble. My 14 year old son had to read this for one of his summer reading books. See a complete list of the characters in the contender and indepth analyses of alfred. His agreement that ali should be allowed to be himself is echoed in the title of his 1978 book on the complicated man.
Great deals on one book or all books in the series. This book wasnt amazing but it was pretty good that is why i rated it a four out of five. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story. Fans of the contender will not be disappointed by its sequel. Free the contender study unit worksheets for teachers to print. The contender by robert lipsyte pdf free download ebook. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office. The contender is the debut novel by american author and sports journalist robert lipsyte. The book s plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. Hes a high school dropout and his grocery store job is leading nowhere.
Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Lipsyte explores a number of issues especially those that confront teenagersthrough alfred. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. Lipsyte does a good job describing the characters and showing their emotional and physical feelings. This is a sports fiction novel that tells a story of alfred brooks. His best friend is sinking further and further into drug addiction. The contender by robert lipsyte audio book simply audiobooks. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. 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 second book of four in the contender series, critics praise the brave for its realistic depictions of the new york underground and the boxing circuit.
The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a highschool dropout named alfred who makes a hard choice to turn away from a life on the streets of harlem and all the trouble that entails. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Street scenes of harlem from the time period of the contender. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young. The website maintained by the author robert lipsyte.
Students will complete a reading assignment, discussion questions, and create a contender. The contender summary the contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte. Quote 1 donatelli says everybody wants to be a champion. The contender ebook by robert lipsyte rakuten kobo. The brave 1991, a young adult sportsthemed novel by robert lipsyte, centers on a halfnative american, halfwhite boy fighting to make it as a professional boxer. Alfred lives with his aunt because both of his parents died. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the contender and what it means. A summary of themes in robert lipsytes the contender. The book the contender is about a boy named alfred. The contenders, a 2008 guide to the american presidential election with contributions by laura flanders and dan savage.