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Book Review of The Contender

The Contender
The Contender
Author: Robert Lipsyte
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 13 more book reviews


A gut-wrenching story of life in the black ghetto written in the late 1960's. It was read during high school and has a sticker on the front that says MATURE. Content contains graphic violence and racism and the language to go along with it.

Alfred Brooks was part of the murky dropout world of junkies and petty theives. He lived in Harlem, where staying away from Whitey was the first rule of any street gang. Any member who broke this code could expect the worst the gang could give. Alfred Brooks wanted to make it straight-but he had a conflict. He wanted to stay alive as well.