By Robert Lipsyte
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 7 - 12 | Grades 3 - 9 | Z+ | 4.5 | 36119 |
![Random. jas,](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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 didn't bother to add another book or at least tell us how it ends. (well if James is okay or not, and what happens to Alfred). But other than that cliff hanger it was a extremely good book.
I didn't find this interesting. It drags on and is confusing after so many dull twists and turns. I had to read this for my english class and it certianly was not a fun time for my classmates and I. If you actually enjoy boxing and want to take it on, maybe this will inspire you and make you determined. The writing wasn't bad, just the whole plot of the book. James seemed more like a nuisance with his drug addiction to the reader than actually caring for him. It seemed as though the author had forgotten all of the bad decisions Alfred had made. All of a sudden he is packing his stuff and leaving, while in the next chapter he is sparring with Jelly. Also him at the party doing weed and drinking, not running, and then he is in the gym in perfect shape.
This is one of the best books I've ever read it shows you who Alfred truly is and what it takes for him to find confidence. Alfred is someone who can be knocked down and get back up. That is what makes him a contender. That is what makes him someone who could be a champion. He can climb, he can wake up every day with dawn and run, to reach the goal. He can climb. His major character flaw is the need for external validation. He learned to get over that when he was so close to quitting because he felt as though he wasn't getting any reward. However with a talk with his manager who is simply unbothered he realizes that he needs to prove to himself that he can make it. He went from a scared, lost boy who didn't know where he stood with anything to someone who knew what mattered in life and who and what he was. This is a must read.
I'm currently reading this book for the 8th Grade, and I'm just not enjoying this book at ALL. It's simply too old-fashioned for me and the story is definitely dragging. I'll tell you what I think about it in a few days. Signing off, ~ifeellbookish
