Book Blab @ Stevenson H. S.

Review by Savas C.

Ms. Colan – Per.1

Most people, who live a poor life style, wish they can make something better of themselves or wish they had a better life. But when it comes to making that choice, many poor people don’t succeed not only because they are poor but because they are surrounded by drugs and negative influence.

Alfred Brooks, the main character in the book The Contender, is one of many poor people in Harlem, New York who wanted to do something better in his life and forget his past. Alfred lives with his Aunt Pearl in Harlem and with his little cousins. Alfred’s father had left him and his mother when Alfred was only ten years old and then three years later his mom died of pneumonia in the city hospital. Alfred’s best friend James hung out in a clubroom with a bunch of gang members, the leader of the gang was Major. Alfred decided that he wants to become a boxer, after the night where he almost got beat-up to death and his best friend, James, got put in jail. After James got out of jail he started doing drugs and became a drug addict. Alfred on the other hand started going to Mr. Donatelli’s gym and started training to become a boxer with the help of Mr. Donatelli.

This book came appealing to me because it had lots of action in it and it didn’t have a lot ot details just to say one thing. The author this book also made sure it had enough details to provide a image in the readers head. In many books they have lots of details just trying say one thing but in Scorpions it provided just the right amount.These aspects are one of the many reason why I continued to read this book.