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The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is a novel about the hard life on the streets of Harlem, and boxing. In the beginning Alfred is working at a shop sweeping, he gets bullied and picked on all the time. He then wants to learn how to fight and get stronger so he starts boxing, this turns his life around. He finds a local boxing gym and meets Mr. Donatelli, he is an old man who’s a boxing manager. Henry is Alfreds friend and works at the gym, he is a trainer and helps Alfred get in shape and work out. He teaches him how to box. Alfred starts defending himself and sticking up for himself. This novel contains three basic themes: survival, contending, and peer pressure. First of all survival plays a big part in Alfreds life. Everyday he survives by staying alive after him and Major fight. He survives harsh physical training and working out in the gym. He survives the sparring in t