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Quick and easy read that is enjoyable and provides a good message. Through hard work and determination, the main character Alfred (literally) fights his way to the top and along the way, learns more about the world and himself from his trainer Donatelli. ( )

older students, 4-6th. Its a book about sports, so it brings in boys and those who normally wouldn't read, but have an interest in it.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I don't normally read sports fiction and I would never have picked this up if I didn't have to read it for school. I found the training scenes to be really interesting although I have no sense of how accurate they are because I know nothing about boxing. I did find some of the actual fight scenes to be difficult to follow, but that didn't bother me at all. Alfred's journey to manhood (with boxing as the metaphor of choice) was engrossing and sympathetic. If I can find the time, I think I would actually be interested in reading the rest of Lipsyte's works. ( )