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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Boxer, March 20, 2002
A Kid's Review
"The Boxer" was an okay book with not a whole lot of a knockout ending. Johnny Woods a lower class kid living in the tenements of Manhattan in the 1800's is supporting his family after his father leaves 3 years earlier. Johnny is walking home from the sweatshop one night, and stops at Brodie's Saloon where they offer boxing to anyone, and the winner wins five dollars. When Johnny is fighting, the saloon is raided by the police Johnny ends up with a sentence of 6 months in prison. When in prison he meets the "Professor" Michael O'Shaunessy. Michael offers to train him in prison and continue to train him when they get out of prison at his Upper East Side New York Athletic Club. When Johnny gets out he is surprised with the return of his father. He now must concentrate on fights and his family. This was an overall okay book. I expected a better ending then what was given.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful work of historical fiction, November 24, 2004
A Kid's Review
This is the story of a young man living in the slums of New York in the 1880's. John Aloysius Xavier Woods, or Johnny, has had a hard life. Having several siblings, a mother, and no father, Johnny has to work in a sweatshop all day for a disgustingly small amount of money. However, one day he decides to take a chance at illegal boxing, for the winner receives a good sum of money. Instead, he gets arrested during his first try and sent to jail for six months. It is there that he meets Michael O'Shaunnessey, a professional boxer. O'Shaunnessey sees lots of potential in Johnny, and Johnny agrees to let himself be trained. The rich O'Shaunnessey meanwhile sends money to Johnny's family to support them. After leaving jail, Johnny manages to use his newfound skills legally in a boxing club. Soon, Johnny manages to become the lightweight champion under the guidance of O'Shaunnessey. I think that this is a really good book, it is exciting and has a continuing plotline without boring lulls. It illustrates the image of life in the poorer sections of the America a century ago very well. I think that this story was an excellent illustration of how the times shape the individual. Johnny was working for a miniscule amount of money in the sweatshops. However, because he wanted more for himself in life, he decided to attempt boxing. Johnny would receive 5 dollars a day for every 4 rounds of boxing he won, which was much more than he made usually. Later on, after he gets out of prison, Johnny makes the decision that he will not return to the sweatshops. He strives to become a better boxer, which will then earn him more money to finally buy a better life in Brooklyn. The times for Johnny, which are poor and desolate times, force him to find a means of improving him and his family's conditions. The environment that Johnny lives in shapes him into a different individual than he would've been if he had lived in different circumstances.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book will knock you out! (But not really), February 22, 2002
By A Customer
That is of course, only if you like boxing. John Woods: a poor, tenament resident with a mother and young siblings to take care of, and a dead end job in the sweat shops that wasn't getting him anywhere, needed a miracle. And while walking down the street one day, he thinks he finds one: boxing. Boxing paid big money, and John knew he could do it, so he tries out in a place Brodie's Bar. During his first bout, the place is stormed by the cops (boxing was illegal without a permit) and John is sent to the "Tombs" (prison) for 6 months. Luckily, it was a hidden blessing, For John meets "The Perfessor" O'Shaunnessey. Ex-pro boxer, who now owned an athletic club. After getting out of the Tombs, his training begins at the club, and now his only goal is to get his family out of the tenaments, and into a decent home. If you're the person that enjoys boxing, I would say this book is definitely for you. If you do not like boxing like me, it will still be an enjoyable book (it was very well written), but it will not be as enjoyable...I give it 4 stars.
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