The Boxer and The Spy by Robert B. Parker

Introduction: If you like stories about sports, mystery, and suspense, then this thrilling book is just for you. "The Boxer and The Spy" has everything from drugs to murder to corruption of the school faculty. This book is about Terry and his best friend Abby investigating a murder scene, which many believe to be an overdose from steroids or suicide. The victim of the murder scene was a local student, named Jason, that attended the same school as Abby and Terry. Terry is suspicious of the homicide and decides to gather evidence and information from the school with Abby. The two eventually find out that Mr. Bullard, the principal of the school, and Mrs. Trent, the mayor of the city, killed the boy. Jason was murdered because he overheard about some illegal property business that Mr. Bullard and Mrs. Trent were running. Terry eventually tells George, Terry's personal boxing trainer, about his problems and the situation he is in. George helps Terry and Abby jail Mr. Bullard and Mrs. Trent for Murder and illegal business. "The Boxer and The Spy" was very enjoyable to read. I would highly recommend any of my fellow classmates to read this interesting, mind bottling, suspenseful packed book!

Theme: There were many themes to the story. One of them include the statement George made which is "Control is Key". This basically mean controlling the situation you're in will help you find the answer. It can also mean that you can overcome anything if you control the way you handle and manage certain things. Powering through everything will not get you the answer, while control will. Another great theme in the story is sometimes doing something wrong can result in doing something right. You notice this theme in the book when everyone, including Terry, starts saying/thinking that he(Terry) is doing the wrong thing. After all that determination of doing the wrong thing to find the truth about Jason, it finally came out.


Setting: The book visits man different settings- a beach, gym, road in a local neighborhood, but the main setting of the book would probably be the School and Boxing gym that Abby and Terry visited often. Terry visited the Boxing gyn frequently because of his boxing training. Terry and Abby visited the school often because they're students and have to attend it daily (duh).


2 Characters: Two characters that changed a whole lot throughout the book would have to be George and Terry. George starts out as Terry's personal boxing coach. As the two build a closer and stronger relationship, he starts becoming more of a mentor or fatherly figure that offers and gives wise advise. He also seems like the type of person that tries to stay out trouble in the beginning of the book, but ends up surprising the readers by getting involved and eventually helping Terry and Abby jail Mr. Bullard and Mrs. Trent. Terry is the type of person that's not very motivated and willing to help others. He eventually learns how to become more motivational through boxing and becomes more willing to help find out the truth about his friend Jason.

Structure: The way the book is structured is the same way you would find any other book. The book has chapters and paragraphs like other books. The only unusual part of the book are the sections or "chapters" called Spycams. The Spycams are much shorter than the regular paragraphs and chapters. The Spycams are basically parts of the book that act as cameras. They are footage/scenes that only the reader will know about. The main characters of the story does not know anything about the spycam scenes.

Author's Syntax: 

Page: 63

Sentence: " 'How are we going to find out?' Abby said.

                      Love that 'we,' Terry thought."

Analysis: I believe that the author italicized the "Love that we"  in order to make it seem like Terry really likes Abby and to create some chemistry in between them.

Page: 101

Sentence: "They were on the rocks at the beach, in their place, on the point of an outcropping where the ways broke beneath    them and left lacy pattern of foam on the surface of the water."

Analysis: The way the author organizes this sentence makes it seem like you're in a calm, fluid environment. It adds feelings and emotions into the first paragraph of the Chapter.

Page: 170

Sentence " 'For instance, say the basic events are true, and Bullard's making money off the school, and maybe distributing 'roids to some of his jock faves....' "

Analysis: As you can see, the author adds a few extra periods at the end of this sentence. It makes you kind of stop reading think about some questions and possible theories to the murder.

Causes and Effects:

1. Terry goes to the principal office to talk to Mr. Bullard about Jason's death. Mr. Bullard seems to be getting annoyed with Terry and keeps on suggesting that Jason's death was caused by a steroid overdose (suicide) and not a murder. Terry and the readers start to become very suspicious of Mr. Bullard.

2. Terry and Abby go to the library to investigate Jason's death by doing some research on steroids. The two eventually find out that the traces of steroids was not from a steroid overdose and the cause of Jason's death. The steroids were from an inhaler because Jason has asthma. Terry and Abby now know for sure that he was murdered.

3. Terry goes to the school nurse to gather information about steroids. The nurse does not allow him to enter because he does not have a note. Mr. Bullard finds out that Terry in continuing to find the real answer to Jason's death and asks Terry to come to his office for another talk. Mr. Bullard become aware of Terry's movements and now sees him as a threat.

Reviews:

Person: Bryan

Date: January 14, 2013

Review: The book i just finished was the The Boxer And The Spy by Robert B. Parker. I was really into this book because i enjoy boxing that what caught me into this book. What i dislike about this book was that it was long im not into long book but i wanted to finish the whole thing because it really intersting. There is alot of characters in this story but the two main one are Terry ,Abby,Kip Carter and last Mr.Bullard. one other character is George Terry boxing trainer and there more characters that help them spy on the two people they want to bust. What hook me into this book was the title i like boxing and it said boxer in the front so i said to myself it a good book for me. this book connect to me because it about a boy that learning to box. one scene really like when they gather everyone that help them bust the two persons. i enjoined this book a lot because it has a lot of good scene.

DISAGREE: Book was not long

Person: C.Baker

Date: May 24, 2008

Review: 

This novel was quite entertaining and enjoyable. It was interesting to see Parker take a 15 year old character and start to build him into the same kind of self-contained man that we see in Spenser. Terry is also somewhat of a loner, with a dead father and always drunk mother, but he raises above this disadvantage. He has found a father figure in a retired boxer, George, who is teaching Terry to box and how to be a man. This relationship is really more interesting than the plot itself, and in some ways more believable. Overall, I'd have to give this effort a definite thumbs up. I could hardly put it down once I started it.

AGREE

Person: Sallie

Date: December 8, 2010

Review: 

Some what different than the average Parker but
it was very satisfying. Very unusual premise -
two kids working to prove that their friend was
NOT a suicide but indeed, a murder. and the motive
behind the affair is most interesting.

AGREE

Conclusion: Overall I would give this book a 8 out of 10. It was very enjoyable to read and was very intriguing but It wasn't as touching as other books I have read in the past. Overall, still a great book and would highly suggest it!

Definition: a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.

Create sentence: Most judges prefer having a witness in court rather than his' or her' affidavit. 

Nemonic Device:

Average
Fat
Fans
Inside
Deformed
Apes
Vibrating
Incredibly

http://goanimate.com/videos/0gdrfCQl_RpY/1

  Many people in the world today are now aware of the devastating effects of bullying. Bullying is a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. Bullying another person can lead the victim to thoughts about suicide and/or depression. Bullying can take place in many forms. It can take place on the internet or in real-life. The type of bullying I will be talking about is the bullying that take place online, which is commonly know as cyber-bullying. Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. Cyber-bullying can have the same emotional and phycological outcomes as real-life bullying. 90% of victims will not inform a parent or trusted adult about cyber-bullying, because cyber-bullying usually has no escape. Most of the times real-life bullying only takes place during school, which is usually from 7am-3pm. On the pther hand, cyber-bullying can take place during any hour of the day.
          Victims of cyber-bullying may feel and think that there is bo escape to this situation, but they're wrong. If you are being cyber-bullied by someone and do not immediately inform your parents or a trusted adult, then at least inform a trusted friend or family member. Victims of cyber-bulling should not be afraid. The bully themself are actually weak and scared in the inside. They choose to bully others because it makes them feel overpowering and confident. If the cyber-bully contacts you online or directly/indirectly states something about you, then you should immediately ignore and avoid the statement. Don't be afraid and stand up.

          "Hmm... Hey Nate," Bobby said, "do you think time travel is possible? Do you really believe we can actually get this project to be successful?" 
          "Well, we'll find out soon, Professor." Nate replied as they worked diligently on the engineering project. 
          Bobby Dink, a well known college professor, and Nate Lenard, whom was famously known as a scientist and engineer, were both assigned by the U.S. military to make a time traveling device. The U.S. military's motive for the use of this device was to change the past for a better future. This project was kept confidential under the U.S. Government  due to the fact that this information might reach opposing countries and create huge dilemmas.             
          Bobby and Nate are the only ones that know about the existence of this project and are currently working on it in a secret U.S. airforce base in Southern Nevada, which many people know as area 51. They both knew the risks and possible consequences of creating this time machine, but they were madly driven and motivated by the cash reward. The two geniuses worked hard day and night like hot, sweaty pigs. It took them days, months, and even years to finally complete the project! 
          "Finally! After 6 years of hard work and dedication, we finally did it," Nate stated joyfully.
          "Yes, but don't get your hopes up to high now," Bobby replied, "How can you be so sure if it even functions properly? We must test it first before making any conclusions."
          Nate acquised with Bobby's statement. Bobby and Nate both made some agreements and assigned each other specific duties before they took on any procedures for the testing. Bobby's job was to operate the main control pad, which activated and controlled the time machine with a gamut of button. Nate's duty was to make observations as he walks through the time machine and out to the other side. They soon walked to their positions and attended their duties. Bobby set the device from 1:42p.m. of May 2, 2020 to 1:42p.m. of May 2, 2021.
Bobby activated the time machine and a black hole appeared before Nate's eyes. Amazed and mind blown by this ground breaking sight, Nate refocused his attention on the objectives that were assigned to him as he walked slowly and cautiously into the black hole. Within a blink of an eye, Nate was overjoyed that the black hole took him to a different destination. However, this destination was not the exact place Nate wanted to end up in. He was in a alternate universe. 
"Darn! The cursed machine took me to another world!" Nate stated angrily.
          Nate decided to just forget about the situation. He quickly took out his camera and notebook and made observations, useful and descriptive. He crossed paths with unique and odd creature that he had never seen before. The plants and creatures in this universe were just spectacular. The creatures, which had bright, colorful designs on their bodies, seemed to be herbivores. Until came upon a pugnacious lizard-like creature. Lustful for Nate's blood and flesh, the creature glowered at Nate as it approached him. The lizard jumped at him until another creature intervened. They had a melee and indicated as a harbinger to Nate. Nate sprinted back to the black hole and ended up in his universe again. Bobby deactivated the machine, which mysteriously caused it to fall to pieces. 
          "No," Bobby said with distraught, "all of our hard work.. Gone.. Tell me.. Did it even work?" 
          "It did not work properly, but it did take me to another universe. I have a plethora of useful observations. I must have been in their for at least 6 hours." Nate replied.
          Bobby suddenly had a facial expression that look confused and shocked.
          "Impossible. You were only in there for 3 minutes! There's no way you could've taken this much notes with the time given," Bobby stated. 
           Nate also showed the pictures he took and booby was amazed by life in that universe. Bobby and Nate were never able to recover the time machine, but they did make a plan to create anew device that would take the subject to different universes. Bobby and Nate explained the situation and plan to the U.S. Government. Driven and motivated more than ever, they went back to work.

In a period of over 10 years, Zara married for love despite what her family's plans and wishes were. SHe moved to Great Britain with her husband and two children for work. That's when her husband started to drink heavily. He became very violent and uncontrollable. Zara says that he has held a knife to her throat and also done many violent and miserable things to her. She can not speak out for her own will against her husband becuse 'it is a big shame.' She lives and fear everyday and has been mentally effected. She has filed a divorce with her husband has already found  a new man. Shortly after Zara had filed the divorce papers, her husband issued for a death sentence. I think the way he treats his wife is extremely wrong. He has not only hurt her but he has also effected his children's emotions, feelings, and mentality. He has become very violent and disturbed. I think he should go to a psychiatrist  and fix his problems before he does something ridiculous.