It Ain't All for Nothin'

• Publisher:   Amistad
• Number Of Pages:   240
• Publication Date:   2003-04-01
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0064473112
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780064473118

Life in Harlem isn't easy, but Tippy and his grandmother are doing okay. Then Grandma Carrie gets sick, and Tippy goes to live with Lonnie, his father. Lonnie's got his own thing going on, and he doesn't have much room in his life for a son he barely knows -- unless, that is, Tippy is willing to walk the far side of the fine line between right and wrong. Grandma Carrie always said if he had Jesus in his heart there wasn't anything to worry about, but sometimes it's not that simple. When the chips are down, will Tippy be able to call for help -- and is there anyone out there who will listen?

I am a member of Southwood Book Club and this book was discuss in June 2003 This was the best book ever and last book of the Book Club for this year. Like they say 'SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST'. Letiana from Southwood !!!!

Book Review of "It Ain't all for Nothin" The book "It Ain't All For Nothin" (1978) by Walter Dean Myers is a fiction story about a father named Lonnie and son, named Tippy. Is where Tippy goes through the roughest time adjusting to living with his father Lonnie. Why? Because his father Lonnie abuses him physical and mentally; also he has no steady job. So he steals and robs other people for a living with the help of his friends. And this isn't how Tippy's grandma raised him to live. But he have no where to go after his grandma become ill, and unable to care for the state think?
While reading this short novel I give it two thumps up. This novel is very good. It shows readers what a struggle it can be to live with an abusive person-Especially when you're used to doing the right thing and now you can't even be yourself anymore. It Ain't All For Nothin reminds of another novel I read last year. Black Girl Lost by Donald Gainer. Both novels...are two young black kids who are in an abusive home. [ With no one to rely on in the time of need have despair.] Until one day God must have known this was enough on their tiny hearts and sent someone their way for salvation. But the only thing different about that Tippy in ItAin't All for Nothin is a boy and his father Lonnie abuses him. Sarah, a character in Black Girl Lost is being abuses her mother and her drunk male friends.
The novel's conflict is very dramatic in some of the chapter. Sometime the character Tippy would describe the beating his father would give him. For instance Lonnie thought Tippy would rat him out to the cop about a robbery he made Tippy be part of, so he beat Tippy like he was a man his age. I became upset and angry not just with this one occasion there are many more. But looking from Lonnie's point of view,I can't understand his frustration of having to step up his responsibility of being a man. And he can't meet the standard of being a real man because he hasn't been in Tippy's life. So he gets high and drunk to relief his frustration. But taking out on his son is not the answer.
This novel is an easy reading. It doesn't have any weakness in the story and throughout the story it remains the same with its main purpose to grab the viewer's eyes. The book is for anyone who is interested in (reading the novel). It Ain't All for Nothin by Walter Dean Myers is very nice piece writing and could be read by many age groups. It probably would open up some people maybe parents who act beat their kids. The is help to non violence for everyone the world.
Sweety Pie

(...)I read this book in my Language class. I'm writing this book review based on the review that the other kids made and they put false facts in their review. But my own opinion was the book was great except for the end they never told what happened to his grandmother. This story takes place in New York, Harlem on St. Nicholas Avenue. Just because this story takes place in the ghetto doesn't mean it's bad. The main character is a twelve year boy named Tippy his mother died when she was having him and his dad well you know the deal a black man that stall. Well like any other black kid you know what happened to the kid-- the grandmother takes him. But when Tippy was born his grandmother didn't like him because she felt like Tippy took her only daughter's life, but hated Tippy's father even more. As he grows she learn to love him. But life isn't that good his grandmother has to go in to the hospital and Tippy goes to live with his dad that don't know anything about kids. The book is a great book and the people put you in mind of every day people so it might relate to so people lives. When Tippy first moves with his father he scared and told not to call his father dad. It hurt Tippy, but he tried not to pay to much mind. Then there comes a time when Tippy stop praying because he thought in was no use. In this book a father learns how to be a dad, a young man stands up to his father, (with nothing to loose), he robs stores, but still do what's right. Will recommend this book to any (...)student.

Hi my name is Alvin Fortson and I read the book It Ain't All For Nothing. I think this story is very good because in the story they do things that people do in everyday life and that is why I like the story. The book is about a boy that has no mommy because she died when he was first born. The book takes place in Harlem with a boy name Tippy. He lives with his dad. Now he has a drinking problem and he steel money from people so he can smoke weed. I like this story because some of the things in this story happen in everyday life.

I'm a 7th grade student in N.J and I read this book in my language class. I disagree with what the reviewer "Bored Stiffless" said. This book is about a 12 year old boy named Tippy who lives in Harlem with his grandmother. They live in a 2 bedroom apartment. One day grandma Carrie gets sick and Tippy has to go live with his father Lonnie, and they have trouble living in the ghetto. I liked this book because it was a good book for middle school kids to read. I didn't like this book because it had a lot of crime scenes. I wouldn't recommend this book for other 7th graders because it has a lot of bad language.

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