The Mark of Conte

by Sonia Levitin, Bill Negron (Illustrator)

When he realizes that the computer at his new school thinks that he's two people, Conte decides to take a double course load and graduate in half the time.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Sonia Levitin is a German-American novelist, artist, producer, Holocaust Survivor, and author of over forty novels and picture books for young adults and children, as well as several theatrical plays and published essays on various topics for adults. Her book Incident at Loring Groves won an Edgar Allan Poe Award.

Reviews

[Amy Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conte Mark has one problem- people always think his name is Mark Conte. He also has another problem- he has enrolled at this new school which is large and impersonal (while insisting that it is not) and the school's computer seems to think that he is two different people (Conte Mark and Mark Conte). Conte decides to outsmart the school and finish high school in 2 years by taking early-bird classes, & independent studies and then hacking the school computer to combine his transcripts. He predictably ends up burning the candle at both ends trying to keep up this charade. I don't even remember how it ends, but if I student can take all the credits he needs in two years, he certainly aught to be able to graduate!!!

I read this probably 20 years ago but it's stuck with me as a book that I know I really enjoyed.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The technology in this is a trifle dated; but the characters are authentic. It would be nice if Levitin re-visited this and updated the technology -- or even made a short made-for-television/after-school-special film from it...

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, written in the mid-1970's when computers were still delicate, gargantuan machines that had to be carefully used and often malfunctioned. And the story of Conte Mark, through a computer error, being identified as both Conte Mark (his actual name) and Mark Conte in the high school class list decides that, instead of going to the school administration to correct the mistake, decides to take a double load of classes under both identities and graduate two years early.

How does he do this? He had previously been found to be a boy with advanced mental capabilities, so not only is he able to study extra, but he convinces several people to help him, including some to impersonate him in certain classes. Another method is for him to choose classes where he doesn't have to be around the whole time, and to use the same work in one class to complete assignments in another class, such as a biography on a scientist to be used both in English and science classes. Even then, things often go wrong through misfortune and miscalculation, and he has to devise alternate plans, but Conte Mark is no Gary Stu-he sometimes screws things up himself and has to depend on others to make things work, as well as to come up with ideas when he runs dry.

Why does he do this? He is unhappy at being forced to move to a new city when his father is fired from his job, and intends to graduate from high school early with the dream of going to the University of Chicago at sixteen, namely because he wants out of this city. Ultimately, things do not turn out exactly as intended.

The book has plenty of satire of the era, from an environmental march creating a huge mess the city has to clean up, to the idea of a pyramid supposedly causing all sorts of miracles, Forget Watergate or the AMC Pacer; this is what you want to read to get the true spirit of the 1970's.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Former) Library Copy

I remember reading this when I was in middle school, right about the time that our schedules started to be produced on computers. It seemed completely plausible to me then that Conte would be able to fool his teachers and get all of his credits, but now it just seems ridiculous. The style is very typical of this era; teachers and administrators are vaguely ridiculous, there are lots of quirky "weird" kids, funny set pieces, and a protagonist who was always struggling but making the best of the situation, something I would love to see more in today's literature.

This doesn't hold up particularly well. I found it a little hard to get into, because I had such trouble suspeding disbelief. When I read this twenty years ago, I didn't have as much of a problem.

I sent Ms. Levitin the filled up circulation card for this, and she sent me a paperback copy of the book that she signed. The cover isn't the same as the hardcover, which has the same illustrations as the interior.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it as a kid. Although I haven't read it for years, I often think about it and would love to reread it.

[M Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. A bit off-the-wall (in a good way) and fun to read as an adul.

[Todd Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really fun book. I read it in Jr. High and it inspired me to try to get my 8th Grade English teacher to allow me to study independently in the library in stead of going to class. This worked and I spent 6th period english in the library for a semester and still took all the tests and received an A. Back to the book. It is not "great literature" but it is a fun book and makes fun of computers a bit and the problems they can cause if thinking people don't pay attention.

[Erind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun read, though I wish the author used some more style. The characters and setting would be much more interesting with more interesting descriptions. Perhaps that is because this books seems a little out-dated to me. Looking past all that, I must acknowledge the excellent plot and charactr relationships in The Mark of Conte. Essentially, it is about one boy leaving his "Mark" in high school.

[Kate]

Totally implausible setup, but very enjoyable for me as a kid.

[Azz Lunatic]

The Mark of Conte by Sonia Levitin (1987)

[Dave 25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a kid and really enjoyed it.