Loser

Rating:
Summary: This book is almost a loser
Review: Though I did enjoy Stargirl by Mr. Spinelli, which I read last year, Loser just left something to be desired. The main character, Donald Zinkoff, is clumsy, loud, laughs when he shouldn't and throws up often because of a stomach problem. In general, he's a geek. The novel opens with his first day of first grade and continues through his sixth grade year. Zinkoff is not immediately a loser - in fact, there is a moment when he is a hero, but alas, it is not to continue. Around fourth grade, his classmates discover that he is "different" (which I thought was a little bit late - I was already a geek in 3rd grade) and begin to whisper behind his back.

Mr. Spinelli's obvious intent is to make kids reconsider those they have marginalized as losers (this book is a bit like Stargirl in that respect, but it is geared towards a younger audience), but it does not succeed as Stargirl did. It climaxes in a strange scene that takes place during a snowstorm, but this scene for me was very anticlimactic and rather ridiculous. While I agree with the book's premise, I just did not enjoy the ending!

Rating:
Summary: *Nichole*
Review: Did you ever hear of any one named Zinkoff? Well you will after reading loser by Jerry Spinelli. This book is about a kid named Donald Zinkoff. Zinkoff experiences a lot of things from Saterfield Elementary School to sixth grade at Monroe Middle school. He goes through field day. On field day know body wants Zinkoff on their team. Claudia a girl down the street named Claudia goes missing and Zinkoff goes looking for her in the snow for seven hours. That is just a couple of the things does in this book. I like this book because you travel with Zinkoff from first grade to sixth grade. If you are looking for a good book to read check out Loser by Jerry Spinelli.

Rating:
Summary: *sniffle**sniffle**Heart Warming!!!
Review: As the critics said, Donald Zinkoff is one loser who win will plenty of hearts! This book has simple language structure and writing unlike many other of Jerry Spinelli's book but its no less superb! The story line features a boy named Donald Zinkoff who's like any other kid at his age but as he grows up he realizes that he's actually labeled a loser. But he doesnt seem to care! This book is about his heart warming life from 1st to 6th Grade. You read as he matures from a little, cute and adorable sounding kid to a 6th grader. Donald Zinkoff has a very kind heart and you'll learn that anyone can, one very cold and winter night, become a hero! DeFiNetELy ReCoMMenDeD!!!

Rating:
Summary: Loser
Review: This book "Loser" was written by Jerry Spinelli, he has lots of other great books that he wrote too.
Donald Zinkoff is the main character in the book "Loser." The "Loser" is about a boy named Donald Zinkoff who shares his experience from first grade to sixth grade. In the beginning of the book Donald Zinkoff goes to first grade and his seat is in the last seat because his last name is at the end of the alphabet. Donald loves school, he would never miss school if he didnt have to, and even if he did have to miss school he would find a way to escape from home and go to school. In first grade his teacher is Miss Meeks, and when she said a word Donald started laughing and he couldn't stop. He wasted time from his class for learning because he couldn't stop laughing. On his first day of school Donald didn't really fit in with all the other kids because they all thought that he was weird, so they didn't pay any attion to him. Donald tells everyone that his dad has the best job because he is a mailman and that's what Donald wants to be when he grows up.
I liked this book "Loser" by Jerry Spinelli because the book took you through Zinkoff's school life of grades first through sixth, and how he loved school. If you like reading Jerry Spinelli's books then you might want to read this book, it is really good.

Rating:
Summary: Loser
Review: Loser Scholastic Inc., 2002, 218 pp., $5.99
Jerry Spinelli ISBN 0-439-46079-4

Donald, Donald Zinkoff, is the main character of the book. Donald loves school; he wouldn't miss it for anything. In the beginning of this book Donald starts out as a first grader. The author takes us all the way through his elementary life and up to the sixth grade. The book tells his life story of being a loser.
Donald Zinkoff's annoying habits are, that he laughs too much at stupid things, tells everyone that his dad is the best ever because he's a mailman, and goofing off a lot in class. Even though he acts immature, he was still a good person with feelings and. The book makes you stop to think about the Donald Zinkoff's in your class and how you treat them.
I liked the book very well. It was a sad, happy, and loving story. My rating of it from a scale of 1 to 10 would be a 7. I give it a 7 because the book isn't really for people my age (12). The book is more for younger people like 9, 10, and 11 year olds. The words in the book are really big and little kid style compared to books for teens, but the book had a good point.
If there is a person like what you think Donald Zinkoff is like, then this book is the one to read.

- Guinn G.

Rating:
Summary: I'm Not A Loser Either
Review: Loser, is a very interesting and wonderful story for someone to read, especially if someone (including themself) considers them a loser. No one is a loser, and in this book it will show how a boy shows himself that he isn't a loser. I really think this is a great book for anyone to read, even if you know your not a loser.

Rating:
Summary: LOSER
Review: The book Loser by Jerry Spinelli is a very good book. It's about a boy named Donald Zinkoff when he's starting kindergarten all the way to the fifth grade. He has many problems such as: clumsiness, bad flute playing, uncontrollable laughing, and he has an upside down valve in his stomach which makes him throw up all the time. During kindergarten through the fourth grade noone notices his problems.But when fifth grade approaches everyone, their big kid eyes have already grown in. Then everyone starts to notice how weird this Zinkoff kid is, and he has no friends. Then one very important day (Feild Day) kids had to split up into groups for races. Some of the races were just for fun, but the last race was the real one. Zinkoff's team was in the lead until he ran. They lost the big race. That's when everybody starts calling him... If you want to find out his new identity, if he ever makes friends, or ever wins a race you're just going to have to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Spinelli has no taste
Review: This book, Loser, is AWFUL. Spinelli is almost like one of the other kids in this book, laughing and pointing at him, like he's the main attraction at a freak show. It's so terribly mean, and only shows what's become of our children today. If someone's different, they are automatically labled as weird. It's terrible. And Spinelli brings it out in her book as if it's amusing. It's sick. I'm an avid reader and very accomplished writer, so I know what I'm talking about. I read Stargirl by Spinelli, and hated that book too. I thought I'd give Spinelli a second chance by reading Loser. She doesn't deserve it. Save your money. Buy Harry Potter or the Shadow Children books instead. Spinelli's books are a waste of paper.

Rating:
Summary: A Winner Book , Not A Loser!
Review: Jerry Spenelli has created a heroic and inspiring book for all ages. I like his book ,Loser, because in one point of are lives we experience the painfull feeling of knowing we are alone and a loser. I think we should be more like the main character, Zinkoff, because he understands the concept of his life, which is:you can't be degrated by others' words as long as you are supported with love and security at home.
Donald Zinkoff is a happy boy with out a care in the world who just loves school. Yet more than anything Zinkoff loves to win. But winning is a "challenge" Zinkoff can't seem to accomplish. Tis skill for constantly losing triggers his peers to tease him. For Donald however, it doesn't matter what the other kids think, but of what he feels about himself.
I give this book a "high 5" because of the warm lesson it teaches you about life. It feels like you are inside the character's mind experiencing emotions the character goes through. Loser, keeps you rooting for the loser 'till the very end.

Rating:
Summary: "Loser" is a Loser
Review: Jerry Spinelli didn't do to well on the book "Loser." This book talks about all the different things that Zinkoff, the main character in this book, does in school and at home. Basically, it talks about the life of a loser. I think that this book was not as great as the other books that Jerry Spinelli wrote. In his other books, he talkes about people that are different. In this book he does talk about that, but he doesn't tell us why this different person was important in the lives of the people around him. If you do like books about different people, and why you should treat them with respect, then I would recommend you read "Stargirl" or "Maniac Magee." Those are also great books that Jerry Spinelli wrote. I would not read "Loser."