Loser

Rating:
Summary: Loser
Review: This book opens up in Donald Zinkoff's first grade classroom. It's very obvious from the beginning that he's going to be different from everyone else. There is always that one kid in your school, you know that he or she is there, but you don't pay attention to thim or her. This book is a different perspective of that person at your school, there perspective. I 'd recommend it to people that are nine ten and eleven year olds because it's in easy read but has lots of good lessons to learn.
Jerry Spinneli puts a picture in your head of a boy (Donald) who has no friends but really wants some. Unlike most people he knows the true meaning of friendship, and is fine with going out in freezing conditions to save his one friend, a two-year girl who lives down the street. I learned not to judge people by what they say but how they act. Loser follows like all of Jerry Spinnelis books, about a kid who isn't perfect but who is? This is a wonderful book about a kid who just wants to belong.

Rating:
Summary: Loser is not a loser
Review: The book Loser is a masterpiece through a young reader's eyes. It's about a boy named Donald Zinkoff and how he survives being a loser from Kindergarten to sixth grade and as he learns someday a loser can be a hero.
My rating for this book is four stars. Four stars since this book was pretty short but had a great plot.
Loser shows any smart, popular, or athletic person the life of a loser through a loser's eyes. Jerry Spinelli's magnificent novel is difficult to put down. Loser is definitely a book to read.

Rating:
Summary: Geek or Not
Review: Loser is one of the greatest books out there. Jerry Spinelli, the author of Loser, has written other Newberry winning books. You will love Jerry Spinellis' writting. I know I did.
Donald Zinkoff, is a Special Kid, but a complete geek. He was born with an upside down valve. This makes him throw-up alot. When Donald enters the first grade he was given two nicknames, one was laughing boy and the other one was throw-up boy. Do you think Donald will ever have different nicknames? Or do you think they will know him as this for the rest of his elementy schooling? Find out when you read Loser!

Rating:
Summary: Is he really a Loser?
Review: I read Loser. I thought it was a really well written book because I thought that he did a good job explaining Zinkoff and his family in the story. Zinkoff wears a tall giraffe hat to school on the first day. His teacher tells him to take it off and put it in his cubbyhole but he doesn't want to. So he puts it on the floor next to him. At recess he brings it outside. The older kids take it away from him, but Donald Zinkoff doesn't care at all. I think kids ages 9 to 10 will like to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: This book was really stupid, and at times, sad
Review: This book was extremely boring. There is no one plot, it's just a kid growing up as a loser, and he finally realizes he's a loser and he sort of proves his worth in the end. Not too interesting. There were a few sad parts, but most of it was forgettable.

Rating:
Summary: One teacher's review of Loser
Review: As a fifth grade teacher, I picked up Jerry Spinelli's Loser to preview whether it would make an appropriate read aloud selection for my students. Loser tells the story of Donald Zinkoff's childhood. At first, Donald appears to be an average elementary school kid, but as he grows older, his classmates begin to view him differently. Before, Donald was silly and clumsy, but in fourth grade, suddenly he is seen as weird and strange. An important turning point in the story happens when Zinkoff's poor coordination causes his fourth grade classmates to lose an athletic contest. By the end of the day, Donald has a new name-"Loser." Spinelli spends the rest of the book discussing Zinkoff's move to middle school and hinting that somehow, Zinkoff will change from "zero" to "hero." When a neighborhood girl is missing, Zinkoff sees his chance to become popular. When she is finally found, will Donald Zinkoff still be a "Loser?"

I enjoyed reading Loser for a number of reasons. First, the plot of Loser is a simple one that I think every human-young and old-can relate to. Everyone's been teased one time or another. I think it would be an interesting experience for all readers to see how one character deals with being teased. Zinkoff is such a complicated character because he doesn't even realize that others see him as a loser. Most people would feel hurt and embarrassed (maybe even angry) if they were in Donald's shoes, but not Zinkoff.

Because he is so oblivious to his classmate's taunts, I started to believe that there was more to Zinkoff than Jerry Spinelli was saying. Is Zinkoff just clumsy and weird or does he suffer from real learning and behavioral disabilities? I kept hoping Spinelli would explain more about Donald and his condition. My class and I just finished Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos, which is about the life of a young boy with ADHD. I think that book was better for younger readers because it explained WHY some kids behave as they do. In Loser, we never actually learn why Zinkoff acts like such a "loser."

My favorite part of the book happens late in the story when Zinkoff tries to rescue a missing girl. I predicted that he would find her, return her to her thankful family, and become the most popular boy in middle school. I was excited to see that Loser doesn't have a happily-ever-after ending. If you are a fan of realistic fiction books for children, Loser would be a great choice.

Still, I have mixed feelings whether I would share this book with my class. The writing is mostly simple sentences, but there is more complicated language that I think they would appreciate better when they are a few years older. I would recommend this book for middle school students through adults because they can all relate to the story and they'd be able to answer many of the questions that come up in Loser. Whether or not I decide to use Loser, I still think all elementary school students should be exposed to Jerry Spinelli (Maniac Magee, Wringer, Fourth Grade Rats, The Library Card) because he writes about real childhood situations and problems. Most children's books do not do this, but Loser does. Jerry Spinelli's Loser is definitely not a "loser." Check it out!

Rating:
Summary: A winner...
Review: Donald Zinkoff is just that average kid down the street for a few years. You remember the one - doesn't stand out in any particular way and he might just as well not exist, doubtful that anyone would notice if he didn't. All that changes when he goes to school. The other kids realize that Donald Zinkoff is not very coordinated. He has troubles with his handwriting and he does some other things that are just plain "weird." By the time the students reach fourth grade, nobody wants Zinkoff on their team for field day. He proves why by turning in a terrible performance and earns his nickname.

Throughout the story Donald makes some uncommon friends without recognizing them for what they are. Among them are an elderly woman, a catatonic man and a toddler girl. It is with these friends that he finds a purpose in his life. For one person in particular, it becomes all too important that Donald Zinkoff existed and that he was not a loser.

The story does not start off with a gripping storyline, but it is interesting watching Donald grow up and see how he is treated in school. Spinelli has a way of causing the reader to fall in love with a character and to be able to feel the same things he is. I never saw the climax coming, but I was wringing my hands along with the main character.

Why 5 stars?:
Jerry Spinelli has written many books that are age-appropriate for 4-7 graders. They keep kids this age interested and are about characters and situations they can identify with. The book lends itself well to being used in a read-aloud, or even a discussion style of teaching.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all teachers!
Review: I would hope that all teachers would read this book, because it shows how devasting their remarks can be. The hero is a happy, cooperative young man who has been dubbed "Loser" because his handwriting is terrible, he works slowly in school, and he doesn't always get the jokes of others. Contrasted to his very supportive family are the elementary teachers who make destructive judgements about him. There is one great example of an empathetic teacher. The "loser" ultimately makes an attempt to be a hero, and readers will find out if he survives.

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS A VANTASTIC BOOK !~!~!~!~!~
Review: I love this book !! And if you have never read it, you should. Because this is the best book I have ever ever read! "and I have read a lot of books..." and the author Jerry Spnelli is my favorite author of all time. Please go out and read this book, and tell everyone that you know about this book. Everyone will thank you!!!!!
I hope my book review helped you a lot !!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: LOSER!!!
Review: Have you ever seen or heard of a boy, who was just there, standing in the backround? Well in this book LOSER, there is a loser, his name is Donald Zinkoff. He is a kid who does not care what people say, or think of him...... but as he gets older he starts to notice and care what people say about him.... CAN'T SAY ANYMORE! Donald (loser) is a funny and cool charactor. Thoughout the book you become to like Donald more and more! i would reccomend this book to all ages!
-MAdi