Loser

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Summary: Loser by Jerry Spinelli
Review: "Loser" by Jerry Spinelli is about a boy called Donald Zinkoff. It is an "okay" book to read because it doesn't really have a good problem/plot. Although I really do love the character of Zinkoff. I love his enthusiasm for school and his love for hearing great big words and big numbers! I really admire Zinkoff's friendliness and kindness to other people. It is a well written book, it makes me feel kind of sad when other characters in the book were calling Donald Zinkoff a "loser". You should give it a try...

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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!

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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.

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Summary: An Inside Look At Bullying
Review: Donald Zinkoff is one of the coolest kids you could ever want to meet, and the absolute coolest kid to hang out with. He loves school, wants to be friends with everybody, has a great laugh, he's just an all-around great guy. That is, until he hits fourth grade. Suddenly Zinkoff is no longer cool, he's a loser. Yeah, his sloppy handwriting, uncontrollable giggling, bad grades, clumsiness, etc. were pretty much unnoticed when he was younger. But suddenly, in fourth grade, everyone notices every single mistake he makes. And it only gets worse when he begins doing things that affect the other kids in his class. Sure, everyone has the name LOSER to describe Zinkoff, but that's not him. He thinks he's just like everyone else, and he really is, until a fateful winter night when Zinkoff suddenly becomes a hero.

Out of every book that I have read so far this year, I will admit that I believe Donald Zinkoff is my favorite character of them all. His love for life, and learning is incredible, and the way that he keeps his head up even when he learns what his classmates think of him is a great lesson for all kids who are going through the same thing that Zinkoff goes through. Readers as young as the age of five-years-old will enjoy this book, as it follows Zinkoff from kindergarten all the way through fourth grade, and gives you an inside look at how his LOSER status evolved. Spinelli has accomplished greatness with this book, and I hope to read more from him in the future.

Erika Sorocco

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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.