Customer Reviews

Loser

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

During the last 5 years of a 29 year career as a classroom
teacher I began reading aloud to my middle school students.
Shame on me! I should have begun on day one. Not only did my
students love it (Southwest Detroit), but I learned that young
adult fiction can be as exciting and heartwarming as anything
written for an adult. My students loved Maniac Magee, Crash, and The Library Card by Spinelli. They begged me to read just one more chapter each day. Of course, they also loved when Ms. Kirsch got too teary-eyed and had to call on a student to read.
I have been the librarian in our school for the past 3 years
and always have a young adult novel alongside my other reads.
Jerry Spinelli is my favorite. Wringer, Stargirl, and now Loser
are among my all-time most special books. I forget the storylines
of many other books I have read, but never Jerry Spinelli's. I
am able to recount each character and the circumstances that
were important in their lives.
Loser is a very special book. Donald Zinkoff is an extra-
ordinary character. His giraffe hat, his love for school, his
uncontrollable giggles, his belief that he runs so fast. He
wants to sit in that first seat in class, and yet his last name
dooms him to the last seat in the last row. Until the 4th grade
when his teacher seats him in the first row. Oh, how he loves
that teacher. Yahoo!
Zinkoff reminds me of no other student I have ever encountered. Maybe by the time they get to sixth grade, they
have had that exhuberance knocked out of them. Maybe that is
why I cried so hard while reading this book.
While Donald becomes a hero in our mind while searching for
the girl on a leash in a snowstorm, Spinelli doesn't rally the
classmates in a stunning salute. He eases us out, and I guess
we know that things are going to be all right for Zinkoff.

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!

Do you have problems of people not picking you at a baseball game? Well Donald does. He doesn't have any friends and no one likes him, but he doesn't care. Nothing bothers him. People call him Zinkoff, because it's his last name. He's funny, nice, and brave. The book is about him doing different things like finding a best friend, trying to save a little girl, and spending time with his father. My favorite part in the book is when Zinkoff tries to save a girl named Claudia. This shows how loyal and brave he was. So if this book sounds good to you buy it or get it out of a library and read it!

I have just read Loser and I am still in awe of Spinelli as an author for children who may not be avid readers. He uses the language of his readers and they are able to relate with his characters so well. In Loser he has created a lovable character named Zinkoff who is an eager and enthusiastic boy who tries to see the positive side of life. Spinelli has made us all see that there is a loser in all of us. It is so important for children to see that failure is a very important part of life if we can learn from it. I will be using Loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from Fourth through Sixth grade. Thank you Jerry, Loser is another winner!!

As a Newbery Award-winning author, Spinelli can expect readers to have high expectations. Especially when he produces a novel in the "young adult" genre. Fortunately, Spinelli rarely disappoints and he doesn't disappoint here.

Loser is the story Donald Zinkoff as he moves from the first through the sixth grades. In essence, it is the story of how "winners" and "losers" are created. In the early grades, Zinkoff may be a little odd but his peers have not yet learned how and why to exclude certain children. As time goes on, however, Zinkoff's love of school (despite his rather limited abilities) and, in particular, poor performance at sports makes him an outcast.

It should be understood that this novel is basically an interesting character study of a single character--Zinkoff. Despite the rather dramatic wandering in the snowstorm near the end of the book, there is not a lot of action beyond the ordinary day-to-day events in the life of a young man. But this is one of the things that gives this book its charm. That, and Zinkoff's own obliviousness to his social status. It is nice to see a character who basically likes himself.

On the other hand, this is a clue to the novel's weakness. This is basically a very sophisticated story about a boy who has social problems as well as real problems that are only hinted at. As an adult, I found it very true and interesting but it works on a level higher than a lot of younger readers might be capable of reaching. Teenage readers might get a lot from this novel but will they read a story about a grade-schooler? I am afraid this novel will have a tough time finding an audience which is too bad because it is well worth reading.

Few people realize it, but Spinelli isn't just writing about a different kid. He's writing about a kid who suffers from a disability called dyspraxia.

Dyspraxic children are clumsy, awkward, and so unco-ordinated that handwriting is Mission Impossible. Too enthusiastic at the wrong times? Caring? Unable to understand WHY other people make life so difficult? Yup, that's dyspraxia. I know. I suffer from it, and the boy at the centre of this book warmed my heart. Spinelli has perfectly captured the essence of how it feels to go from day to day not being able to do the most basic things, surrounded by other kids who can't understand why and tease you mercilessly for it.

The type of reader that I think should read this book is a reader that wants an interesting and funny book that can relate to things that actually happen in real life with some twists in it. The protagonist, Donald Zinkoff, is just a normal kid trying to fit in with everyone else. But everyone rejects him because he loses in races and contests. For example when they have field day at his school his team loses, when he joins a soccer team his team always loses. He would also make up weird contests with his friends and he would always lose. The antagonist, Donald Zinkoff, is always loud, crazy, and he is always making noise! I thought this book was good but even though I didn't love the book I still loved some parts. My favorite part of the book is when Zinkoff meets a little girl named Claudia. She gives Zinkoff a stone made of bubble gum. Something I didn't like about the book was that it took me a while to really understand the plot. I have not read any other books by Jerry Spinelli, but I would like to, because a lot of my friends tell me I should read Jerry Spinelli books.

Loser, by Jerry Spinelli, is an interesting book about a curious boy named Donald. This book of realistic fiction reveals the patience of a man, a wanderlust baby, and an unfortunate boy. Many of the characters are based on people in Jerry's family. He has written other novels such as Wringer, Crash, and Stargirl. Loser also has extra activities in the back, all referring to events in the story.

Donald eventually gets in the challenge of everyday life. He inherits the name "Zinkoff" soon enough. Zinkoff continues with misfortunes such as coming in last place at Field Day, fainting in deep snow, and his fear of the basement "Monster." As fellow students notice these misfortunes, Zinkoff starts being known as ... "Loser."

Jerry Spinelli is an experienced writer, as you will quickly notice in the book, and also for the many other novels he has written. His sentences flow like a river, although he has a habit for repetitive beginnings. He can use events and friends in his life and tie them into the story very well. His writing usually paints a picture in your mind.

I would recommend this book if you like backyard adventures. Big or small, this book is fit for all ages. If you like this book, you will love Mr. Spinelli's other novels.

Loser... What a harsh word. But Zinkoff gets used to it in the book "Loser". This book has a lot of laughs and it has a sad side to it. When you read this book you'll want to read it 1,000 more times. Anybody who loves books will fall in love with this book. It's one of those can't-stop-reading books. It's not only for kids.Its for adults too.Jerry Spinelli does an outstanding job on this book. So pick up this book and read it!...

Donald Zinkoff loves life; he loves school; he loves playing the game, even if he doesn't win. He doesn't know he's a loser. Through his grade school years, Zinkoff lives life to the fullest, even when the other kids get in his way. When Zinkoff hears about a young girl who has wandered off in a snowstorm, he joins the search to find her. His noble act, however, doesn't turn out quite the way he expected. This novel looks at what it takes to be a winner and a hero, and how your own self-concept can make all the difference.