Customer Reviews

Loser

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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!

I'm an 8th grader and read this book a week ago. I finished it during school, in one day, reading during Math and Science and even Lunch! I just couldn't put this book down! The book was very easy for anyone - be it the most popular kid in the school or the class bully - to relate to. All of Donald Zinkoff's problems as he faces school, was very emotional. When the kids picked on him and he didn't realize that they were being mean to him I felt a hole in my stomach, thinking of all the kids like that. I think that everyone should read this book, if your 10 years old or 70.

"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...

Jerry Spinelli's novel, LOSER, details the childhood of Donald Zinkoff, focusing on his life from the first through sixth grades. Most readers will relate to either knowing or being a Donald Zinkoff at some point in their lives. Zinkoff is usually the last person picked for athletic teams, his flute consistently hits the wrong note during concerts, and he is occasionally too eager at the wrong times.

First grade is when Zinkoff is introduced to school. He loves it, even though he is always seated in the rear of the classroom because his teacher sits students alphabetically. But Zinkoff hits his low point in fifth grade, when his team does not want him to participate in that year's field day because of his horrible performance during last year's proceedings.

Sixth grade is Zinkoff's first year of Middle School, where he reconnects with his former neighbor from second grade, Andrew. Andrew has changed his identity to become "Drew", a sixth grader who has confidence in the crowded halls and a cell phone in his book bag.

This chance encounter sort of clues Zinkoff in as to how much of a difference there is between him and his peers. Even though they consider him to be a loser, he's not; in fact, Zinkoff has a heart of gold. This is shown through his interactions with his parents and the lonely, elderly lady in his neighborhood, as well as the hours he spends looking for a little girl from his neighborhood who becomes lost in a snowstorm.

Readers will like Zinkoff and enjoy how much pleasure he receives from the simplest of activities, from spending the day with his dad pretending to deliver mail, to biking all over his neighborhood and checking on the waiting man. After seeing Zinkoff's consistently positive attitude and the level at which he tries, readers will want Zinkoff to become part of the in-crowd among his peers. While this does not happen, the book ends on an optimistic note, which seems fitting for Zinkoff's positive philosophy on life. LOSER may inspire readers to be a little more understanding towards the "Zinkoffs" in their lives.

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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

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.

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.

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.

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."

I read the book "Loser" by Jerry Spinelli. I really liked it. One reason I liked it is because it is about a child's journey through elementary and middle school. As he gets older, he gets picked on more and more until one day in middle school. He finally gets chosen to play football. I also liked it because it was funny in some parts. For example, when Donald was at his elderly neighbor's house trying to convince that people still made snickerdoodle cookies. Or when he goes to work with his dad. I liked this book because it was sad. Everything Donald did wrong, he got made fun of for it. He was bad at almost everything from writing his name to events at Field Day at school.
My favorite part was when Donald went out looking for a young neighbor girl who got lost in a blizzard. It was so courageous. He looked for seven hours! I'm not going to say if he found her or not. You can find out yourself.
In this book, Spinelli very vividly described the setting. He was very specific about the alleyways, schools, and playgrounds. He went into great detail describing it. Although he didn't describe th characters very well.