Loser

By: Jerry Spinelli

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2002

Reading Level: Lexile 750

Read Aloud, 5.7

Humorous, Caring, Heart Touching, Loveable, Powerful

Donald Zinkoff is a unique kid with a big heart. He is alike the other kids by wanting to ride his bike, play, run around, and be like his father the mailman when he grows up. However, he is also not like the others constantly tripping over his own two feet and laughing hysterically over words like jabip or jaboop. Donald Zinkoff loves school but unfortunately is always seated at the rear end of the classroom due to his last name starting in Z until he reaches fourth grade and Mr. Yalowitz sympathizes with Zinkoff as starting off with a Y and in knowing how it feels to be seated in the back. But now Donald’s twenty seven other classmates are starting to notice the differences between themselves and Zinkoff that they never did before. Nonetheless, he isn’t fully discovered until the end of the year, Field Day. Now that Zinkoff is in fourth grade it’s a competition and with Zinkoff’s clumsiness at the final race he comes in dead last and causes the Purple Team the championship. ‘They file by. Some whisper the word. Some say it aloud. Each pronounces it perfectly. “Loser.” “Loser.”’ In Middle School, Donald realizes he is a nobody and sinks into nobodyness before the first snowfall of the year. Until the night the little girl Claudia goes missing and Zinkoff spends the entire night into morning looking for her.

Key Vocabulary –

Spinelli provides an enormous amount of words throughout this book that many of your students may not understand. While reading to the class it is ideal to have a clear definition of the following words: atrocious, citizen, boondocks, chiseled, perpendicular, daze, pesters, intrigued, reluctantly, convalescing, unwittingly, hasten.

Teaching Suggestions –

Before Reading: A lesson on the differences between first, second, and third. Loser is spoken in third person, it is essential students know the difference and are able to comprehend the story from a different perspective. You can always read the first three chapters (7 pages) to give the students a sense of how the book will continue. Ask a question such as, ‘What are Zinkoff and the other kids referred to?’ 

During Reading: Have an open discussion on labels that are presented in the school. However, before beginning it is strongly suggested you emphasize that no names are to be given at any point. You and your students are simply having a discussion on what constitutes someone to be considered a loser or other labels your students come up with or are in the book. You can also carry out a writing assignment at the end that your students choose one character to write about and why their presence was important. In the end be sure to emphasize it isn’t pleasant to quickly judge someone and call other students names if they wouldn’t want to be treated that way.

After Reading: How has Donald Zinkoff changed your student’s point of view? Is it all about winning, or is it really just about enjoying something they truly love? How did the student’s feel when Donald Zinkoff’s classmates were teasing and bullying him? Were they sorry for Zinkoff? Would they change the ending of the book? You can go more in depth with the questions as you read the book, I just don’t want to spoil the ending.

Electronic Resources –

 Literature Circle Guide: Questions and Activities that will further your students comprehension of Loser.

Author's Site: Jerry Spinelli has created a site that not only you as a teacher would go to for insight about the author but a site that is appealing to students. Jerry Spinelli also has a resource page as to how to start a StarGirl Society in your school! A StarGirl Society promotes individuality and self-confidence as an alternative to brand-name conformity.

“Spinelli has the courage to stick to his point right to the end – no losers or winners, no heroes or villains, no happy endings or sad ones, just children, and their confusing ability occasionally to connect.” – Unknown