LOSER

Jerry Spinelli’s novel, LOSER, chronicles the childhood of Donald Zinkoff.  Zinkoff is one of the most unusual, endearing characters ever to grace the pages of a novel for Young Readers. No matter what the game, Zinkoff never wins. He trips over his own feet; constantly raises his hand without ever knowing the correct answer; falls down laughing at the mention of any unusual word.  The other kids have their own word to describe Zinkoff, but he is too busy to hear it.
 
“Loser” is an excellent novel, which sensitively deals with the human spirit and the importance of failure.  It is especially recommended for students struggling with acceptance among their peers, or who bear up under various negative influences.
 
This novel study provides teachers with a highly structured format for teaching language arts, as students develop a love for reading longer materials, like novels. Various areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary development, decision-making, spelling and writing are all entwined in this integrated approach, eliminating the need for teaching these skills separately. 55 pages.