Loser by Jerry Spenelli

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 218 pages
ISBN13: 9780060540746 | Published 2002 by HarperCollins
Read from August 24 to September 03, 2013
owned
My rating: ★★★☆☆

This was my third book by Jerry Spenelli, the first ones were Stargirl and Love Stargirl. I had immediately liked the writer in the first two books; his writing style was simple, yet astonishly magical. Jerry Spenelli writes for children and juveniles, actually--his target audience are those in middle grade--yet teenagers, young adults, and adults could totally enjoy reading his books.

So Loser is basically about Donald Zinkoff, which is an exceptional and special kid. Since he was young, Zinkoff has already been showing signs that he is unique. He is unlike any other kid. He enjoys going to school, with the kind of excitement to compel him to go early to school. He enjoys learning and discovering things. He likes involving himself in wide array of activities. Zinkoff is like a ball of energy, and there is no way that he could be stopped in his conquest to explore the world.

However, Zinkoff's uniqueness from other kids marks his own "downfall." In fourth grade, Zinkoff was discovered, along with his innocent and seemingly ordinary ways. His classmates discovered that his penmanship is atrocious, that he is such a mediocre pupil and he never gets an A in any test, and that--although he recites oftentimes--he makes more wrong answers that correct ones. Then on the school's Field Day, when their team lost and placed last in races, Zinkoff was blamed and was popularly dubbed as "loser".

Basing my observations on Stargirl and Love, Stargirl, and now, Loser, Mr. Jerry Spenelli has a craft in writing characters that are unconventional and unique persons who don't usually follow conformity. His characters have their own individuality, with the innate nature to be different from others. Zinkoff, although dubbed as "loser" by his classmates, is somewhat oblivious of his new name. He doesn't really care. He is being his real self, and that is what truly matters for him and for the people that care for him.

"Words tickle him like fingertips in the ribs."

It was nice that Zinkoff has a really supportive family who truly loves him. But what I particularly like were the teachers in this story: Mr. Yalowitz and Miss Meeks. Miss Meeks was his first grade teacher who patiently taught Zinkoff the basics of learning, who believes in his capabilities, and who truly enjoys being with children. On the other hand, I really like Mr. Yalowitz because he doesn't discriminate his students; rather encourages them and gives them opportunity to discover themselves and build this confidence. As someone who is studying to be an educator and aspires to be a teacher, I wish to be the kind of teacher that Miss Meeks and Mr. Yalowitz were. I wish to encourage and inspire my students, and I want my lessons to be instilled in their minds and forever and inspire them in every step of the way.

Loser is an excellent story about being your real self as you discover your own capabilities. The ending proves that there is no human being that is really a loser; rather, we are winners in our own ways. It just depends on how we view things. Although sometimes, we are unconventional and different from others, there are people who are willing to accept us by being "us," and willing to transcend our differences.