Donald zinkoff teaches us all about important and unforgettable lessons of selfesteem. In the fifth grade, zinkoff s peers continue to call him a loser. Donald zinkoff, the main character, is beginning first grade when the novel opens, and he is in sixth grade when it ends. In the book loser by jerry spinelli, the main character is a young, strange boy named donald zinkoff. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a loser by his classmates due to his clumsiness, poor performance in school and athletics, and sometimes clueless enthusiasm. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips.
In fact, before he even gets to school hes in trouble. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Zinkoffs classmates call him a loser, but he does not feel that he is one. After failing horribly in a track and field race, hes branded loser which kinda sticks with him for years, even into middle school. Once students have brainstormed, assign them a creative writing exercise, in which they will retell a chapter or episode from loser from the limited firstperson perspective of zinkoff or another character. Shes probably eight years old at the end of the book. Zinkoff wants to be like his dad when he grows up, a mailman. Loser by jerry spinelli focuses on donald zinkoff and his travels through school.
At this time in his life zinkoff sees no difference between the stars in the sky and the stars in his mothers plastic baggie. Jerry spinelli is the author of maniac magee, winner of the 1991 newbery medal, and wringer, named a newbery honor book in 1998. Once again, the unusual friendship with this woman and a few other adults who accept zinkoff for the kind soul he really is, bring him the strength he. Who are the characters from loser by jerry spinelli answers. Who in the book do you think believe that zinkoff is a loser. We really liked this book because it was suspenseful. Jerry spinelli, quote from loser his mind is trying to catch the thought as a cat tries to catch a shadow. Take this quiz to find out if you understood what you read. May 01, 2002 with a name like loser, i really expected to hate this book and feel sorry for the main character throughout the entire story. Most readers will relate to either knowing or being a donald zinkoff at some point in their lives. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading loser. Most readers will relate to either knowing or being a donald zinkoff.
Because of his offbrand sense of humor and his lack of demonstrable ability in sports, academics, or social skills, hes an outcast at school. Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels. Unable to find any peace at school, zinkoff, he befriends an elderly lady to whom he confides. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like ja. First day is a big day, and mothers know how scary it can be to a sixyearold. Since he was young, zinkoff this was my third book by jerry spenelli, the first ones were stargirl and love stargirl.
Sep 30, 2015 a book trailer for loser by jerry spinelli. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants t. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else. Loser by jerry spinelli questions for discussion 1. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read loser. Take this quiz to find out if you understood what you read who is the main character of loser. Zinkoff s first day zinkoff gets in trouble his first day of school. Language arts book summary maybe a little kid can get away with wearing a giraffe hat, yelling yahoo. Mar 11, 2016 loser by jerry spinelli questions for discussion. The characters in loser by jerry spinelli i got this of wiki. Reading guide for loser by jerry spinelli discussion guide for book clubs. And when zinkoff tanks in a race at field day, his fate is sealed with the nickname loser. Like the other neighborhood mothers of firstday, firstgrade children, mrs.
Kids who never acknowledged his otherness now suddenly notice every sociallyawkward move he makes. But as donald zinkoff gets older, the other kids realize what a loser he really is. With the encouragement of his family, he learns to approach life with a positive spirit and to enjoy all that it has to offer. The story is written with an omniscient narrator, and even though the plot could focus on the kids that teased zinkoff, it focuses on zinkoff s positive attitudes despite his peers, instead. Which character in the book is the author describing in the first chapter. Fortunately, zinkoff is so wrapped up in the amazing world around him that his good. The story is written with an omniscient narrator, and even though the plot could focus on the kids that teased zinkoff, it focuses on zinkoff.
Zinkoff is one of the most unusual, endearing characters ever to grace the pages of a novel for young readers. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his reallife experience as a father of six children. The main setting of the story loser by jerry spinelli is in a small, interesting town. So loser is basically about donald zinkoff, which is an exceptional and special kid. By maintaining a strong sense of self through his experiences, donald zinkoff teaches us all about important and unforgettable lessons of self esteem and happiness.
Jerry spinellis book loser is a comingofage tale about donald zinkoff, known to other kids simply as zinkoff. Will he find a way to be happy and leave the past behind him. Jerry spinelli gives his readers a careful, at times humorous, portrait of a kid who is only special to his family, and scatters penetrating insights into growing up along the way. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like jabip.
The story mostly takes place at zinkoffs house, john w. Donald laughs over any strange word he hears, had horrible hand writing, and always raises his hand, but gets the answers all wrong. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows. Donald faces the familiar challenges of elementaryaged children disagreeable teachers, peer pressure, social conformity, and. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoff s neighborhood. Why do you think bounce eventually calls zinkoff s name at the end of. Once again, newbery medalwinning author jerry spinelli uses great wit and humor to create the unique story of zinkoff as he travels from first through sixth grades.
Loser 2002, by american author jerry spinelli, is a coming of age novel for young adults. Because i think jerry spinelli is a good writer and just makes the story get better and better as you read. Jerry spinelli is the author of maniac magee, winner of the 1991 newbery medal, and wringer, named a. Other kids have their own word to describe him, but zinkoff is too busy to hear it. Do you think that the winners in the book are always the best. The end of jerry spinellis book loser is that gary hobin and two of his friends find out that zinkoff was looking for claudia for 7 hours. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen.
Jerry spinellis novel, loser, chronicles the childhood of donald zinkoff. Teachers and students all know that theres something different about zinkoff, but they arent sure exactly what it is. Spinelli is best known for his 1990 newbery award winning childrens book, maniac magee. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoffs neighborhood. Oct, 2009 from renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. Loser, by jerry spinelli, follows the life throughout grade school of a boy named donald zinkoff, who has a hard time. Jerry spinellis novel, loser, details the childhood of donald zinkoff, focusing on his life from the first through sixth grades. Read the book to find out if zinkoff is doomed a loser forever. Loser by jerry spinelli, book talk, elementary library duration. Zinkoff s no one calls him donald except his teachers mistakes and quirks. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with hero. Explain the nature of competition and whether or not.
Hes a little too enthusiastic and hes always laughing. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes an incredible story about how not fitting in might just lead to an incredible life. Madison skelly charcterization summary donald zinkoff s story lived on as everybody around the school heard about what he had did. It could be that jerry spinelli wrote this story to explore the idea of labels and the reasons why kids will cruelly give them to others that they dont understand. Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli. What happens in the book loser when zinkoff is in the. How would that affect the way that the readers feel about zinkoff. Story summary loser jerry spinellis novel, loser, chronicles the childhood of donald zinkoff.
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