The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 186 pages and is available in paperback format. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Main page contents featured content current events random article donate to wikipedia wikipedia store. Donald zinkoff, the main character, is beginning first grade when the novel opens, and he is in sixth grade when it ends. This gave him a difficulty to deal with the other kids. Jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer.
Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. It is so important for children to see that failure is a very important part of life if we can learn from it. He has been considered odd by his classmates and, in fourth grade, he ruins the chances of his team winning and is nicknamed loser. This character is an old woman who lives on willow. Loser a book by jerry spinelli lets talk about the characters. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure. Loser by jerry spinelli by andrew mineer on prezi next. 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. Love, stargirl by jerry spinelli is such a beautifully written novel. Loser by jerry spinelli character map for donald zinkoff. Loser by jerry spinelli donald zinkoff is a uniquely optimistic exuberant child that lives everyday as an adventure with loving support and encouragement from his parents.
Like because thats what you do, you stand up for your best friend. This set of lesson plans consists of approximately 122 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. With a name like loser, i really expected to hate this book and feel sorry for the main character throughout the entire story. In fact, in the book, loser, by jerry spinelli, the characters donald zinkoff and gary hobin have struggles. Jerry spinellis first published novel was space station seventh grade 1982. Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels.
Donald faces the familiar challenges of elementaryaged children disagreeable teachers, peer pressure, social conformity, and. The upside is that hes an utterly loveable hero, and theres so much to discuss here that a family, or a class, could spend days talking it over, which is why its already a favorite with discussion groups. For in the sequel, i was able to understand more about its main character named stargirl caraway. But as you progress through the book, you grow to really appreciate the specialness and lovability of the main character. Loser is a tender story about donald zinkoss, a young character who demonstrates great selfacceptance and who is not afraid to fail. Jerry spinellis novel, loser, details the childhood of donald zinkoff, focusing on his life from the first through sixth grades. A winning story about seventhgrade crash coogans transformation from smug jock to empathetic, mature young man. Who are the five main characters in crash by jerry spinelli. Loser quotes by jerry spinelli goodreads share book. The loser in this book does not have these more commonly accepted gifts of athletic ability or great academic performance. The main character is a kid named donald, but my favorite.
The main characters of this young adult, fiction story are stargirl caraway, leo borlock. Pdf stargirl book by jerry spinelli free download 186. He always looks on the bright side of life and is constantly trying his best. The story is written with an omniscient narrator, and even though the plot could focus on the kids that teased zinkoff, it focuses on. Who are the main characters in the book loser answers. The loser community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical. He always looks on the bright side of life and is constantly. Anchor chart used for character motivations lesson. In the book loser by jerry spinelli, the main character is a young, strange boy named donald zinkoff. This characters central trait in his personality is his kindness, which also could be described as his ability to love.
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. In the book crash by jerry spinelli, crash is the main character. Spinelli s writing concerns controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and homelessness, while accurately and humorously depicting adolescents. The part about the daughter isnt relevant to the family who ate cheese.
Loser by jerry spinelli by jonathan galang on prezi. Who are the main characters in loser by jerry spinelli answers. 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. The first edition of the novel was published in may 1st 2002, and was written by jerry spinelli.
The book is unique among spinellis work in that it is written entirely in the present tense. Jul 29, 2003 jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli book clubs, book club books, teaching tools. He was born with an upsidedown valve in his stomach which causes him to frequently to throw up, and he loves to write his name, even. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story. Jerry spinelli biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Loser by jerry spinelli focuses on donald zinkoff and his travels through school. The reason i didnt give the book 3 stars is because of the main characters in the book. Pdf stargirl book by jerry spinelli free download 186 pages. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. And you eat lunch with him and talk with him and share secrets and laugh a lot and go places and do stuff, and when you wake up in the morning, hes the first person. Jerry spinellis crash is a middle grade book that focuses on a bully named crash and the people who change his views on friendship. Written by omar ibrahim and other people who wish to remain anonymous donald zinkoff.
At first, i really had a hard time trying to appreciate h. The themes of loser include education, societal indifference toward kindness, and the nobility of maintaining ones vision of life. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli elementary curriculum. In a clever, breezy firstperson style, spinelli tackles gender roles, family relationships, and friendship with humor and feeling. If theyre said by a character the readers are supposed to dislike it should be ok, as then it will show them that its wrong. 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 zinkoffs positive attitudes despite his peers, instead. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. 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. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Loser by jerry spinelli interactive notebook interactive notebooks. Loser jerry spinelli is an american author who likes writing novels for children on their adolescence and early adulthood stage.
The main setting of the story loser by jerry spinelli is in a small, interesting town. Since then, he has written over fifteen novels for adolescents, about adolescence. The main character is a kid named donald, but my favorite characters are polly and a guy that donald calls the waiting. Zinkoff, as he is called through most of the book, is a cheerful and loving boy who is so thrilled to. This second book in the series is so much different from the first one. Who are the five main characters in crash by jerry. The main character is a kid named donald, but my favorite characters are polly and a guy that donald calls the waiting man. Even when they dont his kindness and positive energy is an inspiration. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen. Jerry spinellis perceptions are engaging and thoughtprovoking. Claire lyons is one or the main characters in dial l for loser and the rest of the clique books.
Zinkoff the main charaters father andrew the neighbor boy cladia a little girl that zinkoff meets who absolutely loves him lets talk. The setting of this book takes place in pennsylvannia on a culdesac with fourteen houses. Jerry spinelli at library of congress authorities, with 31 catalog records. The collection includes manuscripts 19612003 as well as other. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else. Written by jerry spinelli, audiobook narrated by steve buscemi. Loser 2002, by american author jerry spinelli, is a coming of age novel for young adults. The main conflict in loser is that donald is unaccepted by his peers. He went to gettysburg college and johns hopkins university. Who are the characters from loser by jerry spinelli answers. Shes probably eight years old at the end of the book. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. Love stargirl is the second book in jerry spinellis series stargirl, and it picks up right from where stargirl the first book in the series left off. Because thats what you do, you stand up for your best friend.
Jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania. And you each lunch with him and talk with him and share secrets and laugh a lot and go places and do stuff, and when you wake up in the morning, hes the first person you think of. Spinellis writing concerns controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and homelessness, while accurately and humorously depicting adolescents. Jerry spinelli booklist jerry spinelli message board. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading loser. He and his wife, eileen, also a writer of childrens books, have seven. Who are the main characters in loser by jerry spinelli. Asked in jerry spinelli what are main ideas about the library card by jerry spinelli. Donald,more commonly referred to as zinkoff is the protagonist of the story who is branded a loser by his. Once again, newberry medalwinning author jerry spinelli uses great. Loser by jerry spinelli by cortney and lilly r total babes. I will be using loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from fourth. The main characters of this realistic fiction, fiction story are.
Spinelli has made us all see that there is a loser in all of us. Loser study guide contains a biography of jerry spinelli, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters. Man, or collecting his own earwax, donald zinkoff is a character of unique. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoffs neighborhood. Parents need to know that the main character is a goodhearted kid who endures cruel treatment from his classmates for being a loser.
Loser, by jerry spinelli, follows the life throughout grade school of a boy named donald. I would recommend this book to kids in upper elementary school or middle school students. His other books include smiles to go, loser, space station seventh grade, who put that hair in my toothbrush. Get an answer for who is the main character in jerry spinellis stargirl. Loser study guide contains a biography of jerry spinelli, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Jun 07, 2008 i think it would be ok if theyre not said by characters the children are supposed to relate to. 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. Excellent way for students to recall main ideaskey events in each chapter. Donald laughs over any strange word he hears, had horrible hand writing, and always raises his hand, but gets the answers all wrong. Summary the novel is all about a young boy named donald zinkoff. Spinelli is best known for his 1990 newbery award winning childrens book, maniac magee. He and his wife, eileen, also a writer of childrens books, have seven children.
What evidence does coutu use to support her claim that improvisation requires. What are the main characters in the book loser by jerry spinelli. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his. The prologue wastes no time telling us that the narrator, leo borlock, is attracted to the unusual in our world. Free download or read online stargirl pdf epub book. Jerry spinelli s first published novel was space station seventh grade 1982. Donald zinkoff is one of the greatest kids you could. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 218 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. The characters in loser by jerry spinelli i got this of wiki. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I will be using loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from fourth through sixth grade. Pdf loser book by jerry spinelli free download 218 pages. Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli.
Spinelli, is a kids book, aimed at 8 12 year olds, although i think you need to be a bit older to actually understand it its a very different book there almost doesnt seem to be a plot. Zinkoff struggles with work, while hobin struggles to. The first edition of the novel was published in august 8th 2000, and was written by jerry spinelli. Who is the main character in jerry spinellis stargirl. The story mostly takes place at zinkoffs house, john w. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of loser. Zinkoff wants to be like his dad when he grows up, a mailman. In the end, the story will make you want to change your ways to be a better person. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with hero. This becomes clear when he tells us about his love of porcupine ties.