Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels. The story mostly takes place at zinkoffs house, john w. Loser jerry spinelli is an american author who likes writing novels for children on their adolescence and early adulthood stage. Like when donald zinkoff raises his hand with all the wrong answers, but he still raises his hand not. This gave him a difficulty to deal with the other kids. Loser by jerry spinelli growing up can be extremely difficult. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips. His other books include smiles to go, loser, space station seventh grade, who put that hair in my toothbrush. The book is unique among spinellis work in that it is. In so doing, it challenges basic assumptions that drive our. This study guide consists of approximately 66 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of crash jerry spinelli.
Best friends are always together, always whispering and laughing and running, always at each others house, having dinner, sleepin. He is known for such works as maniac magee 1990, wringer 1997 and. She changed because she knew how important it the importance of knowing what is really important. 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. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. What are the themes of loser by jerry spinelli answers. Loser study guide contains a biography of jerry spinelli, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Stargirl by jerry spinelli reflects the themes of conformity, individuality and kindness, especially in how the title character relates to other people in her school and town.
Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli. Donald faces the familiar challenges of elementaryaged children disagreeable teachers, peer pressure, social conformity, and. Fortunately, spinelli rarely disappoints and he doesnt disappoint here. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. Stargirl was not comfortable changing to being more like everyone else.
What is the theme of chapters 112 in jerry spinellis. Jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania. Loser is a tender story about donald zinkoss, a young character who demonstrates great selfacceptance and who is not afraid to fail. The themes of loser include education, societal indifference toward kindness, and the nobility of maintaining ones vision of life. Language arts book summary maybe a little kid can get away with wearing a giraffe hat, yelling yahoo. Loser, by jerry spinelli, follows the life throughout grade school of a boy named donald. Loser jerry spinelli ebook harpercollins publishers. 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. Loser by jerry spinelli, book talk, elementary library duration.
Literary analysis by jerry spinelli themes theme analysis the importance of being ones self. Spinelli is best known for his 1990 newbery award winning childrens book, maniac magee. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration. Loser by jerry spinelli meet your next favorite book. Loser 2002, by american author jerry spinelli, is a coming of age novel for young adults. 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. Answers is the place to go to get the answers you need and to ask the questions you want. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story. 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. Summary the novel is all about a young boy named donald zinkoff. Fortunately, zinkoff is so wrapped up in the amazing world around him that his good. Like when donald zinkoff raises his hand with all the wrong answers, but he still raises his hand not giving up. Discussion of themes and motifs in jerry spinellis stargirl.
Awardwinning childrens book author jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball. 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 other prominent theme in this book is judgement. Zinkoff, as he is called through most of the book, is a cheerful and loving boy who is so thrilled to. 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 you think of. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday. Most adolescents feel an extreme need to fit in with their peers and do what is cool. Loser by jerry spinelli by jonathan galang on prezi. Stargirl tells us a great deal about our ancient past as humans, and how connecting to that past can help us understand ourselves better.
Jerry spinelli books list of books by author jerry spinelli. As a newbery awardwinning author, spinelli can expect readers to have high expectations. With the encouragement of his family, he learns to approach life with a positive spirit and to enjoy all that it has to offer. Reading guide for loser by jerry spinelli bookbrowse. Jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer. In grade school, being successful may seem like having the most friends, buying the. He played for the green sox little league team in his hometown of norristown, pennsylvania, and dreamed of one day playing for the major leagues, preferably as shortstop for the new york yankees. Zinkoffs no one calls him donald except his teachers mistakes and quirks. This novel questions the validity of those measures of success, and offers an alternative definition. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be. Jerry spinelli, quote from loser because thats what you do, you stand up for your best friend. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen.
Donald finds having fun to be more important than winning the game. Jerry spinellis first published novel was space station seventh grade 1982. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoffs neighborhood. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a. Sign up for bookperkdaily bookish finds, fantastic deals, giveaways, and more.
By focusing on these remnants of the past, before we created planes, trains and automobiles, we may learn some interesting things about the universe and ourselves as. 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 is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with hero. The loser community note includes chapterbychapter summary. Especially when he produces a novel in the young adult genre. He went to gettysburg college and johns hopkins university. What is the theme of loser by jerry spinelli answers. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling.
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