Loser

         Loser is a fantastic story by Jerry Spinelli that has 218 pages. Donald Zinkoff is a semi-normal kid who loves school and wants to be a mailman, like his dad. Donald travels through first through fifth grade liking some teachers more than others. His first grade teacher, Miss Meeks, is one of his favorites because she has something called the Learning Train, which combines learning with having fun. Donald hates his second grade teacher, Miss Biswell, because she is very strict and yells at Donald whenever he says the wrong answer, which is often. She even has students sit in alphabetical order by their last name, something usually not done until middle or high school. During third grade, Donald misses over half the school year due to surgery to fix a stomach valve that makes him barf all the time. He is very unhappy about that because he loves school so much. He even tries to sneak out of his house a few times to go to school. He loves fourth grade because his teacher, Mr. Yalowitz seats them with Z's in the front and A's in the back. His trouble comes on field day (play day) when he gets last place in every event he participates in. Everybody starts calling him Loser like that is his actual name. Donald says that he will never do another field day ever. Then comes fifth grade, his final year at the school. Mrs. Shankfelder is his teacher and she believes in work, work, work! Donald doesn't like her very much. Finally graduation day arrives with all the awards come with it. Donald is delighted when he gets his diploma to go on to middle school and even receives an award for his hard work. This is a great book that I think anyone would enjoy.