Loser

Loser is a young adult novel published in 2002 by American author and Newbury Medal winner Jerry Spinelli. It tells the story of Donald Zinkoff, an eccentric goofball of a kid who stumbles enthusiastically through his elementary school years, largely without friends, before becoming an accidental hero in middle school. Written entirely in the present tense, Loser garnering several awards and nominations.

Plot Summary

At first, the other kids don’t notice little Donald Zinkoff, except to see that he’s usually happy even when alone. Donald runs and jumps just for the joy of it. The kids challenge each other to races, stone-throwing contests, and farting competitions. Everyone but Donald wins at something.

On his first day of school, Donald gets into trouble—he wears a hat shaped like a giraffe’s head, and he’s so enthusiastic, his teacher struggles to control him. When a fourth grader bullies him for his hat, he offers it up cheerfully. Although Donald can barely write his name, he loves school and considers every day an adventure. His mom gives him silver stars for good days; he believes these stars fall from the sky and his mom picks them up for him.