Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Loser
	Author:	Spinelli, Jerry
	Date Published:	2002
	Genre:	Real Life
	Grade Level:	5 - 6
	Booktalker:	Susi Bonato

Booktalk:
There is a kid that belongs to the neighborhood, but no one really notices him because he’s there like a part of the scenery. He’s like the parked cars on the street or the green plastic cans on trash day. He passes through school, first grade, second grade, going along with everyone else. He’s not friends or enemies with anyone. He’s the kid that other kids cross paths with occasionally because he shows up at the other end of the seesaw in the park one day. Or on a winter day when everyone is sledding down Halftank Hill, there he goes, zipping down; his arms out like a swan diver, screaming his head off. No one knows his name. Then one day, his name is said, and without even seeing him, one can guess the name belongs to this kid. The name is Zinkoff. Donald Zinkoff is the type of kid that marches to his own drumbeat. He does things like show up to the first day of first grade with a giraffe hat on. And even when the teacher tells him he can’t wear the hat in class or keep it by him, he responds cheerfully “Yes ma’am” and hands it over. He’s the type of kid that finds the word “Jabip” hilariously funny and can’t stop himself from laughing about it. Or he’ll raise his hand with all the wrong answers, trip over his own feet or throw up frequently without knowing why. He’s the kid who delivered mail with his post carrier dad on a Sunday because the post office wouldn’t let him trail along on “Take Your Kid to Work Day” in the 2nd grade. He’s the one, who overcame his fear of the furnace monster in his parent’s basement, when he was home recovering from surgery in the 3rd grade. Then, in the 4th grade, the other kids notice Zinkoff. It starts on the first day of school, when the teacher, Mr. Yalowitz points out some of his unusual traits, starting with his last name. The other kids put it together, all the odd little behaviors and strange habits he has. The real clincher comes on the last day of 4th grade. All the grades are participating in the field day events. Zinkoff is part of the purple team. His team is doing really well up until the last event. Now it’s time for the relay race, the final event they need to win the championship. His team doesn’t want Zinkoff running, but the coach has other ideas. When Donald comes in dead last, thus losing the championship, his teammates file by him one by one. Each one says a word to him. Some of them whisper it. Some say it aloud. Each pronounces it perfectly. “Loser”. “Loser.” “Loser.” “Loser.” “Loser.”