Loser
Donald Zinkoff is truly a memorable character. Spinelli writes the story of Zinkoff in the present tense from first grade to middle school. It is deftly written, for we "feel his pain" as he moves from being a kid without worries to seeing himself as others see him--a loser.
Although I think the snow scene near the end went on too long, the book could clearly give kids, as well as adults who went through those childhood games, a better understanding of the cause and effect of what may seem benign peer pressure to many. OK, I could be prejudiced. I was often the last one picked for recess games.
