J e r r y s p I n e L l I

218 

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About the Author 
JERRY SPINELLI is one of the most gifted story-
tellers in contemporary children’s literature. His 
books include the Newbery Medal winner 
MANIAC 
MAGEE
; 
LOSER
; 
STARGIRL
; 
CRASH
; 
SPACE STATION SEVENTH 
GRADE
; 
JASON AND MARCELINE
; 
WHO PUT THAT HAIR IN MY 
TOOTHBRUSH
?; 
THERE
’
S A GIRL IN MY HAMMERLOCK
; 
THE LIBRARY 
CARD
; and 
KNOTS IN MY YO
-
YO STRING
, his autobiography. 
Jerry Spinelli lives with his wife, Eileen, who is also 
a writer, in Williamstown, Pennsylvania. He is a 
graduate of Gettysburg College. 
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive 
information on your favorite HarperCollins author. 

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P R A I S E
A N D A W A R D S F O R
L O S E R : 
“Spinelli demonstrates the differences between those who can con-
tinue to see with the more compassionate ‘little-kid eyes’ and those 
who lose sight of what is truly important.” 
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) 
“A deft balance of the straightforward and the unusual.” 
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 
“Zinkoff is a flawed but tough kid with an unshakable optimism that 
readers will find endearing.” 
—School Library Journal 
“A touching, sharply realized novel.” 
—Family Fun Magazine 
“Spinelli, a writer of immense talent, injects humor, empathy, and a 
real sense of joy into this loving portrait of a true original.” 
—Seattle Post –Intelligencer 
“A good family read-aloud.” 
—Chicago Tribune 
“Zinkoff is a loser in some ways, but a real winner in the end.” 
—Philadelphia Inquirer 
“You have to love Donald Zinkoff.” 
—Orlando Sentinel 
A Publishers Weekly Best Book 
New York Public Library’s
“One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing” 
Family Fun Magazine’s Best New Books 

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