Cover of Loser

Loser

by Jerry Spinelli · Grades 4–6 · Realistic Fiction

Loser by Jerry Spinelli is on US reading lists at grades 4–6. It appears on 7 lists: 7 book-award lists, across 7 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 9–11 · Grades 4–6 · 224 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780007143788). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 7 curriculum lists · 7 states

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Nebraska Golden Sower AwardWilliam Allen White Children's Book AwardVermont Golden Dome Book AwardMaine Student Book Award+3 more

This page shows where Loser is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 4–6
Age range
Ages 9–11
Pages
224
Reading time
about 4h 5m (est.)
First published
2002
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9780007143788

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (7)
On award reading lists

and 3 more in where it is taught

Catalog record
First published 2002 · 224 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Loser→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 4–6. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on families and family; cited on 7 lists: 7 book-award lists.

Themes

families · family · elementary schools · family life

Where this book is recommended

Show 1 more award or assignment

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Common questions

What grade level is Loser?
Loser is listed for grades 4–6. It appears on 7 state book-award lists across 7 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Loser?
It takes about 4h 5m to read Loser (224 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 245 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Loser?
Loser appears on reading lists for Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, Great Lakes Great Books Award, Maine Student Book Award, and 4 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Loser banned in schools?
Loser does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does Loser explore?
Central themes in Loser include families, family, elementary schools, family life.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–6 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 7 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 7 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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