The Losers Club

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 16, 2018

Review

With its bright cover complete with a flying kickball, and its seemingly humorous title, this book will catch the eye of many upper elementary school readers. However, those who stick with it will probably be those who truly love to read. Alec is actually a kid who gets in trouble a lot, but not for the usual things like causing disruptions and being unkind. He gets in trouble for reading too much or, at least, when it's not preferred, like in the middle of class or chorus. Alec has started off 6th grade in the principal's office getting read the riot act about not continuing to be distracted by the books that he loves so much. He is given the ultimatum of paying attention in class and NOT reading all the time or attending summer school for 6 weeks! Because Alec does not want to crush his summer vacation by sitting in school, and because he has now started attending an after school program at his school, Alec devises a way that he can read on his own terms. For three straight hours! And not get in trouble! He creates the Losers Club, so named to dissuade other kids from joining. His plan doesn't go exactly as he thinks - does it ever? - And Alec ends up learning some good life lessons. With themes of bullying, first crush, and friendship, this is a gentle coming of age story wrapped in the question, "What would your favorite book hero do in this situation?" Clements nails the social dynamics often occuring in this age group, but his hero is a little wise beyond his years and quite measured for a 6th grader. Maybe it's all the reading that he does...

Overall Book Score: good