The Losers Club

We’ve loved books by Andrew Clements at my book club. Of course, Frindle is a favourite, but About Average was fun too. The Losers Club, which I read about a month ago, came as a recommendation from a parent, and it was quite a lovely choice. A book about books–what’s not to love about it?

All Alec wants to do is to get lost in his book. When he learns that he needs to be part of a club to be allowed to sit and read after school, he forms one, determined not to attract a crowd. He wants to read. That’s it. Nothing more than that. He decides that the best way to ensure that no one wants to join his club is to call it the Losers Club.

Things don’t go to plan, though, and soon, it seems like everyone wants to be part of his club. As more tables are added and more enthusiastic young children join in, Alec needs to decide whether to be dictatorial and enforce his ideas, or listen to all the new members.

As a story about books and friendship, The Losers Club was an enjoyable read.
Yet, it made me pause because at Alec’s age, nothing I did was inspired by a crush, while most of what Alec does is inspired by his feelings for his classmate Nina. Jealousy, the need to impress, going on a dat … Maybe it’s a cultural thing, maybe it’s just that I was a nine-year-old too long ago, but I couldn’t help wondering whether children in the target age-group–listed as 8-12–would relate to the book. Do children find themselves thinking so much about getting a girlfriend when they’re that young? I wonder.

All told, The Losers Club was fun for its book lists, as well as for the easy storytelling style. And in terms of its scope as a book club read? Perfect.