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Jupiter Glazer
Losers
Do you... Listen to music that's not popular? Hang out with math geeks? Read poetry? Come from another country? Get embarrassed easily in overly social situations? Worry that everyone else is hooking up more than you? If you said 'yes' to any of these questions, there are people who think you're a loser. But not Jupiter Glazer. Jupiter, a Russian-born, outcast-befriending, sexually insecure brooder who listens to The Cure, is not about to lose out on high school. No, it's time for him to win. For once. This is his story.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Matthue Roth
19 books55 followersMatthue's book My First Kafka was called "eerie and imaginative" by The New Yorker) and "creepy cute" by Wired. He's also written a bunch of other books, most recently Rules of My Best Friend's Body. He's also written for Sesame Street, and by day he writes games for Google. He lives in Brooklyn with his family, and he keeps a secret diary at www.matthue.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 1, 2008
Possibly the best book ever written about Russian Jewish immigrant geeks. I'm not just saying that because it's probably the only book of that particular genuclature. Or because I wrote it.
March 8, 2010
Sonia cyber-introduced me to her old friend Matthue Roth because we're both writers and she thought we should know each other. I promptly ordered Losers because it sounded like a book I would have liked when I was a "young adult." It was. It was great. I'm enjoying reading books written by my peers. I can relate to them in a certain special way. We were all unpopular kids at the same time, after all. Right around the time I got Losers in the mail, I saw that Matthue would be doing a reading in NYC with Stephen Elliot. I had stumbled across Stephen Elliot's blog, the Daily Rumpus, a couple of months before and started subscribing to his daily musings. It was kind of strange because I'd never read one of his books before - but his voice and his universe spoke to me. Is the world really small or does like simply gravitate toward like?
August 5, 2011
Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com
Jupiter Glazer has had a tough life ever since he got dragged from Russia to the United States when he was young. He's always been the kid who gets picked on and shoved into lockers. He only really has one good friend, Vadim, who is also Russian. The night before he starts his first day at a new high school, he decides he's not going to be that kid anymore. He's going to transform himself and actually fit in with the other kids and make friends.
Soon, he's listening to old records to try to pick up the correct accent, and going to parties that he'd usually never even think of attending because he'd usually just be beat up. In the process, he's aggravating his parents because he's never home at the factory to help out when they're having a hard time. But little by little, Jupiter starts to fit in a bit more, and he realizes it's not so hard to blend in with everybody else and not get picked on constantly.
This was a good read. From the very beginning, I sided with Jupiter, of course. It wasn't fair to him that he always got picked on because he wasn't from around there and had a different accent. I loved how he decided to change when he got tired of always being bullied. It made sense to transform himself when he was starting a new high school. Not everyone knew who he was, so he could really be anybody that he wanted to be. I thought that was a really brave thing of him to do.
I definitely think bullies should read LOSERS so that they can understand what the people being bullied are going through - and maybe, just maybe, they'll understand that it's not right. I also liked the way that Mr. Roth wrote from both Jupiter's experience and also from Vadim's point of view. Definitely check this one out, especially if you like books about foreigners trying to fit in.
Jupiter Glazer has had a tough life ever since he got dragged from Russia to the United States when he was young. He's always been the kid who gets picked on and shoved into lockers. He only really has one good friend, Vadim, who is also Russian. The night before he starts his first day at a new high school, he decides he's not going to be that kid anymore. He's going to transform himself and actually fit in with the other kids and make friends.
Soon, he's listening to old records to try to pick up the correct accent, and going to parties that he'd usually never even think of attending because he'd usually just be beat up. In the process, he's aggravating his parents because he's never home at the factory to help out when they're having a hard time. But little by little, Jupiter starts to fit in a bit more, and he realizes it's not so hard to blend in with everybody else and not get picked on constantly.
This was a good read. From the very beginning, I sided with Jupiter, of course. It wasn't fair to him that he always got picked on because he wasn't from around there and had a different accent. I loved how he decided to change when he got tired of always being bullied. It made sense to transform himself when he was starting a new high school. Not everyone knew who he was, so he could really be anybody that he wanted to be. I thought that was a really brave thing of him to do.
I definitely think bullies should read LOSERS so that they can understand what the people being bullied are going through - and maybe, just maybe, they'll understand that it's not right. I also liked the way that Mr. Roth wrote from both Jupiter's experience and also from Vadim's point of view. Definitely check this one out, especially if you like books about foreigners trying to fit in.
April 8, 2010
In Losers, a socially awkward and sexually insecure Russian 15 year old named Jupiter finds his way through high school and learns how you can become popular and how to be happy. He started out as an awkward loser whose thick Russian accent was almost incomprehensible, and turned into an old-bands-who-no-one's-ever-heard-of lover and a well-respected kid in high school. Jupiter goes to his first party in the beginning of the book, and figures out what connections will get you to the top of the social ladder.
While reading this book, I made a text-to-self connection. Jupiter reminds me of an old friend of mine who went to the same middle school as I did last year. He used to be remarkably shy and uncomfortable around other people, but he helped me with a math concept I was having trouble with and we became friends. After that he started talking to other people and became pretty popular. I think this is very similar to what happened to Jupiter, who met the most popular girl at school (not comparing myself to the girl from the book AT ALL) at the party. She helps him make good connections and he subsequently becomes popular and respected. Both Jupiter and my old friend started at the bottom of the food chain and made their way to the top.
I gave this book four stars because it was fabulously written and incredibly heartwarming and funny! Some readers that might enjoy this book are people who liked Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers because they are both written in first person with similar complaining and witty voice.
While reading this book, I made a text-to-self connection. Jupiter reminds me of an old friend of mine who went to the same middle school as I did last year. He used to be remarkably shy and uncomfortable around other people, but he helped me with a math concept I was having trouble with and we became friends. After that he started talking to other people and became pretty popular. I think this is very similar to what happened to Jupiter, who met the most popular girl at school (not comparing myself to the girl from the book AT ALL) at the party. She helps him make good connections and he subsequently becomes popular and respected. Both Jupiter and my old friend started at the bottom of the food chain and made their way to the top.
I gave this book four stars because it was fabulously written and incredibly heartwarming and funny! Some readers that might enjoy this book are people who liked Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers because they are both written in first person with similar complaining and witty voice.
July 31, 2009
The protagonist of "Losers", Jupiter, comes to America from Russia to attend school and is, naturally, an outcast at first. Being a product of his culture, he has a different take on situations and ideas than most people he comes to attend school with. This wasn't my favorite book, but it definitely got better with each page. I really liked that the text handled lots of present day issues with teens, namely assimilation, acceptance, bullying, etc. Most of these topics aren't high on the list of "most enjoyable conversations to have with teens", but I feel they are necessary, especially with high schoolers.
This one won't be taught in my classroom, but if I had a student I knew was struggling with fitting in or with simply being unique in their surrounding environment, I would recommend "Losers". It's a decent read, but not on my top list.
This one won't be taught in my classroom, but if I had a student I knew was struggling with fitting in or with simply being unique in their surrounding environment, I would recommend "Losers". It's a decent read, but not on my top list.
November 10, 2010
Book review for Losers.
This book is about a boy who went from having no friends to being populare, just beacuse he was invited to a party and shared a very intrested story ofhim whe he was small. I rate this book at a 8 because through the story you learn how it is to become some one you are not. I also think this book is a rate of 8 because it teaches you that being popular is not what every one should be, being als a great life. I want to know why the author chosed the tittle to be losers?. Jupitor was a loser but when became a populare kid. The main character is jupitor, he is the main character the book is about his life and how being populare changes you.
This book is about a boy who went from having no friends to being populare, just beacuse he was invited to a party and shared a very intrested story ofhim whe he was small. I rate this book at a 8 because through the story you learn how it is to become some one you are not. I also think this book is a rate of 8 because it teaches you that being popular is not what every one should be, being als a great life. I want to know why the author chosed the tittle to be losers?. Jupitor was a loser but when became a populare kid. The main character is jupitor, he is the main character the book is about his life and how being populare changes you.
July 14, 2009
Losers wasn't my favorite book, but it got better towards the end. The protagonist is from Russia, the wrong side of town, and a target for bullies, but one night at a party begins to change all this. He drops his accent and begins his pursuit into popularity. I won't tell you if he did or not.
I don't think I could use this in the classroom, but it's nice to see main characters from an ethnic stand point. This is not a book I would recommend to the reluctant reader, but I see some students liking it.
I don't think I could use this in the classroom, but it's nice to see main characters from an ethnic stand point. This is not a book I would recommend to the reluctant reader, but I see some students liking it.
August 4, 2010
I started reading the copy EP took out of the library MINUTES after she finished it, and read the whole thing in about an hour and a half. It kept surprising me with how the story developed, and I loved that it was neither a happy-ever-after type story nor a life-sucks-and-then-you-die thing. This book just had this great sensibility that had me loving and deeply caring about the main character, faults and all. Totally totally recommend to people who love reading YA books about high school sagas.
October 3, 2010
Great read, funny off the wall type of tale.
October 2, 2011
Very funny. I felt like I was Jupiter through out the book. It kept me inspired to read it and I finished it after just a couple of days. It made me laugh a lot too... absolutely a must!
March 6, 2011
The book was such a cute read, and it was good to reminisce about carefree, angsty high school days.
April 11, 2011
i loved this book!!
a really good input into the REAL LIFE way people think...
a really good input into the REAL LIFE way people think...
August 18, 2014
This book was very fun & unpredictable. The loser guy didn't end up with the popular hot girl (finally!). The main character was very relateable and made me laugh a few times!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2009
Why am I obsessed with YAF about various forms of slackers, dorks, and misfits?
September 21, 2017
Losers is a entertainment-filled book written by Matthue Roth. I was able to read this book in less than 2 weeks, and I've never been more excited to go home and read a book in my life. The book is about Jupiter, a Russian exchange student who came here as a refugee with his family. He only has one real friend, Vadim, and they go to the same school together. This book goes into detail about what they do together, and I like how it stays in one character's point of view throughout the book. Losers is quite entertaining, as it embarks you in an adventure of what it is like to be a new kid at school.
While Losers was a very entertaining book, it could use some improvements. Roth does a great job describing Jupiter's life, but he doesn't explain why he moved from Russia and where the rest of his family is. The author could have had a reasonable explanation for not describing this in detail, but he leaves the reader in the dark in certain spots. When Roth describes how Jupiter left and how much he knows, he doesn't exactly explain how they just got on a plane and left. While I do believe Losers could have used some refining, Roth still did an excellent job while writing this book.
Roth explained Jupiter's life in pretty extravagant detail, and many young readers I believe could relate this to their life. This is why I would recommend this to young readers, because there are many life lessons you could take away from this book. The life lesson that I found the most astonishing is that you don't need to act like everybody else to fit in. I found this life lesson the most important because I see everyday that people want to just be normal, but in reality, no one is exactly normal. Jupiter, the main character, tries to do the same thing but it fails. This life lesson sets out as an example to just be yourself, and that's the easiest way to make friends.
While Losers was a very entertaining book, it could use some improvements. Roth does a great job describing Jupiter's life, but he doesn't explain why he moved from Russia and where the rest of his family is. The author could have had a reasonable explanation for not describing this in detail, but he leaves the reader in the dark in certain spots. When Roth describes how Jupiter left and how much he knows, he doesn't exactly explain how they just got on a plane and left. While I do believe Losers could have used some refining, Roth still did an excellent job while writing this book.
Roth explained Jupiter's life in pretty extravagant detail, and many young readers I believe could relate this to their life. This is why I would recommend this to young readers, because there are many life lessons you could take away from this book. The life lesson that I found the most astonishing is that you don't need to act like everybody else to fit in. I found this life lesson the most important because I see everyday that people want to just be normal, but in reality, no one is exactly normal. Jupiter, the main character, tries to do the same thing but it fails. This life lesson sets out as an example to just be yourself, and that's the easiest way to make friends.
March 6, 2019
The book, “Losers” by Matthue Roth, begins with a Russian boy, Jupiter, beginning high school. He is a total outcast. He’s bullied, unpopular, and only has 1 or 2 friends. But as the book goes on this changes for him. He tries to change many different things that he thinks makes him an outcast. Such as avoiding his home that is in The Yards, which is a really rundown and poor area. From attending a big party, he goes from being a total outcast, to somewhat liked and popular by many different friend groups. The author does a good job about writing a story about this kid who doesn’t fit in. This book is very relatable in many aspects. He is diverse in friends, ethnicity, and music taste. He has popular friends, geeky friends, goth friends, and even gay friends. This as well as being from Russia, and having strange hobbies makes him different than most. I believe he was purposely written like this so more readers could relate to the book and the main character. The book ends with an important lesson of not needing to fit into any group and to just do what you want with your life. The book, “Losers” by Matthue Roth, was a very good book in my opinion. I would rate this book 9/10, because it is a very interesting book.
February 24, 2017
I think this book is a very good book. It talks about a lot of different topics. One being the struggle that some people that are from different countries face when being in America and looking or sounding different from other people. Which is one of the struggles the main character Jupiter goes through but he makes the best of it. I would recommend this.
October 15, 2013
Socially awkward, geeky Russian Jew growing up and trying to fit in -- in Philadelphia. This is the first Matthue Roth book I have read. I hope we have more of his work at FLP.
The writing is clever and, at times, beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My complaint is that I can't figure out when the story is set. The subculture and music referenced in the story do not point to any particular era. Perhaps this is intentional? It also feels like some important parts of the story are glossed over, but this doesn't bother me because it seems to add to the almost magical realism flavor that I'm getting from Losers.
The writing is clever and, at times, beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My complaint is that I can't figure out when the story is set. The subculture and music referenced in the story do not point to any particular era. Perhaps this is intentional? It also feels like some important parts of the story are glossed over, but this doesn't bother me because it seems to add to the almost magical realism flavor that I'm getting from Losers.
November 10, 2013
Losers reminded me a lot of Daniel Pinkwater's wonderful The Education of Robert Nifkin (which begins, "My father is a son of a bitch from Eastern Europe"). The main character in Losers has lived in the US for several years, but when he starts high school with all new classmates, his Russian accent and new-kid status make him stand out "for all the wrong reasons." Funny and poignant. I especially liked reading about Jupiter's ventures into downtown Philadelphia, where he discovers the world of coffeehouses and record stores.
January 20, 2016
This book captivates an outsider teen by literally making him in outsider. Not only is he quiet and a little dorky, he doesn't live in the most lavish community and he didn't always speak English. If there was ever a story to captivate a teen who just didn't fit in, this would be it. Not only does the main character, Jupiter Glazer, not fit in but in reality doesn't want to, at least not with the typical high school popular crowd. It really is a classic story for a transforming teen trying to find themselves and where they wish to fit in and where they really fit in.
January 10, 2012
This book was OK. I got it from Scholastic as a part of a bully prevention feature.
I loved that the chapter titles all were titles of Cure songs (My favorite band of all time). I liked that the theme of the story is about finding a way to fit in.
What I didn't like is the way the story seemed so scattered. It jumped around. It just didn't seem to flow. The main character was kind of annoying, too.
Maybe if I was a teenage, angst ridden boy this book would be more appealing to me.
I loved that the chapter titles all were titles of Cure songs (My favorite band of all time). I liked that the theme of the story is about finding a way to fit in.
What I didn't like is the way the story seemed so scattered. It jumped around. It just didn't seem to flow. The main character was kind of annoying, too.
Maybe if I was a teenage, angst ridden boy this book would be more appealing to me.
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February 20, 2012When I was in junior high I unfortunately was one of the many mislead pre-teens that loathed reading. But when I read this book, it changed my whole perspective. It was the first book I truly enjoyed, I could step into the shoes of a very realistically portrayed russian refugee teen that experienced Jr. High much like I did, like anyone does. In summation I Highly recommend this book for a Jr. high to high school audience.
July 1, 2009
Definitely a book I'd recommend to high schoolers. The main character does get really popular but transcends "cliques", gives kind of a new insight into the term "losers" and generally learns some good lessons about himself and human behavior. The characters felt like period 80s or 90s, but they are all well-written and appear like any ordinary people we knew growing up.
September 8, 2008
For professional review
January 3, 2009
I like this book so far, it started off with Jupiter getting beat up. If that is just the being, I'm sure good things will happen later on!
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June 18, 2010Losers by Matthue Roth (2008)
Currently reading
July 11, 2010its kind of boring at first...im hoping t gets better.
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August 2, 2011A fun read. Brings back memories.
September 13, 2014
This book was just sad. Nothing interesting in it happens. None of the characters are likeable (including the main ones) and it's just as unbelievable as it is slow (which is very).
October 7, 2014
i didn't like it because it was too inappropriate for me and i don't really like books with thoses details.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews