The Losers Club

Alec reads for the rest of the weekend to keep his mind off Kent and Nina. When he returns to school, however, he must think about how Kent and Nina probably spent the weekend hanging out. He worries Kent will convince Nina to switch over to Active Games. In his head, he scolds himself for thinking he can control anyone’s actions but his own. His scolding works, and it becomes easier for him to ignore Kent and Nina’s interactions for the rest of the day. He considers that if Nina likes Kent, despite Kent being a bully and a show-off, then he can’t be that bad.

Alec is still feeling optimistic when Extended Day starts, but soon after, he’s approached by a fourth-grade boy sent by Kent. The boy, Jason, has been bad at kickball lately, so Kent sent him to sit with the losers at the Losers Club as punishment. Jason is also supposed to keep an eye on Kent’s “girlfriend.” This enrages Alec, who discards all positive thoughts he had about Kent. Alec remembers how the British used to send criminals to Australia. In his anger, Alec is abrupt and rude to Jason, saying he needs to be quiet and read. Jason obeys Alec, seemingly uncomfortable, and Lily looks on, concerned. Alec tries to read, but he can’t concentrate. Everything Jason does annoys him.

When Nina arrives, she can tell Alec is in a bad mood. She greets Jason and takes her seat. She and Jason strike up a conversation about Jason’s book, but Alec snaps at them to be quiet so he can read. Alec can tell this upsets Nina, but he just buries himself in his book instead of talking to her.

That evening, Nina calls Alec at his house. She yells at him for being so rude to Jason. She spoke to Jason after Alec left and learned how rude Alec was. Alec gets angry too, but once they are both calm, Alec explains how Kent made Jason join the Losers Club as punishment. He also explains what Kent said about Jason keeping an eye on Kent’s “girlfriend,” and he even tells Nina about how the warrior princess comment was originally his before Kent stole it. He finishes by acknowledging that he was having a bad day and that he owes Jason an apology.

Nina is quiet for a minute, then she apologizes for yelling. She also already apologized to Jason on Alec’s behalf. She says she told Jason how Alec is normally smart and funny. Nina says Jason told her that he wouldn’t return to Active Games if Kent begged him to because he prefers to read anyway.

Nina also explains that she’s getting fed up with Kent. She can tell that Alec doesn’t like her hanging out with Kent, and Kent has shown he’s jealous of their friendship. Nina prefers reading at the table with Alec, but she likes sports too and doesn’t want to give that up. She also admits enjoying Kent’s attention at first because it helped her make friends with other girls. The other girls know Kent is a flirt, and while they engage with it because it’s fun, they don’t take Kent seriously.

Nina apologizes again for yelling at Alec, and they hang up. Alec feels confused by the conversation because he doesn’t understand girls very well. He wishes he could recall a book where the main character struggled in the same way but he comes up blank.

Alec’s brother, Luke, enters his room right after Alec hangs up the phone. Luke listened in on the beginning of the conversation and wants to know why Nina was yelling at Alec. Alec says it’s complicated and has to do with the Losers Club.

Luke explains he’s been getting bullied for being Alec’s little brother. Kids call him “Little Loser.” Luke has thick skin, though. He refers to them as “Neanderthals.” Luke asks if Nina is the girl Alec likes. Alec wonders how Luke knows. Luke says everyone knows. It’s obvious. Even their parents know. Luke tells Alec it could be worse. He makes the point that Nina wouldn’t have reached out to Alec over the phone if she didn’t care about him and what he’s got going on. This makes Alec feel better.

In music class the next morning, Kent confronts Alec, asking why he told Nina that Kent stole the warrior princess thing. Alec says it was the truth. Kent tells Alec he’s not allowed to think about, talk to, or look at Nina.

The confrontation reminds Alec of a moment in The Call of the Wild, when Spitz the sled dog fights Buck, a larger dog. Alec yanks his arm from Kent and says Kent isn’t the boss of him.

The music teacher gathers the class’s attention and seats the baritones away from the altos and tenors. Alec feels better by the end of class, but when he leaves, he sees Kent glaring at him angrily.

At the club table that afternoon, Lily and Jason are already there. Alec spots Nina talking to Kent, but it doesn’t bother them after their conversation last night. Alec feels ashamed when he sees Jason keeping his eyes down nervously. Alec apologizes and says he’s glad Jason is there. They discuss the books they’ve read. They have a lot of similar interests when it comes to books.

Alec gives Jason a copy of Hatchet and says that if he doesn’t love it, Alec will buy him an ice cream sandwich. Lily smiles and tells Jason that she was right about Alec really being a nice guy.

Alec sees Nina and Kent still talking, but it looks tense now. Nina turns sharply and storms to the Losers Club table. Alec can tell she’s upset, but everyone else is trying to read now, so he writes her a note inviting her to walk to the water fountains to talk.

Once they have some privacy, Nina explains that she tried to tell Kent she didn’t want to hang out every single day. He replied that he was done with her too, adding that he hated having to pretend she was any good at sports. He told her she was bad and that he doesn’t know why he thought she was cool before.

Nina feels ashamed that what he said bothers her so much. She feels stupid. Alec says that Kent is the stupid one. Nina thanks Alec for letting her talk about it, saying she feels better.

When they return to the table, Alec now feels mad on Nina’s behalf. He wants to get revenge on Kent for what he said to Nina and for all the other kids Kent has made feel bad.

With everyone else in the Losers Club reading calmly, Alec struggles to settle his anger. He wants to confront Kent over his behavior, but he admits that Kent wasn’t always a jerk. Alec thinks about how the characters in his book have to have noble intentions because when they’re solely out for revenge, they always fail. He works out a plan in his head.

Alec approaches Mr. Jenson, the head of Active Games, and informs the teacher that he’d like to play kickball today. Mr. Jenson sends Alec to the basketball group, where the kids who will play the winner of the current kickball game are waiting. They’re mostly fourth and fifth graders. Alec watches as Kent leads his team, the Champs, to yet another victory. Every team Kent joins is called the Champs.

Alec encounters Julia, Dave’s little sister, with the other kids playing basketball. Julia is waiting to play kickball too, but she admits she’s not good at it. Alec tells her about the clubs program. Julia likes the idea, but she doesn’t know anyone in clubs and her friend, Sarah, is in Active Games. Alec suggests they both join the Losers Club, explaining that it’s for reading. Julia asks if she and Sarah can read the same book and talk about it. Alec says that would be fine.

When it’s their turn to play games, Julia remarks that it’s their turn to lose since Kent’s team always wins.

Kent seems to be running everything. He orders his team around, and he’s so busy getting everyone ready for the next game that he doesn’t realize Alec is on the opposing team until Alec and the other kickers are ready at the plate. Kent mocks Alec and asks if he thinks his team will win. Alec says he doesn’t know, but he knows he will score a run against Kent. They make a bet: If Alec can score a run against Kent, Kent will join the Losers Club for a week. If Alec can’t score a run, he’ll stay with Active Games for the week and play against Kent every day. Kent agrees. They have a tense handshake where they squeeze each other’s grip extra hard. Kent seems surprised by Alec’s grip strength, which he got from water skiing.

The first kicker before Alec manages to get first base. The second kicker gets an out. Alec chants “LoSERS! LoSERS! LoSERS!” (152) to encourage his team, and the other kids join in.

When Alec is up, he realizes Kent knows the strengths and weaknesses of all the other Active Games kids, but he won’t know what Alec can do. Alec also doesn’t know what he can do, so he barely kicks the first pitch just to see how fast and hard Kent bowls the ball. On the second pitch, he kicks it way across the gym. Alec and the other kid on base make it all the way around and score two runs. The Champs still win the game by the end, but Alec has won the bet against Kent.

When Alec shakes Kent’s hand at the end of the game, there is no squeezing. He tells Kent he doesn’t have to join the Losers Club, but Kent wants to uphold his end of the bet and vows to be there.

When Alec returns to the table, he realizes that within hours of Nina’s deciding she doesn’t want to be around Kent, he’s now brought Kent directly to Nina. He feels like an idiot. Seeking comfort, he pulls out Charlotte’s Web. Mr. Willner approaches with three girls: Julia, Sarah, and Ellen. They have all decided to join the Losers Club. Alec welcomes them.