“He is less than that. He is nobody. Long before the first snowfall, he sinks into nobodyness.” What does this quote mean and how does it relate to the plot of the story? Do you think Zinkoff would rather be a loser or a nobody? Explain.

Zinkoff is not the popular kid, but he tries to make friends. He is friendly to everyone, but repeatedly he deals with painful rejections. When he finally makes friends with his neighbor, Andrew, they part ways after Zinkoff ruins some cookies they were making together. He's repeatedly handed the message that his eccentricities and his awkwardness make him less valuable, not worth keeping in someone's life, but Zinkoff is a much smarter kid than most people give him credit. He knows that he's worth loving, so he loves himself. As if insulated by this self-loves, Zinkoff is able to stomach these rejections, even though they hurt. He doesn't take it personally and continues to treat the kids kindly. The term "loser" is fairly subjective and more relevant in the bubble of gradeschool. I think Zinkoff wants to make a positive difference in people's lives. To Zinkoff, helping people makes him a somebody. Zinkoff would rather be seen as a "loser" because the term means very little to him.