Wringer

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 8th grade; The amount of peer pressure and concept of death make this a great book for new  independent young readers.

Plot: Palmer just turned nine years old and was finally accepted by Beans, Mutt, and Henry as their friend. They were all excited though to turn ten. In the town they lived in, when a boy turned ten he was allowed the opportunity to be a wringer in the local pigeon shooting contest. Any pigeons that were injured, their necks were wrung by the boys. The only one not excited was Palmer. He didn't understand why the pigeons had to die and didn't want to kill anything. Things only became more complicated when a pigeon landed just outside his window not just one night but every night. Palmer ends up keeping him but this only causes more problems with his friends as Beans, the leader, hates pigeons. He wants nothing more than to be a wringer and he'll stop at nothing to get that bird. Palmer realizes this and gets rid of Nipper, the pigeon. However, on the day of the shoot, Nipper has somehow ended up with all the other pigeons and Palmer begins his frantic search for him. Nipper flies out of a box, the shooter misses, and he lands on Palmer's head. Beans tries to kill him but fortunately Palmer is able to save him and they head home with everyone knowing Palmer has a pet pigeon.

Characters: Palmer, Beans, Mutt, Henry, Dorothy, Nipper, Palmer's Mom

Setting: A rural community in present day.

Theme: Never give in to peer pressure.

Award: Newbery Honor 1997