Wringer

by Jerry Spinelli
Jerry Spinelli's works are generally hard hitting and this is no exception.  In the rural town where he lives, Palmer knows on his 9th birthday he will assume the role of a "wringer."  When there are pigeon shooting parties, he finds the wounded ones and puts them out of their misery.  It's what you do, and the cool kids do it best.  Palmer wants very much to be accepted and will do anything to get it, even turn his back on his childhood friend Dorothy.  But one day a pigeon flies into his room and he adopts it as a pet.  Dorothy is the only one who can help him care for his friend, whom he named Nipper.  The problem is that the pigeon festival is coming up fast, and he needs a way to keep his friend safe, but is it even possible?  And what if the secret comes out?

Audience
The coming of age themes make it hard for me to see anyone under the age of 12 understanding this book.  Then again, where I teach, my children are already facing these coming of age problems at 8.  The vocabulary lends itself to a 6th grade reading level

What I Love About This Book

I think a lot of people, especially boys, are still forced into a mold in society.  I also think no one truly fits those molds.  This story is incredibly relevant to anyone that realizes their desires do not match what others expect of them.  This book is poignant at every turn, and the ending is one I thought about for days after I'd finished the book

Cautions

This story is emotionally very intense.  If you want a light read, go somewhere else.  Also, hazing is talked about as being a part of life.