| Wringer | 
 enlarge | Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $3.14
You Save: $3.85 (55%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  260 reviews
Sales Rank: 124256
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0060592826
EAN: 9780060592820
ASIN: 0060592826
Publication Date: September 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli tells a story of peer pressure so foul, so horrifying, that Wringer should be shelved along with Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. Nine-year-old Palmer dreads his upcoming 10th birthday. In his town, when boys are 10 years old they become "wringers," the boys who wring the necks of wounded pigeons at the annual Pigeon Day shoot. Palmer is sickened by the whole event. To make matters worse, his new buddies--Beans, Mutto, and Henry--have just discovered that Palmer has been hiding a pet pigeon in his room. What will Palmer do? Will he become a wringer to save face, or will he follow his heart? Wringer will appeal to preteens and younger teens who love to read suspenseful books on their own, but it would also be a good story to read aloud to spark discussion about the perils and nuances of peer pressure.
Product Description
He was not aware that he ever stopped crying.In his sleep a voice echoed down the long dark barrel of a cannon: You have run out of birthdays. In the morning he awoke suddenly to a flutter of wings. Birthdays are an obsession where Palmer comes from, but if turning a year older means initiation into a violent practice he despises, he'd rather not. Unfortunately, Palmer cannot stop time any more than he can change tradition. So as this next and most important birthday approaches, Palmer knows that it's now or never. Something must be done.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 255 more reviews...
 What the HEEAZY??!?!?! October 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I thought this was supposed to be a CHILDRENS book. Not a wannabe hyper-intellectual attempt to shove morals into my face...with a PIDGEON?! I mean....Mr. Spinelli, what in the world were you THINKING?!?!
A pigeon shoot through the eyes of a child... September 30, 2008
In Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli, 9-year old Palmer dreads the town's tradition. When he turns 10, he'll be eligible, nay, expected, to become a "wringer." A wringer literally wrings the necks of pigeons wounded in the town's annual pigeon shoot, a long-standing tradition.
Palmer likes pigeons, however, and even adopts a wild one. How will he maintain his status with his peers if he doesn't contribute to the wringing?
There is more to this book than this, including peer-pressure, parental involvement, traditions, and harassment. But the key to this tale is the pigeon shoot.
Although this work is a piece of fiction, the town is a barely disguised Hegins, Pennsylvania, which had a large, organized pigeon shoot using "trapper boys" to wring the necks of pigeons until the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that participants could be cited for animal cruelty (the court used the phrase "cruel and moronic" to describe the activity). These "shoots" continue today, but in private shooting clubs. Indeed, even in 2008, these shoots are legal in Pennsylvania, and there are ongoing investigations whether pigeons in New York are being trapped and sent to Pennsylvania for these shoots.
I think this book would stimulate vigorous discussion in grades 7-12. Heck, I'm ready to chat about it!
 A Wringer for Passionate Kids June 11, 2008
As this is the second Spinelli book that I've read and reviewed, I see a theme emerging: passionate, gifted children who are not afraid to stand up for what is right. In this case, Jerry Spinelli chronicles the tale of Palmer LaRue, a young boy who is trapped in a town of people who believe and expect its residents to kill pigeons at the annual Family Fest. What further complicates Palmer's life is that he is quickly approaching age 10, the age where boys are expected to 'wring' the necks of pigeons who are not shot outright. However, Palmer doesn't want to kill pigeons. In fact, he hoards a pet pigeon, Nipper, in his room. This becomes a dangerous game, as his 'friends' discover his secret and want Nipper for their own devious pleasures.
As peer pressure is a common thread in young adult literature, Spinelli does what he does best: deliver the tough stories without the sappy, happy endings. Life lessons are ensconced between these pages, and life isn't always pretty.
Very Great! November 29, 2007
I think that everyone should own a copy of this book! I like how it is very creative and fun to read. It was sitting in my book shelf for over a year, A couple of days ago I decided to read the book, because I have'nt. It was a surprise to me what I was missing! I think every child should have this book!
Wringer July 22, 2007
I think that Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli, is a captivating, moving and powerful book. I stayed up until midnight to finish this book. I found Spinelli's characters, situations, and dialog believable, though this book may be for more mature audiences than suggested. I think the Newbery Medal on Wringer is well earned.
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