Wringer

Spinelli, Jerry. (1997)New York: Harper Collins Children's Books. 0-06-024914-5

PLOT SUMMARY

Palmer Larue is friends with a group of hooligans--according to his mother. He likes being part of the gang, but is soon finding that perhaps his mother was right. He is quickly approaching his tenth birthday when it will be expected that he participate in Family Fest at the end of summer as a "Wringers"--one who wrings the necks of the pigeons that were shot for sport on festival day.

CRITICAL EVALUATION

Palmer's need to be accepted is understandable, but as much as he likes his new friends, he is also afraid of them, and at some point can't even trust them. This dichotomy makes him the type of character with which an audience can sympathize because as much as we would like to be able to say things with resolve, there are times when things just aren't so black and white. We have to be able to bend with the wind. It's part of how we learn, and in this story, Palmer discovers these things as well.

READER'S ANNOTATION

A boy's tenth birthday should be one filled with jubilation, but for Palmer, it is filled with anxiety. He is hiding a pigeon from his hooligan friends because he does not want them to think he is sympathetic to the birds that they will soon be wringing the necks of at the end of summer festival.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jerry Spinelli decided to become a writer after his father had a poem of his published in a local paper. He writes children's fiction and has won awards for his work.

GENRE

Fiction

CURRICULUM TIES

Have students discuss the bonds of gang mentality. Even though the characters in the novel are not in a "gang" how are they similar? What do they do that makes them intimidating to Palmer? Is it cruel to shoot pigeons in the way they are doing in the book? Would animal rights activists have a good argument against their practice?

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

How does it affect a person who has to keep a secret from others? How is Palmer able to stick with it? What are his reasons for keeping the pigeon a secret? Why doesn't he just come clean?

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE

11-14

CHALLENGE ISSUES

Some people might find offense at the sport of shooting pigeons.

WHY INCLUDE THIS BOOK

The theme of acceptance is one that many young tweens have to go through, and this book illustrates well how one person is able to deal with those issues.