 "Wringer" was praised by critics for its ability to address deep issues for middle schoolers, as did its precursor, "Maniac Magee".In a "School Library Journal "review of "Wringer", Tim Rausch cited the novel for "Humor, suspense, a bird with a personality, and a moral dilemma familiar to everyone," characters who are "memorable, convincing, and both endearing and villainous," and a "riveting plot.