Wringer
Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli tells a story of peer pressure so foul, so horrifying, thatWringershould be shelved along with Robert Cormier'sThe Chocolate War. Nine-year-old Palmer dreads his upcoming 10th birthday. In his town, when boys are 10 years old they become &quot;wringers,&quot; 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?Wringerwill 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.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.