Wringer
by Jerry Spinelli
Wringer follows Palmer LaRue, a boy approaching his tenth birthday in a town where ten-year-old boys traditionally become 'wringers' who kill wounded pigeons at the annual Pigeon Day festival. As Palmer struggles with his fear of the violent tradition and his desire to fit in with his peers, he secretly befriends a pigeon he names Nipper. The story explores themes of peer pressure, moral courage, animal rights, and the difficulty of standing up for one's beliefs when it means going against community traditions and risking social ostracism.
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This information is provided for transparency purposes only. Final reading decisions rest with parents and caregivers.