Title: Wringer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: -1997
Format: Paperback
Genre: - Newbery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: -1997
Format: Paperback
Genre: - Newbery
Reading Level: - Emergent Reader
Interest Level: - Middle School
Topics: -Contemporary Realistic fiction, Making Choices.
Summary: Not all birthdays are welcome. In Palmer's home town of Waymer, a boy's tenth birthday is more than just another birthday--it is considered to be the biggest and mose honorable day of his life. When a boy turns ten he has finally earned his place as a wringer at the town's annual Pigeon Day. On this day 5,000 pigeons are released into the sky only to be shot down by the town's men. It is the job of wringers to retrieve dead birds from the field and to wring the wounded birds' necks. Although all proceeds from Pigeon Day go to pay for the town's park maintenance and he is assured that all the wringer "humanely" put the dying pigeons to death, Palmer cannot shake the dreadful feeling that he does not want to be a wringer. Unfortunately, "this not wanting to be a wringer" conflicts directly with the expectations of his clique of friends--for them, being a wringer is the highest honor, an honor only a wimp would refuse. Not to be a wringer would mean going against his friends, his family, and the town, risking ostracism. Palmer's life becomes further complicated when he befriends Nipper, a pigeon who likes to roost in his closet and sit atop him head. Now, Palmer has a very important reason to strike out against his friends and the town's traditional Pigeon Day.
Interest Level: - Middle School
Topics: -Contemporary Realistic fiction, Making Choices.
Summary: Not all birthdays are welcome. In Palmer's home town of Waymer, a boy's tenth birthday is more than just another birthday--it is considered to be the biggest and mose honorable day of his life. When a boy turns ten he has finally earned his place as a wringer at the town's annual Pigeon Day. On this day 5,000 pigeons are released into the sky only to be shot down by the town's men. It is the job of wringers to retrieve dead birds from the field and to wring the wounded birds' necks. Although all proceeds from Pigeon Day go to pay for the town's park maintenance and he is assured that all the wringer "humanely" put the dying pigeons to death, Palmer cannot shake the dreadful feeling that he does not want to be a wringer. Unfortunately, "this not wanting to be a wringer" conflicts directly with the expectations of his clique of friends--for them, being a wringer is the highest honor, an honor only a wimp would refuse. Not to be a wringer would mean going against his friends, his family, and the town, risking ostracism. Palmer's life becomes further complicated when he befriends Nipper, a pigeon who likes to roost in his closet and sit atop him head. Now, Palmer has a very important reason to strike out against his friends and the town's traditional Pigeon Day.
Extension Activities:
Have the children write and essay about how they feel about friendships and cliques. Have them describe how they felt and what they did. Relate how they felt to Palmer and what he went through.
Have the children write and essay about how they feel about friendships and cliques. Have them describe how they felt and what they did. Relate how they felt to Palmer and what he went through.
