Wringer (novel)
Wringer is a young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, first published in 1996 by HarperTeen. It received the Newbery Honor in 1997. Plot A young boy named Palmer lives in a town called Waymer, which celebrates an annual Pigeon Day by releasing pigeons from crates to be shot in the air. When the book opens, the town's 63rd annual Pigeon Day is intended to raise money for the city's playground. Ten-year-old boys in Waymer can accept the honor of picking up the wounded birds that have not yet died from a gunshot wound and wringing their necks to "put the pigeons out of their misery." When Palmer turns nine, his peers, Beans, Mutto, and Henry pressure him to join them in anticipation of becoming the best "wringers," boys who wring the necks of pigeons. Palmer's mother does not approve of his friends for this as the main reason, but she cannot force Palmer to find other friends. Palmer finds himself anxious to live up to his father's example, as he was known as one of the best wringers when he was Palmer's age. Though Palmer is actually reluctant to participate in the Pigeon Day wringing, he does not express this