Wringer

📘 About This Book

A Newbery Honor Book and ALA Notable Children’s Book from the New York Times–bestselling author of Stargirl and Maniac Magee. In Palmer LaRue’s hometown of Waymer, turning ten is the biggest event of a boy’s life. But for Palmer, his tenth birthday is not something to look forward to, but something to dread. Then one day, a visitor appears on his windowsill, and Palmer knows that this, more than anything else, is a sign that his time is up. Somehow, he must learn how to stop being afraid and stand up for what he believes in. Wringer is a powerful tour de force from Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli. “Deeply felt. Presents a moral question with great care and sensitivity.” —The New York Times “A spellbinding story about rites of passage.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A realistic story with the intensity of a fable.” —The Horn Book (starred review) “Spinelli’s characters are memorable, and they are involved in a plot that, from the first page, is riveting. A wide audience will enjoy this thought-provoking book.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “A story both comic and disturbing, this is lit by Palmer’s growing courage.” —Kirkus Reviews “There is action and gentleness and also much to think about in Spinelli’s novel.” —Booklist (starred review)

📖 Summary

Jerry Spinelli’s acclaimed novel Wringer plunges young readers into a compelling moral dilemma centered around a young boy named Palmer LaRue. In Palmer's hometown of Waymer, turning ten years old is supposed to be the ultimate milestone of boyhood. Yet, while other boys eagerly anticipate this passage of time, Palmer approaches his upcoming tenth birthday with profound dread. The reason lies in an annual town tradition that the other boys celebrate, but which Palmer secretly fears and reviles. The community of Waymer hosts a yearly pigeon shoot, a brutal event where the local boys look forward to stepping into roles that Palmer cannot bring himself to embrace. For Palmer, the pressure to conform, fit in, and prove his toughness among his peers stands in direct opposition to his own tenderhearted nature and private convictions. His anxiety reaches a turning point when an unexpected visitor lands on his windowsill. This mysterious creature serves as a personal sign to Palmer that his time is running out, forcing him to confront the grim realities of the tradition he has long tried to ignore. As the narrative unfolds across its pages, Palmer must grapple with the immense weight of peer pressure, societal expectations, and the agonizing choice between blending in with the crowd or standing up for an innocent life. Spinelli crafts a deeply felt narrative that examines the painful rites of passage every child eventually faces. Through Palmer's internal struggles and external conflicts, the story asks difficult questions about courage, compassion, and the true meaning of growing up. Palmer realizes that somehow, he must learn how to stop being afraid of what others might think and find the inner strength to stand up for what he truly believes in, even if it means standing completely alone against his entire town. Wringer stands as a powerful testament to the moral dilemmas that children can face, presenting complex questions of empathy and conscience with great care and sensitivity. It captures the universal tension between the desire for social acceptance and the moral imperative of personal integrity, making it a spellbinding and emotionally resonant journey through a very difficult childhood crossroads.

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✍️ About the Author

Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli (b. 1941) is an American author known for beloved middle-grade novels, including 'Maniac Magee' and 'Stargirl'.

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