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Wringer

(1997, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Jerry Spinelli)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Mesmerizing and disturbing moral allegory.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Palmer and his friends engage in a wide variety of thuggish behavior toward both children and adults, including tormenting a second-grade girl, breaking into Palmer's house, and nailing a dead muskrat to a neighbor's door. The gang threatens to kill Palmer's pigeon and suggests violent acts toward him. Young boys participate in a wringer training session where they pretend to strangle a bird by twisting a sock.
  • Violence :

    Descriptions of how to wring the necks of pigeons, shooting birds as they're released from a cage, and wounded birds falling out of the sky, flopping aimlessly about on the ground.
  • Sex :

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Wringer

Parents need to know that readers will be hooked from the beginning to the story's suspenseful climax. This moral dilemma of a young boy trying to do what he feels is right despite peer pressure is dealt with quite deftly.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about peer pressure. Why does Palmer treat Dorothy differently in public? Have you ever acted like that? How did you feel? Have you ever defied peer pressure? What happened? How did you feel?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Educator Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

      • My highlights are:
      • Educational
      • Positive messages
      • Good role models

      Wringer teaches young people how to stand up for animals!

      The book discusses a real problem of pigeon shoots and how a boy struggles with his decision of whether or not to become part of the cruelty. This book can help many other young people learn how to stand up for what they know is right! Check out the great literature circle teaching unit available for free at www.humanesociety.org/youth, click "Resources".

    • Kid Reviewer
      Age 11
      Anonymous
      Lives in California
      I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0

      interesting

      it is a sad book. it is interesting how the characters act.

    • Parent Reviewer
      Anonymous
      Lives in New Jersey
      Kids ages: 7
      I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

      Its Okay I kind of Got Bored

      Wringer was ok i wouldnt recommend it

    • Teen Reviewer
      Age 13
      Lives in
      I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0

      Not As Great As Expected...

      After reading Jerry Spinelli's ''Stargirl'', I was looking foward to read Wringer. But it's not as great as I expected it to be, because it's quite tragic. It also shows a clear example of bullies. I've read better.

    • Kid Reviewer
      Age 11
      Lives in New York
      I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

      from what i read i liked it

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