Spinelli, J.(1997) Wringer. New York. HarperTrophy

This book is about a fictional city where there is a festival every year, called pigeon day. On pigeon day about 5,000 pigeons are released into the sky and people try to shoot as many as they can. Usually, when a bird gets shot, it doesn't die, but falls to the ground. Once you're nine years old, you have to become something called, a "wringer." The wringer's job is to run out to where a wounded pigeon is, and wring its neck (twist it until it dies.) There is a boy named Palmer, and he doesn't want to be a wringer. He wouldn't have the guts to kill an innocent pigeon. But he knows he has to. He just keeps thinking to himself, "I won't turn nine for ages. I don't have to worry about that right now." But, of course, one day, his ninth birthday comes. Also, he sees this pigeon on his windowsill and keeps it as a pet. He knows if anyone found out he had it, they would take it and use it for pigeon day.
So, wringer is pretty much about Palmer getting in a pickle because of his fear of becoming a wringer.
I like this book because he has no fear of doing what he believes is right and trying to save the birds from death.
The way social realism was brought out in this book is thast Spinelli bravely addresses the issue of cruelty to animals. Cruelty to animals dulls the senses of the perpetrators so that their cruelty may turn toward humans. Caring for others and caring for animals help to form compassion in human beings. Some of the descriptions used by Spinelli in the pigeon shoot and the acting out by the gang may be offensive to some readers, but it must be viewed in the larger context of the message. The story is told from the third person point of view, which means that the author shares the plot line in addition to the thoughts and feelings of Palmer, the main character. There is no identified narrator and the main character does not tell the story in his own words. By utilizing this style, the author is able to tell the events of Palmer's life, both in the present and in the past, as well as share Palmer's thoughts and emotions. This added dimension of emotional revelation helps to further Palmer's character in a way that a pure narrative would not be able to do. This technique is especially important in the telling of Palmer's story, which is based heavily on the boy's sensitivities and easily wounded feelings.
This book would be a great book for ages 4through 7 and up to read so that they can read to understand how to overcome fears.
Big Question? What makes young people pick on others, call them names, harass them? What is a bully?