Wringer

By: Jerry Spinelli

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he's dreaded the day he turns ten - the day he'll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he'll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn't want to be a wringer. It's one of the first things he learned about himself and it's one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer's town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can't stop himself from being a wringer just like he can't stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can't stand up to a whole town -- right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli's most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid.

©1997 Jerry Spinelli (P)1997 Recorded Books LLC

Decent MG reading

I would say that this was a pretty decent middle grade or elementary read.

It really deals with the idea of peer pressure and how the main character is trying to fit into a group of kids who he knows he doesn’t want to be with but they are popular so he does whatever he needs in order to be a part of the group.

He unfortunately sacrifices his character in order to continue to be a part of this group of friends until he starts to realize perhaps his decisions and their actions are causing more harm than good.

The main point of contention is that the main character is expected to be a Wringer, someone who kills pigeons after they’ve been shot down. He doesn’t want to do this and he never wanted to do this. But there’s a part of him that believes he needs to because of peer pressure and possibly familial expectation.

Through the experience of taking care of his own pigeon, he realizes that perhaps the decisions he has made do not match up with the person he is.

The writing was pretty decent and the story was overall well put together.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing Story

Loved it. A must read for people. It warms my heart that has a sad, happy mix

Horible

Thought it was full thing but was only like two chapters
I HATE IT !

I like everything about this audiobook.

it was the perfect speed and I enjoyed the way the reader read the book. He put enthusiasm into his reading.

very slow reading

What did you like best about Wringer? What did you like least?

I like the narrator's voice and characterization, but he read the story much to slow.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Johnny Heller?

yes

Slow Reading

I played this for my low leveled 5th grade readers as they read along in the book. Th complained often that they could read faster than this guy. They did however like the book.