A terrible choice between friendship and fear . . .
Palmer is desperate to be accepted by Beans and Mutto and the rest of the gang, but he doesn't want to be a wringer. For as long as he can remember, he's dreaded the day he turns ten, the day he's supposed to become a wringer and finish off the pigeons that get shot and wounded on the town's pigeon-shooting day.
Palmer thinks that becoming a wringer is something he just can't stop . . . until the day a visitor shows up at his window. Somehow he must find a way to break the tradition. He must learn to stop being afraid, and stand up for what he believes in.
Winner of the Newberry Medal