Jerry Spinelli handles the touchy subject of peer pressure in his novel, Wringer. Most boys look forward to their tenth birthday. For Palmer LaRue, just thinking about turning ten makes his stomach hurt. In his town of Waymer, a peculiar rite of passage marks a boy’s tenth birthday and Palmer wants no part of it. Peer pressure silences Palmer, but the calendar keeps turning and his birthday is coming. Join Palmer in his struggle to stand his ground and to follow his heart.