To be honest, when I started this book I was not sure I liked it. It seemed very dark and I was rather confused about exactly what was going on. That opinion quickly changed, and I grew to love this book: consequently recommending it to many of my 5th graders!
Right from the very beginning of the book (before the first official page) I was making predictions about the content. Using the cover and the first passage I was able to predict what "wringers" were and that the character speaking would do anything in his power to stay away from being one. Right from the start this passage gave the book a very ominous tone. I could almost feel the impending doom, and felt myself constantly wondering how this story would end up.
I spent much of my time reading focusing on Palmer as a character because he seemed to constantly confuse me. He seemed to have a constant desire to fit in with others, which I was glad he was ultimately able to escape from. He seemed to struggle with his desire to fit in with the boys, but to not be a wringer. I found it to be interesting that after getting "the treatment" he wasn't interested in healing. He also seems to struggle with his relationship with Dorothy; subscribing to the idea of calling her "fish face", but also alluding to the idea that he has a deeper type of relationship with her. He seems to discard her as a friend, but his comments about her and his desire to have her notice him seem to prevail. Palmer also seems to be a very caring and sympathetic character, despite his need to be liked. As a young boy he describes thinking of the wringers as putting the pigeons out of their misery, rather than harming them. He also is wondering why they do not go about this in a different way, realizing that this is rather inhumane. Additionally, his struggles with the entire process involving the pigeons seems to be rather multifaceted. At times he is interested in pretending it does not happen, even though it seems to overtake his life (ie: the smell). However, knowing that because of the pigeons he has the equipment to play on at the park he thanks the pigeons for that ability whenever he goes. His attachment to Nipper once he comes along also continues this idea of Palmer being caring and sympathetic. Despite the fact that he knows he could get in trouble for taking care of Nipper, he also knows he can't leave him in the cold. Ultimately it is Nipper who helps him to abandon the idea of constantly needing to be liked, and fitting in. It is also Nipper that brings him and Dorothy back together. Nipper and Dorothy seem to go together; when Nipper leaves for an extended period of time it is also when Dorothy says hurtful words to Palmer. He seems to associate them both together, and feels additional hurt because of this. I think that when Palmer starts to realize how crazy his relationship with the boys is in when Dorothy makes a very sarcastic comment about all the things they do (p. 120-121). At this point I predicted that Palmer would start to shy away from them, and of course he did. The lengths that Palmer is willing to go to for Nipper are quite incredible, showing that he values friendship and loyalty. He does things that are completely out of character at school, such as spitting on the floor and doing other things to get into trouble. Palmer finally comes to the realization that he does not like who he has become and changes his ways. This is his ultimate testament to Nipper.
This story is an incredible coming of age story that I found to be riveting and fascinating. This is the kind of text that I never would have picked up as a child, but I am so glad I have been given the chance to read it today.
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