Palmer LaRue first visit to the Annual Family Fest was when he was four and he discovered that on Pigeon Day, shooters would let out five thousand pigeons and kill them. Then, whichever birds were still alive, the wringers would come in and twist their necks releasing them form their misery… Or at least that was what he was told. Ever since his second visit, Palmer was scared to turn ten, he dreaded becoming a wringer. Many months before his tenth birthday, Palmer hears a tapping on his window, discovering that it was a pigeon. Knowing that his father was a pigeon shooter, Palmer tried to shoo it away, but somehow he ended up taking care of it and as time passed, he ended up loving it. Nipper [the pigeon. Palmer decided to call it that because he nips at everything] is a ordinary pigeon with eight colors on it’s body and one day, Palmer’s friends figure out that he has a pigeon. He became friends with his neighbor, Dorothy, (again. Before he was in a gang so he bullied her and she ignored him) and because of his life being endangered she starts to avoid him. After Palmer breaks up with his friends, he trusts Dorothy with all his heart and they both began to discover many ways to save Nipper. Together they set Nipper free in the city so he won’t be in danger, so that nobody can hurt him. The next few days finally became Pigeon Day and Palmer decided to come after all. There were many rare birds that lived, but there was specifically special one. It flew in circles and lowered to the ground even though it was targeted and almost killed. Could it be? Palmer wondered. This was one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. I’d like to recommend this book to boys, but I also think girls should read this to understand the sensitivity and stupidity in a boy’s heart. This story may be fiction, but the Family Fest and Pigeon Day events do exist. Please Enjoy!

Kelly H.