The Whipping Boy

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a humorous fiction story that most closely falls into the fantasy genre. The story is one of a prince and a pauper theme. Jemmy, the whipping boy for the prince, has had enough of taking all the whacks every time the prince gets bored and comes up with a mischievious idea. Jemmy has learned to read and write while the prince has ignored his studies. Even for this Jemmy takes the abuse instead of dishonoring the Prince. Before Jemmy can get away, the prince comes one night and orders him to leave with him to go see the world. The boys meet two ruffians that try to collect a ransom for the prince but they are not sure which boy is the prince. The boys also meet a girl with a dancing bear and a hot potato salesman while on their adventure in the real world. The prince gradually is becoming a decent person especially after learning that the townspeople call him Prince Brat and worry about the day that he takes the throne.



This would be a good book for a read-aloud in fourth or fifth grade. The chapters are short for short attention spans. I also really liked the chapter titles, very humorous. As the 1987 Newbery winner I expected more. Looking at the other titles that were Newbery contenders that year I am surprised that this book was able to win. On My Honor by Marion Bauer would have been my pick over this one for that year.



A teaching extension would be for the students to write about other possible troublemaking scemes that Prince Brat could do around the castle.



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