The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman Date of Publication: 1987 ISBN: 0-8167-0138-4 Number of Pages: 89

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: High Intermediate: Average
GENRES: Adventure
THEMES : Loyalty – Appearance versus Reality – Good versus Evil – Coming of Age

SUMMARY:
Every time the spoiled, bratty prince gets into trouble, his “whipping boy,” Jemmy, receives the prince’s punishment. They are dramatically different and have great disdain for each other. Always looking for fun and adventure (and with much too much time on his hands), “Prince Brat” decides one day to run over the castle wall and away. Knowing he will be punished if he stays, the whipping boy follows him. Both boys end up experiencing an adventure that pits them against boorish kidnappers, rats, bears, and other dangers – and ends up drawing them into a lifelong friendship.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes gore
- enjoys “boy humour”
- is interested in mock medieval times
- likes the idea of someone else paying for his or her crimes
- enjoys stories with humour woven into them

WHAT ELSE?
The Whipping Boy won the Newbery Medal in 1987.

RELATED LINK:
You can learn more about Sid at his website, www.sidfleischman.com .
For some teaching ideas, check out www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/whippingboy.htm and
www.webenglishteacher.com/sfleischman.html