Module 4 | The Whipping Boy

PLOT SUMMARY
Spoiled prince Horace, whose whipping boy Jemmy must bear the brunt of his bad behavior, decides to run away from his pampered existence. Jemmy trails Horace into the "real" world, and the two are quickly confronted by a kooky cast of characters, including two thieving highwaymen, a woman and her dancing bear, and a kindly man with a cartload full of potatoes. Although friendship seems unlikely as the book opens, their adventures outside the castle result in Jemmy and Horace's newfound camaraderie, as well as a lesson or two in rat catching.

MY IMPRESSIONS
The book is slight but charming, especially in the description of its rivalry between the whipping boy and the spoiled prince. It's easy to root for Jemmy, but one of the book's greatest strengths is in the sneaky way it compels the reader to eventually root for the prince as well. The supporting characters are memorably wacky, and the ending is sweet if a bit predictable. The Whipping Boy isn't the most expertly crafted of the Newbery winners, but it's certainly a very entertaining entry.

REVIEWS
"This is a brisk and eventful tale which keeps you wondering, almost to the last episode, as to whether the capricious prince will be humanised or not. It should maintain the interest of children acquiring independence in reading, and an author's note at the end, confirming the authenticity of the whipping boy custom, should generate some passionate discussion."
George Hunt, Books for Keeps, No. 59, November 1989

"With sharp, humorous dialogue and wonderfully swift turns and twists in fortune, this is a splendid, extravagant romp just waiting to entertain young readers around the age of seven."
Jack Ousbey, Carousel: The Guide to Children's Books, No. 38, Spring 2008

"The mistaken identity plot is always a good one: children, even fairly old ones, like disguises and this kind of mix-up."
George Gleason, School Library Journal, May 1, 1986, Vol. 32, No. 9

USES IN THE LIBRARY
This would be an excellent book to use as a tie-in for an arts-and-crafts session, where kids could make everything from a shield and sword (using wrapping paper rolls and poster board) to mock stained glass (using construction paper and plastic). It would also be great for a storytelling session where the basic story is told from memory without the use of the text.

CITATION
Fleischman, Sid (1986). The whipping boy. New York: Greenwillow Books.