Genre 5: Historical Fiction

Bibliography

Fleischman, Sid. 1986. The Whipping Boy. Ill by Peter Sis. ISBN 0-688-06216-4

Plot Summary

Sid Fleischman's book, The Whipping Boy, is a tale of two boys, Jemmy and Prince Brat. Jemmy is a commoner who has been taken from the streets in order to take the whippings for Prince Brat. The bratty Prince is very mischevious and Jemmy finds himself constantly taking the punishment for Prince Brat because he is always in trouble. Another reason Jemmy has to take the whippings instead of the prince is because it is against customs that royalty is physically disciplined. Despite being adversaries, both boys realize that the other could be the key to them escaping the castle, even if Prince Brat presented the escape plan as an order to Jemmy. They runaway, however their journey isn't without danger. The boys quickly face two kidnappers who want a ransom for the return of the prince. Although the prince has been nothing but cruel to him, Jemmy tries to switch identities with the brat so that the prince would be able to safely return to the castle. Surprisingly, Prince Brat refuses to go back and Jemmy decides to try and escape the kidnappers. With no where else to go, the prince follows the whipping boy and they end up at a fair. Unfortunately, they are face to face with the kidnappers again. To get away from the kidnappers, Hold-Your Nose Billy and Cutwatter, the boys find refuge in the sewers that were once the dark, dirty place where Jemmy was a rat catcher. Because he is familiar with the infested sewers, Jemmy tricks the kidnappers into going in the tunnels that were filled with deadly rats. It is then that Jemmy and Prince are able to get away. When they return to the castle, their roles have changed. Yes the prince is still the prince, but he is no longer the bratty Prince and what's even better, Jemmy is no longer the whipping boy.

Critical Analysis

Sid Fleischman makes this book a fun, suspenseful story. It is likely to keep the reader's attention because it is adventurous and humorous, 2 characteristics that readers appreciate in books today. When Jemmy says "Gaw! What's the prince done now?" many readers may think back to the days when they are summoned by their parents because of their wrongdoings. Some readers may also choose to live vicariously through Jemmy and Prince Brat. First, many children vividly imagine life away from home and doing only things that they want to do. Second, Jemmy may have been the whipping boy in the beginning of the book, but he saves Prince Brat and is looked up to in the end. "Prince Horace has caused enough mischief to wear out the hides of a dozen whipping boys. He tells me it's thanks to you that he's back, sound and safe. The king thanks you!" So children can live in the dream world of Jemmy and the prince and be a hero too. At this point, both Jemmy and the reader can have a sigh of relief. The author offered comic relief throughout the book and one of the most memorable example of his funny lines is when the king said, "One more thing! If you boys decided to run away again, take me with you!" The boy's escape, have a twisting and turning adventure, and return home seemed very appealing to the king and definitely to the readers of The Whipping Boy. This book clearly earned the Newbery Award in 1987.

Theme

People's position in society often defines who they are to the outside world. In The Whipping Boy, we read about the theme of power and the lack thereof. Jemmy is the son of a rat catcher who lives in poverty and endures beatings for Prince Brat and the prince lives in royalty and is never punished for his wrongdoings. However, Jemmy's social class does not stop him from exhibiting power even when Prince Brat tells him to "Yelp and bellow next time. Hear? Or I'll tell Papa to give you back your rags and kick you back into the streets." These words were spit at Jemmy because he did not cry after being whipped. This is an example of how the underprivileged is sometimes treated by the upper class. Jemmy endured this wrath for a year but the author describes Jemmy as being of better character because "The whipping boy learned to read, write, and do sums, and the prince learned nothing."

Characters

There were many notable characters in the book, but I think the 2 highway men were among the better ones. When describing the 2 villains, Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater, Fleischman's good use of simile lets the reader know that these two will literally be characters. He says that Billy is "big and raw as a skinned ox," and Cutwater's "cheek swelled out as if he had a monstrous toothache." The mental images of these 2 characters allow us to see the sillyness and outrageousness that are seen in many whimsical books such as this one. Furthermore, villains are usually portrayed as clever and capable of outsmarting their victims. However, in The Whipping Boy, the author shows us that reader's assumptions can prove to be ironic to what will truly occur. Billy told Jemmy to write in the ransom note that he and Cutwater were "shameful, mean and rough as a sackful of nails. Warn him we fear no gallows." This highway man was saying these supposedly scarey words not even realizing that he and his partner had been tricked into thinking that Jemmy was actually the prince. These bad guys turn out to be 2 dumb, empty headed "wanna-be" scoundrels.

The illustrations by Peter Sis offer the reader a black and white account of the happenings in the story. There aren't very many pictures in the book, but the ones presented give a good description of the characters and their surroundings. One may agree that the most vivid picture is the one of Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater running through the sewer while rats are eating them alive. This gross depiction is enough to make the reader's skin crawl! Both Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater went flying through the tunnel yelling, "I'm bit! I'm bit!...Help!" The prince also found this funny and said that, "They look like they're wearing fur coats."

Review Excerpts

John Newbery Award, 1987
Notable Book, Americal Library Association
Best Books, School Library Journal

Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: "With his flair for persuading the reader to believe in the ridiculous, Fleischman scores a hit with his new creation."
Starred review in School Library Journal: "Full page black-and-white illustrations somewhat grotesque but always complementary add attractiveness to the story."

Connections

This book is good to share with students who enjoy whimisical tales. It is also a good example to encourage students to use their imaginations.

*Gather other whimsical stories:
Brittain, Bill. The Wish Giver. ISBN 9780064401685
Fleischman, Sid. The Midnight Horse. ISBN 9780440406143

*Further Reading:
Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. ISBN

*Additional activities/assignments for students in reference to The Whipping Boy:

1. Compare Jemmy back then to that of what a run-away boy would be like on the streets today.

2. Give examples of humor in this story. Why do you think these lines are humorous?

3. After reading this book, what do you think the author's opinion of "social class" is?