The Whipping Boy

By Sid Fleischman

(1986) ISBN 0688062164

In a land far away and a time long ago young princes were punished for their transgressions, punished very severely.  Every blow administered however caused no pain at all to the offending princes.  This was due to the fact that the princes had surrogates for their whippings.

As we arrive on the scene, the prince of the land has again earned a sound thrashing for the whipping boy, Jemmy.  Jemmy, an orphan snatched from the streets for this duty is too proud to utter a cry of pain.  This further infuriates the spiteful prince, known as Prince Brat behind his back.  When Prince Brat forces Jemmy to runaway with him they come across some cut-throat ruffians who look to take advantage of the two runaways.  Together with the resourcefulness of Jemmy, help from some relocated friends and changes that Prince Brat undergoes, fortunes change for Jemmy for the better as we leave this land of far away and long ago.

This book's illustrations do much to carry the story along as well as bring to life the secondary but hilarious and picturesque ruffians, Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater.

For tweens with an interest in the fantasy world of folklore and of”medieval times" this book will provide an alternative an entertaining choice to the overly present graphic novel genre.  For tweens working on making sure they are given a fair shake, like Jemmy, this will be a reassuring read.

1987 Newbery Award winner.