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The Whipping Boy

sid fleischman

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Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.

0 pages, Audio CD

First published April 14,1986
Literary awards
newbery medal, nene award, vermont golden dome book award, charlie may simon childrens book award, 

This edition

Format
0 pages, Audio CD
Published
January 1, 1993 by Recorded Books, LLC
ISBN
9780788734571
ASIN
0788734571
Language
English

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About the author

Profile Image for sid fleischman

sid fleischman

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As a children's book author Sid Fleischman felt a special obligation to his readers. "The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the author must deliver his or her best work." With almost 60 books to his credit, some of which have been made into motion pictures, Sid Fleischman can be assured that his work will make a special impact.

Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.

He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
32(32%)
4 stars
28(28%)
3 stars
40(40%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Sanctuary_7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I've been indulging in reading such long and hefty books lately that when I came across something short, it was truly a breath of fresh air.

This particular piece of writing offers both entertainment and a touch of classic storytelling.

The brevity of it doesn't sacrifice the quality or the ability to engage the reader.

In fact, it manages to pack a punch within its concise pages, leaving a lasting impression.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked from the very beginning until the end.

It's a wonderful escape from the long tomes that I've been accustomed to, and it reminds me that sometimes, less is truly more when it comes to the art of storytelling.

I highly recommend this short read to anyone who is looking for a quick and enjoyable literary experience.

It's a gem that shines bright in the world of literature.

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Dundeee
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The Whipping Boy is a piece of young adult fiction that managed to earn a Newberry Award. However, I find myself rather puzzled as to why.

To be fair, it does have some vivid descriptions and makes use of certain good literary devices. But when it comes to the storyline, it is far from being original. It seems to follow a rather predictable path that I have seen before in many other works.

Moreover, the character development in The Whipping Boy is quite trite. The characters lack depth and fail to truly engage the reader on a deeper level.

If one is simply looking for a fun and easy read that touches on the themes of friendship and overcoming prejudice, then perhaps they may find some enjoyment in this book. But in my opinion, The Whipping Boy does not stand out as an outstanding choice among children's novels. There are many other books out there that offer more engaging storylines, more complex characters, and a more profound exploration of important themes.
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catlaxlao
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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While this book does paint a good picture of the time period and contain adventure, the language was difficult to read, especially for young readers.

It seems that the author might have used some archaic or complex words and sentence structures that made it a bit of a struggle for my kids to get through.

My kids and I just didn't enjoy it very much. We were looking forward to an exciting and engaging story, but unfortunately, the language barrier got in the way.

Perhaps if the book had been written in a more accessible language, it would have been a different story.

Nonetheless, it does have its merits in terms of depicting the historical context and providing some adventurous情节.

However, for young readers who are still developing their reading skills, it might not be the best choice.

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giascle
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is a truly dreadful book that I was unfortunately compelled to read during my fifth grade. I was grouped with a bunch of other kids, all of us being made to read this wretched piece of fiction against our will. It was so abysmally bad that I managed to convince my teacher to transfer me to another group. I naively thought it would be an improvement, but to my dismay, everyone else in that new group was far ahead of me and seemed to understand a great deal of it. The book was called "The Westing Game" and was written by some individual who clearly had no clue about writing. It felt like it would take me an eternity to catch up with the other kids. Alas, I never did, and as a result, I was placed back in the Whipping Boy's group. However, by that time, the kids in that group had already finished reading it.

I was astonished that they had managed to do so because the book was excruciatingly boring. It centered around an extremely irritating, spoiled, and bratty prince who resided in some castle. He despised his life there for reasons that were neither clear nor particularly interesting. So, he decides to run away, and the Whipping Boy, who endures all of the dumb prince's punishments, sets off after him. Soon enough, he finds Prince Twit and devises a plan to take him back to the kingdom. But then, some big hairy man and his equally dim-witted friend show up to kidnap them. They haul the Whipping Boy and the prince off to their barn and pen a ransom note. Miraculously, the two kids manage to escape and make their way to the fair, where they encounter a kid with a flute who has the ability to summon an entire horde of rats to trample some poor sap. Speaking of saps, the hairy man and his pal attempt to recapture them once more. So, the piccolo player, the prince, and the Whipping Boy seek refuge in the sewers. The kidnappers pursue them, but the flute-playing friend saves the day by playing his instrument, causing thousands of rats to descend and drive the two idiots away. Finally, the Whipping Boy and the obnoxious Prince make their way back to the castle, and after learning the meaning of friendship, they live happily ever after. Oh, and just for good measure, a bear shows up and wrestles the big hairy guy sometime before the end.

In conclusion, this is a truly terrible book as it has a miserable plot that lacks any real climax.

It fails to engage the reader and leaves one feeling thoroughly disappointed.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially not to fifth graders who deserve better literary experiences.

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steve123726
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I really enjoyed this quick read!

Recently, I made a decision to set the goal of reading all the Newbery Award winning books.

With this in mind, I went to the library and picked up a couple of them.

This particular book was a lot of fun to read.

I have a feeling that the kids would really enjoy it too.

The story was engaging and full of interesting characters and plot twists.

It was a great way to spend some time and escape into a different world.

I'm looking forward to reading more of the Newbery Award winning books and seeing what other wonderful stories they have to offer.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun and easy read.

Whether you're a kid or an adult, you're sure to enjoy it.
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verochka212
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Memory lane is indeed a fascinating place to explore.

From time to time, I enjoy going back to the books I read in the past. I wonder how much I can recall and if the aspects that I adored then still hold true today. This particular read was one of my strange loves. I was a bit perplexed by it as it didn't revolve around animals, which was my main focus during that specific period of my life.

However, after pondering over it for a few days, I believe I have finally grasped the connection. I think this book was read around the same time I got acquainted with two other mischievous boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Maybe I had an interest in boys and their adventures, or perhaps the girl adventure books were not as readily available (if they even existed at all).

Now I'm wondering if there were any such books. Laura Ingalls Wilder's works would definitely count (at least in my opinion), but who else? Hmm...

ANYWAY, after this old lady's rereview, I still consider this a great book. So, it shall remain on my favorite shelf.
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Rylston
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Newberry.

If I had the option, I would rate it two and a half. This book is truly strange. It's almost as if it were something that Mel Brooks might have written when he was a child.

The story takes unexpected turns and the characters are quite unique. There are elements that are both humorous and a bit absurd.

It's not your typical read, but it does have a certain charm. However, it also has its flaws. Some parts feel a bit disjointed and the pacing could be improved.

Overall, it's an interesting book that might appeal to those who enjoy something out of the ordinary. But it's not without its drawbacks.
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Kelly97
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I read aloud with my 9-year-old. The book had short and easy chapters that he could have read by himself without much difficulty. However, we really enjoyed having discussions about the various themes that the book presented.

Themes such as selfishness, spoiledness, poverty, and growth were explored in the story. It was a great opportunity for us to talk about these important concepts and how they relate to our lives.

Through the discussions, my son was able to gain a better understanding of the characters' actions and motivations. He also learned valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of helping others.

Reading aloud with my 9-year-old not only strengthened our bond but also provided a platform for meaningful conversations about important life lessons. It was a truly enjoyable and educational experience for both of us.
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