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
July 15,2025
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This was a short and truly amusing medieval tale. It presented several characters that were quite entertaining, although I felt they could have been more developed. There were clear traces of "The Prince and the Pauper" within the story, which added an interesting layer. Additionally, it was filled with many interesting medieval staples. For instance, there were sewer rats scurrying about, a dancing bear that surely brought some light-hearted moments, the pungent smell of garlic in the air, and lively festivals that added to the vibrant atmosphere.

Moreover, I must mention that I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations by Peter Sis. His artistic style brought the story to life in a unique way. Each illustration seemed to capture the essence of the medieval setting and the characters, enhancing the overall reading experience. The combination of the engaging text and the beautiful illustrations made this a truly enjoyable read.

Overall, despite its brevity and the slightly underdeveloped characters, this medieval tale had a lot to offer. It was a charming and entertaining piece that took me on a journey back in time to a world full of interesting and unique elements.
July 15,2025
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I absolutely adored this book when I was a kid. It was like a magical portal that transported me to different worlds and introduced me to a plethora of interesting characters. The stories within its pages had the power to captivate my imagination and keep me engaged for hours on end.


Even today, as an adult, my love for this book has not waned. It holds a special place in my heart and is a source of comfort and nostalgia. Whenever I pick it up, I am instantly taken back to those carefree days of my childhood.


The charm and appeal of this book are truly timeless. Its themes and messages are still relevant and resonate with me on a deep level. It is a literary gem that I will continue to cherish for a lifetime.

July 15,2025
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We all loved this larger than life read aloud.

It was truly an extraordinary experience that captured the hearts and imaginations of everyone present. The words seemed to come alive, leaping off the page and into our minds, painting vivid pictures and creating a world that we could all lose ourselves in.

The reader's voice added an extra layer of magic, bringing the characters to life and making us feel as if we were right there with them, sharing in their adventures and emotions.

This read aloud was not just a simple story, but a journey that took us to places we had never been before and introduced us to people we would never forget. It was a reminder of the power of words and the joy that can be found in a good book.

We will always cherish this memory and look forward to many more read alouds like it in the future.
July 15,2025
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In this remarkable 1987 Newberry Medal award-winning book, Prince Brat enjoys a charmed existence within the walls of the castle. He has no need to conduct himself properly as he has Jeremy, his lower-class whipping boy, to bear the brunt of punishment for his rude, insolent, and nasty behavior.

Jeremy, on the other hand, longs for the simplicity of his previous life as a rat catcher in the sewer. He dreams of living in the dark tunnels, far away from the sharp cracks of the whip that sting and cut. Unexpectedly, an opportunity to flee presents itself, but it is Prince Horace who is behind the instigation of the escape.

In a twist reminiscent of "A Prince and the Pauper," Prince Horace is now stripped of his lofty status, and Jeremy is mistaken for the prince when they are captured by the fearsome "Hold-Your-Noise Billy" and "Cutwater." These two ogre-like characters pursue Prince Brat and Jeremy across the countryside, where they encounter Betsy and Petunia the dancing bear.

True to the fashion of a fairy tale, there is a happy ending. The prince is humbled and emerges as a better person, having learned valuable lessons along the way.
July 15,2025
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I vividly remembered this story from my childhood, yet most of the details had slipped my mind. However, after reading it once more, I finally understood why it had left such an impression on me!

I was completely charmed by the clever turns of phrase, which added a unique flavor to the narrative. The wacky adventures were truly captivating, taking me on a thrilling journey. And the eventual unlikely friendship that developed was both heartwarming and unexpected.

Interestingly, it took quite a long time for the story to start unfolding and for the characters to develop. Prince Brat, as his name suggests, lived up to his reputation for a significantly longer period than anticipated. But this made the transition even more remarkable and satisfying when it finally began. :)

The content of the story included one mention of Hell as a place, a few uses of "blazes" and some invented expressions. There were also mentions of cursing, references to executions, and descriptions of boys being whipped, which added an element of excitement and danger to the plot.
July 15,2025
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Allison was indeed right. The experience was truly bland.
July 15,2025
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I thought this book was an outstanding means to impart a lesson via adventure.

Throughout the entire book, one can truly witness the main characters evolving in numerous diverse ways. For instance, their perspectives towards each other, what holds significance for them, and their genuine personalities all undergo changes.

This book serves as an excellent medium to demonstrate to children that prior to passing judgment on someone, one must sometimes put oneself in their position because you are unaware of what they are experiencing.

I truly relished the illustrations in the book. At times, the text was formulated in a manner that made it challenging to fully comprehend what was precisely happening, but the pictures elucidated the scene.

I really came to adore the prince's character as the book progressed. His growth, even within a relatively short period, was remarkable. And I admire the patience of Jemmy the whipping boy. For the majority of the book, the prince's character was rather difficult to get along with, yet Jemmy endured.

Overall, this book is not only an exciting adventure but also a valuable teaching tool.
July 15,2025
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I vividly remember my mom reading this story to us when we were young. To be honest, it's just okay for me; not exactly a favorite. Even after a second read, my opinion remains the same. However, I can understand that some people might have a different take and actually like it.

When it comes to cleanliness, there are a few things to note. In the story, there are children using bad words. There are mild obscenities and substitutions like "Blast him" and "what the blazes" which occur 2 times. Name calling is quite prevalent with 21 incidents. Phrases like "Your Royal Awfulness", "rascal", "Grand Turnip of China", "dim-witted", "royal tadpole", "numskulls", "Catchpenny rogues", "curs", "cloven-footed blockheads", "donkeys", "greedy little snipe", "nitwits", "dunce", "blabber-tongued hateful prince", "scurvy rascals", "simpletons", "little toad", "scurvy riffraff" are used. "Prince Brat" is used several times throughout the book. There are also 3 incidents of religious profanity with words like "Lawks" and "Gaw" being used a number of times.

In terms of attitudes and disobedience, there is 1 incident where the Prince plays mean tricks and doesn't care that another boy gets spanked for his bad behavior. But he does change later. There is also 1 incident where beer is mentioned in the conversation topics.

The parent takeaway from this book is that the Prince, who is aptly called Prince Brat, plays all sorts of mean tricks and is unconcerned when his whipping boy takes the lashes for him. However, when the Prince runs away and the Whipping Boy accompanies him, they encounter bandits and have adventures that change their hearts and make them kinder to each other.

If you like my reviews, then you should definitely follow me! I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, highlighting any objectionable content I come across. This way, parents and conscientious readers like me can decide in advance whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises can be extremely annoying, especially when you're already 100+ pages into a book. So, here's my attempt to help you avoid that!

So, follow or friend me here on GoodReads! You'll see my updates as I'm reading and know which books I'm liking, what I'm not finishing, and the reasons behind it. You'll also be able to utilize my library to look up titles and see if the book you're thinking about reading next has any objectionable content. From swear words to romance to bad attitudes in children's books, I cover it all!
July 15,2025
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This was an extremely enjoyable little book.

It was also a quick read, which was quite nice. I somewhat wish that the story had been a bit longer than just 90 pages. However, Fleischman still did an excellent job of covering everything comprehensively.

Surprisingly, it didn't give the impression of being too short at all. I really liked the characters in the book. Jemmy's cleverness was particularly endearing.

And, much to my own surprise, I also found myself liking Prince Brat. Haha.

The way the author developed the characters and the plot made this a truly engaging read.

Despite its brevity, it managed to leave a lasting impression on me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and light-hearted read.

It's a great choice for those who don't have a lot of time but still want to enjoy a good story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this little gem of a book.
July 15,2025
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A reading material from my fifth grade childhood that I still vividly remember liking a lot. It holds a special place in my heart as it was not only interesting but also provided great joy when I shared it with my children during our family read-aloud sessions. The story was filled with engaging characters and exciting plot twists that kept us all on the edge of our seats. As we read aloud together, we could feel the connection growing stronger among us. It was a wonderful experience to see my children's faces light up with excitement and curiosity. This childhood reading has truly become a precious memory that I will always cherish and pass on to future generations.

July 15,2025
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The original article seems to be rather short and lacking in specific content. Here is an expanded and rewritten version for you:

**"Really Good"**

In our daily lives, we often come across things that we describe as "really good."

It could be a delicious meal that tantalizes our taste buds, leaving us craving more.

Or perhaps it's a beautiful piece of art that catches our eye and fills us with a sense of wonder and admiration.

A really good book can transport us to different worlds, making us forget about the real one for a while.

Even a simple act of kindness from a stranger can make our day and be considered really good.

These moments of "really good" add color and joy to our lives, making us appreciate the little things.

They remind us that there is still so much goodness in the world, waiting to be discovered and cherished.

Whether it's a big event or a small gesture, when we experience something really good, it has the power to make us smile and feel truly happy.

So, let's keep our eyes and hearts open for those really good things and hold onto the memories they create.

July 15,2025
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I so vividly remember reading this book during my childhood, and I had a relatively favorable impression of it. Recently, I decided to pick it up once more and read it aloud to my class of eighth graders. Admittedly, it was below their reading level, but I thought it would be a "quick" and engaging activity for them. However, as I started reading, I was completely taken aback by how different the language was and how odd the storytelling seemed.

This is the tale of Jemmy, the whipping boy, and Prince Brat (Horace), the prince. Their story unfolds as they embark on a journey filled with adventures and troubles after running away from the castle. Along the way, they encounter a variety of colorful characters and learn valuable lessons that they impart to the readers as the story progresses.
I have chosen to rate this book two stars. The main reason is that I am unsure how much my students truly gained from it. At times, the language was quite challenging for them to understand. Phrases like Jemmy's frequent use of "gaw" and the villain's regular exclamation of "faw," as well as expressions such as "contrary as a mule," might have caused my students to tune out rather than tune in.
Nevertheless, this story is a classic. It even won the Newbery Medal back in 1987. And, on occasion, it does manage to elicit a few chuckles.

Despite its flaws, it still holds a certain charm that can be appreciated by readers of all ages.
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