The Whipping Boy
 First edition cover of The Whipping Boy | |
| Author | Sid Fleischman |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Peter Sis |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Greenwillow Books |
Publication date | April 1986 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 89 |
| ISBN | 0-688-06216-4 |
| OCLC | 12421157 |
| LC Class | PZ7.F5992 Wh 1986 |
The Whipping Boy is a Newbery medal-winning children's book by Sid Fleischman, published in 1987.
Plot summary
Prince Horace can be spoiled and, craving attention from his father, he frequently misbehaves—to the point he is nicknamed "Prince Brat." Since he is a prince, no one may raise a hand against him. Therefore, his family provides him with a whipping boy, Jemmy, an orphaned boy who will be punished in the prince's stead. Though he has learned to read, write and do mathematics while living in the castle, Jemmy is beaten several times a day and longs for the freedom he had on the streets. When the prince decides to run away on a whim he demands that Jemmy act as his servant during his journey. While on the run, the boys are picked up by two notorious highwaymen, Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater, who hatch a scheme to ransom the prince. Jemmy talks them into believing that he is the prince, and sets into motion a plan of escape. The prince misunderstands Jemmy's intentions and betrays him. Even so, the boys escape. They come across a girl searching for her lost dancing bear and she directs them to the river where they find a kind man with a wagon full of potatoes. The boys help the man get his wagon from the mud, and in return the potato man gives the boys, the girl, and the bear a lift to the fair, but they are soon intercepted by the highwaymen. Still believing Jemmy is the prince, and believing it to be a crime worse than murder to beat the prince, they beat Horace instead.
The dancing bear scares the highwaymen away, and everyone arrives at the fair. The girl earns a few coins with her bear, the potato man boils the potatoes and sells them and the boys head down to the sewer to catch some rats. On their way, they hear some people talking about the missing prince. One woman makes a remark about how much worse things will be when the prince becomes king. The prince's feelings are hurt very deeply, but he does not show his emotions. When the boys learn that the king has posted a reward for the whipping boy, they go into the sewers where they see the highwaymen. They trick the highwaymen into the most dangerous sewer, where rats attack them, the prince decides that he wants to finally go home. When they return to the potato man, Horace reveals himself as a prince and suggests that the potato man collect the reward for the whipping boy. When the prince explains the entire escapade to the king, Jemmy is pardoned, and the two boys live in the palace as the best of friends. The highwaymen eventually escape the sewers but make the mistake of stowing away on a convict ship heading to a prison island.
Characters
- Jemmy – the whipping boy, formerly self-employed as a rat catcher. Sometimes thinks of Prince Brat as a friend.
- Prince Horace – heir to the throne, also known as Prince Brat. Prankster; runs away with Jemmy
- Hold-Your-Nose-Billy – notorious highwayman who stinks like garlic. He and Cutwater stow away on a ship which turns out to be heading to a prison, concluding the book.
- Cutwater – highwayman and partner of Hold-Your-Nose Billy.
- Betsy –a fourteen-year-old girl with a dancing bear named Petunia.
- Captain Nips – a near-sighted old man who sells potatoes.
- Ol' Johnny Tosher – Jemmy's father's friend. Wears a candle on his cap.
- Smudge – Jemmy's friend who has a dog to fight weak rats.
- King – The king-Prince brat's father. At the end of the book, is shown to have a sense of humor.
- Petunia – Betsy's dancing grizzly bear. She is considered cute and cuddly.
- Milk Lady – a cow milker who reveals Prince Horace's "nickname" as well as a rumor about him.
Adaptations
Fleischman's book was adapted in the 1994 television film The Whipping Boy (released in the United States as Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy), starring George C. Scott [1] and directed by Sydney Macartney. Sid Fleischman wrote the teleplay and the film won the CableACE Award that year.[1]
Awards and nominations
The Whipping Boy won the Newbery Medal in 1987.
See also
References
- 1 2 "The Whipping Boy". IMDb.com Inc. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
External links
 |
Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Whipping Boy |
- Movie review, New York Times, September 1995
- A summary of the book
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sarah, Plain and Tall |
Newbery Medal recipient 1987 |
Succeeded by Lincoln: A Photobiography |