Helpful Score: 4
This is not a particularly easy book for youngsters to read, because there's quite a bit of old fashioned language which has to be explained. I suppose that's good, but not if your child is constantly stopping asking what a word means, it takes the joy out of reading. Actually there were some words I didn't understand! So it's a challenge for the 8-10 yr old range if that's what you want.
Helpful Score: 3
For kids to get their dose of action and thrills, they need not always go to the local multiplex for the latest bang 'em up film. They could try such books as The Whipping Boy, which relies not on exploding spaceships and demonic robots but mythic story, humorous characters and, ready or not, a moral. The plot involves the orphan Jemmy, who must take the whippings for the royal heir, Prince Brat. Jemmy plans to flee this arrangement until Prince Brat beats him to it, and takes Jemmy along. Jemmy then hears he's charged with the Prince's abduction as this Newbery Medal winning book turns toward a surprising close
Helpful Score: 3
A beautiful story, both historically accurate and exciting. May be a little dry for some kids, but the sly humour is perfect for others.
Helpful Score: 2
top notch story - fun to read aloud with the different dialects.
Helpful Score: 2
I read this book to my students (4th - 5th grade) every year and they always want more!
A great quick read.
A great quick read.
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting story - full of fun, adventure, and intrigue. A good book for learning to look at problems from more than your side.
Helpful Score: 1
Jemmy is a boy off the streets who is Prince Horace's "whipping boy" of course since Horace is royalty he cannot be spanked so Jemmy is whipped instead. When Horace runs away he takes Jemmy with him. They are caught by two thieving cutthroats, Jemmy and Prince Horace must flee from the kidnappers.
Jemmy bears the punishments of Prince Brat, as princes cannot be smacked, whacked, or thrashed in any way. The two boys have nothing in common-they don't even like each other too much-but when they're both taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.
Ages 9-12 or so.
Ages 9-12 or so.
Good, quick read.
Nice, short chapters for any reluctant chapter readers in 3rd or 4th grades. (Or maybe training for James Paterson novels?)
Fun book for emergent readers! Listed as a Sonlight reader.
Prince Horace is so naughty that everyone calls him Prince Brat. But the prince is not allowed to be spanked. So an orphan boy named Jemmy is taken from the streets to be the prince's whipping boy.
When Prince Brat decides to run away, he takes Jemmy with him. The boys begin a wild adventure that lands them in the clutches of two theiving cutthroats! Can Jemmy use his street smarts to outwit his kidnappers and free himself and the prince?
When Prince Brat decides to run away, he takes Jemmy with him. The boys begin a wild adventure that lands them in the clutches of two theiving cutthroats! Can Jemmy use his street smarts to outwit his kidnappers and free himself and the prince?
Classic book. 1987 John Newbery Medal winner.
He is known throughout the land as Prince Brat--a name he justly deserves. But in his kingdom, it is forbidden to spank the heir to the throne. So an orphan named Jemmy is plucked from the streets to serve as his whipping boy.
Jemmy dreams of running away; the prince has the same idea. Together the two begin an adventure that is to change both their lives forever.
Jemmy dreams of running away; the prince has the same idea. Together the two begin an adventure that is to change both their lives forever.
