# The Whipping Boy

**Author:** Sid Fleischman
**Grade range:** Grades 3–7
**Age range:** 8–12
**First published:** 1986
**Page count:** 96
**Genre:** Middle Grade Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9781439547618`
**ISBN-10:** `0688062164`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-whipping-boy
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Sid Fleischman's 1987 Newbery Medal winner pairs Jemmy, an orphan kept at court to be whipped in the spoiled Prince Brat's place, with the prince himself when the two are mistaken for each other and seized by outlaws. Forced to depend on each other to survive, the boys' adventure upends who is really the master and who the servant.

## Themes

- friendship
- adventure
- courage

## Where this book is assigned

### Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)

### Hawai'i Nēnē Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)

### Newbery Medal

- **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1987 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1987 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1987 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1987 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1987 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)

### Wisconsin Golden Archer Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html)

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