Book Summary
Written by Sid Fleishman and illustrated by Peter Sis, The Whipping Boy is a great, fast-moving read. Jemmy was once a rat-catcher, until he was chosen to become Prince Brat's "whipping boy." The whipping boy received any physical punishment meant for the Prince. The Prince, of course, was too precious to damage. Prince Brat never listens to his tutor, but Jemmy does and learns to read and write. When the prince decides to runaway, Jeremy figures he better go with him because he will be beaten terribly if he stays. On their little adventure, there is a case of mistaken identify, kidnapping, a dancing bear, and a lot of quick thinking on Jeremy's part. Prince Brat learns his lesson and accepts Jemmy as his equal.
My Impressions
Like my students, I fell in love with this book. No one could believe there actually was a "whipping boy" and everyone wanted one. I admit it would be nice if there was someone behind me who could take the consequences of all my mistakes. I liked Jemmy's quick wit, proof that you don't have to be wealthy to be intelligent. The Prince really was a brat, but I appreciated his coming through in the end and helping defeat the kidnappers. Another reason I like it is that it is such a fast read. Every page moves so fast that you hardly have time to catch your breath.
Professional Review
Liang, L. and Graves, B. (2006). The whipping boy. Book Links, 15(3), 51-52.
When Prince Brat runs away, Jemmy, his whipping boy, uses his street smarts to save the prince from would-be kidnappers and along the way teaches the royal heir about life and friendship. The language and vocabulary in this Newbery Medal-award winning novel transport the reader to another time and place and create in the mind's eye very believable and unforgettable characters involved in a fast-paced plot.
Library Uses
1. Create a play using a particular great scene from the book, i.e. in the kidnapper's hideout or the great chase scene in the sewers. Have students perform for a class.
2. After sharing the above, have students create banners for their castle.
MacLachlan, P. (1985). Sarah, Plain and Tall. NY: HarperCollins.
Book Summary
Sarah is a mail order bride who describes herself as "plain and tall." She comes to be a mother to Caleb and Anna and a wife to Papa, maybe. Although she promises to stay a month, none of the family wants her to go. They know how much she loves her old home in Maine, and the prairie is very different. Sarah endears herself to the family by singing some old songs and teaching the children to swim. Papa is shy with her, but he is attracted to her, too. Fulfilling all their wishes, Sarah stays to marry Papa and be a Mama to Caleb and Anna.
My Impressions
This was one of the first books my daughter and I read together when she could actually read. Sarah makes a perfect mother--she teaches the children and laughs with them. She takes care of their needs by baking, cutting, and braiding hair. I appreciated the image of an independent woman who could repair a roof and a tender-hearted woman who named her chickens (who were not about to be eaten). Of course, the Hallmark television shows made the book more popular. Glen Close, as tiny as she is, became tall for this film. Christopher Walken, who sometimes takes odd roles, was perfect as Papa. From living on the prairie in Kansas, I know it is not an easy life, even now. Sarah reminds me of another woman, Abbie, who came to live on the prairie in the book A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich. The book has a poem by Joyce Kilmer that applies to Sarah and Abbie:
Because the road was steep and long,
And through a dark and lonely land,
God set upon my lips a song,
And put a lantern in my hand.
Sarah becomes the song and the lantern for a family who have lived in sadness and shadows for too long.
Professional Review
Jones, Trev. (1985) Sarah, plain and tall. School Library Journal, 31(9), 92-93.
A book that is filled with wisdom, gentle humor and the practical concerns necessary for a satisfying life. Terse writing and poetic rhythm flow to create a tender story about the fragile beginnings of a family relationship on its way to permanence. Mam died at Caleb's birth, and papa has not sung since. When a request for a mail-order bride brings a response from a woman from Maine, both Anna (who tells the story) and Caleb want to know if she sings. Sarah arrives for a trial period, and the children and their father wonder if Sarah will miss her family and the sea too much to stay with them. The characters emerge through dialogue, Sarah's letters and the family's responses to her. Through a simple sentence or phrase, aspects of each character's personality--strength, stubbornness, a sense of humor--are brought to light. Refreshingly, this novel portrays children as receptive the love, nurturing and attention that a step-parent can offer--and the willingness to return the affection. Throughout the story, MacLachlan weaves in the colors of the prairie as the seasons pass. Readers will hold their breaths with Anna and Caleb, wondering if indeed Sarah will stay, and breathe a sigh of relief when she does. A short but moving book that is anything but plain--for those who prefer quality to quantity.
Library Uses
1. Collaborating with the earth science teacher, you can help create a unit comparing the climate in Maine to the climate on the prairie (choose Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, or S. Dakota). Keep a log of temperatures in the library.
2. Celebrate a prairie day and have children come with overalls, aprons, bonnets, boots etc...Dress up yourself. You can pair this books with others like Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad and Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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