Fleischman, Sid. Illustrated by Peter Sis. 1986. The whipping boy. New York: Greenwillow Books. 

Jemmy is a young orphan who has been pressed into serving as the whipping boy for the prince. In a time when it is against the law to physically punish members of the royal family, Prince “Brat” as he is known by his subjects does whatever he wants and watches as Jemmy is punished for his crimes. When the prince orders Jemmy to cry during his next punishment, Jemmy decides to run away and escape. However, the prince’s unhappiness with his life prompts him to run away also, and Jemmy is ordered to accompany him. The duo thus begins an adventure that includes two would-be “prince-nappers”, a kindly carriage driver, and a lady with a pet bear. The series of events that follow lead Jemmy to re-examine his life and his opinion of the prince. Sis’ pen and ink illustrations, though somewhat gruesome, bring life to Fleischman’s characters and add detail and balance. Readers will cheer for Jemmy and his clever schemes to get himself out of trouble and will gasp in astonishment at the duplicity and lack of common sense shown by the prince.